Blog

12/9/15

Holidays can complicate child custody in Pennsylvania

Holiday time and celebrations can be a way for families to bond and pass on valued traditions. For split families and parents who have opposing views, the holiday season can conjure up unforeseen One source of discord that can warrant outside assistance and skilled negotiation is objection to a specific observance. Religious differences may be common, but one parent may feel adamant about a child participating in certain ceremonies or events. A judge will...

12/2/15

Divorce advice for Pennsylvania clients

Anyone going through the Finances matter and property division can impact those finances. Assets can include many items people often forget to consider, such as frequent flyer miles or other intangible assets. These can be divided, as can debts. Since property division can impact future finances, it may be tempting for some to hide assets. This is illegal and can backfire once the process unfolds and the concealment of assets is discovered. It is...

11/25/15

The basics of the collaborative law process

These days, couples around the country and here in Pennsylvania are no longer bound by the traditional divorce model that pits the parties against each other in court, which can often only increase the acrimony between them. One of the alternatives that is gaining popularity with divorcing couples is the collaborative law process. This approach to divorce allows the parties to avoid a contentious, time-consuming and expensive court battle. In collaborative law, both spouses are...

11/24/15

Help for Pennsylvania parents who have child support debt

Any kind of debt can be debilitating. However, Some programs in place are now helping parents reduce the amount of debt instead of seeing it rise each month. One state will wipe out a percentage of back-due child support if a parent enrolls in parenting programs. More debt can be wiped out if a parent is employed and pays support consistently for a year. Another form of outreach to avoid endless child support debt...

11/19/15

Divorce decisions: duration and amount of alimony payments

Alimony is not set in stone, and there is no set amount ordered in every individual case. When someone in Pennsylvania is pursuing a The amount ordered for alimony payments will depend on the spouses’ incomes. Also, the ability of both spouses to earn their own livings will affect the amount of alimony ordered. If one spouse is disabled or unable to work, that person may receive more alimony when compared to someone who...

11/11/15

Unique circumstances impact child custody issues

Families are complex, and the challenges of one can be vastly different than the challenges of another. When Pennsylvania families need to decipher child custody issues, those unique nuances can play a role in how the process may be best tackled. Those unique circumstances can also impact the future of a child custody agreement and the potential for a modification at some point in the future. While some people may envision a courtroom scene and...

11/4/15

The importance of property division decisions during divorce

Sharing a mortgage with one’s spouse may be perfect when times are good. However, when When one spouse decides to stay in a home, the person who decides to keep the house likely needs to have the mortgage put in her or his name. This means he or she must qualify for the mortgage without his or her spouse’s income, which can be difficult when a home was purchased based on two incomes. In addition to...

10/27/15

Family pet may take center stage during a Pennsylvania divorce

When a couple splits, the dissolution of the marriage also means a splitting of marital property. While many pet owners do not regard the pet as property, according to the law in Pennsylvania and other states, animals are dealt with in the same manner as other assets, and important decisions regarding the fate of those animals must be made during a The courts will weigh options and consider the individual circumstances of each case...

10/20/15

Grandmother at center of child custody dispute ignores order

Decisions regarding visitation and custody of children can involve more than just the parents as seen by the rise of grandparents who either have custody or seek visitation with grandchildren. One recent The two children had been living with the grandmother when she was ordered to return them to the father. Instead, she took them to the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, where her daughter is a member. Because she is on the reservation, the grandmother...

10/15/15

Help may be needed to uncover fraud during divorce

Divorce is typically a time of emotional upheaval, but it can and often is a time of financial upheaval as well. The property division process during a An attorney might enlist services from forensic accountants to discover if fraud is an issue. This will allow for the tracing of funds and can outline a paper trail of what may have unfolded during the marriage. A thorough review of old tax returns, credit card activity...