Blog

8/14/18

Can my child ask their stepparent to adopt them?

Many pop culture portrayals of stepparents cast these family members as villains or having a contentious relationship with their stepchild. In reality, some stepparents are more loving and parental to their spouse’s children than biological parents. Children who feel a close bond with their stepparent and don’t have that same connection to a biological parent may want to ask their stepparent to adopt them. A quick YouTube search of “stepparent adoption” will produce a few...

7/25/18

Braving back-to-school shopping as a single parent

It’s happened. Next week August begins. Department stores are putting away their summer gear and replacing their barbecue displays with school supplies and other back-to-school “essentials.” Whether you want to believe it or not, summer is fast coming to a close. Pretty soon the kids will head back to school (perhaps giving you a much-needed break!). However, with the back-to-school season on the horizon, you may have some anxiety beyond the stress of getting everyone...

6/25/18

Coping with an aggressive ex when relocating after divorce

The divorce is finally over. You and your child can now work on getting your lives back on track and moving toward your new futures. For many people, finding a new home is the perfect way to get a fresh start. Don’t be too hasty to start packing, though, it may be illegal for you to move in the wake of your divorce. If your former spouse has any custody rights, you are required to...

5/29/18

Do grandparents have rights after a divorce?

Divorce is never easy for anyone especially the people involved. Breaking apart a home is awful. Everyone is impacted by the divorce. As a grandparent, you are always there for your grandchildren. The thought of you no longer being able to spend time with your grandchildren because of the divorce is unimaginable. Grandparents rights So, what happens after a divorce? Who would possibly keep you from seeing your grandchildren? Unfortunately, it happens very often. Relationships...

5/23/18

HELL, NO!

HE SAID: I want my kids 50% of the time. SHE SAID: Over my dead body! Be careful what you wish for! Our court system is overloaded with parents who would rather entrust their children’s lives to a perfect stranger in a black robe, rather than figure it out themselves with the help of caring and peace promoting professionals. Think about this. There is oftentimes more crime in the family law setting than in the...

4/23/18

Now’s the time to talk about your summer parenting plan

As a parent, you know how quickly summer comes, and how quickly it ends. In those precious three months, the stress of keeping kids engaged, busy and properly cared for is hard enough for two parents. For those considering or in the midst of divorce or separation, the stress of summer vacation only intensifies. Now is the time to start discussing your proposed parenting plans, before summer arrives. Wait too long and you could end...

3/23/18

4 mistakes that could jeopardize an amicable divorce

Divorcing spouses aren’t always looking for a fight and dramatic courtroom resolutions. In fact, many people would prefer to make a divorce as quick and painless as possible so that they can focus on the future. In these situations, Refusing to compromise: Not taking the process seriously: Acting out outside of legal proceedings: Not understanding the roles: These and other mistakes can jeopardize cooperative efforts to resolve the various divorce-related matters,...

2/22/18

Negotiating a custody schedule that works for your family

When you cannot negotiate, when you cannot talk, when you cannot reach agreements, then you have war. When it comes to your children, you don’t want to drag them into a war. You’ll want to negotiate. “The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War Research has shown Collaborative divorce Both spouses commit upfront to resolve all matters without litigating. The process uses a team approach to aid...

2/14/18

Proposed bill seeks to formalize collaborative law in Pennsylvania

If you follow Pennsylvania politics at all, you’ve likely heard much about local redistricting fights and other contentious issues. What you may not have heard about is While many family law firms have been using collaborative law methods for years (including our own), this new bill seeks to formally encode the practice within Pennsylvania. Moreover, it recognizes the valuable contribution this less antagonistic approach to resolving disputes makes within our society. This may leave...

1/9/18

When It’s Time To Seriously Consider Divorce

When you and your spouse first met and fell in love, you probably spent as much time together as possible—getting to know one another, being affectionate and doing activities you both enjoyed. However, after 5, 10 or 20 years of marriage, many couples come to the realization that they not only don’t spend much time with their spouse, but they also may not really want to. Like any close relationship, maintaining a marriage is hard...