Blog

6/2/15

Divorce can impact social security benefits

The If an ex-spouse is 62 years of age or older and the marriage lasted 10 years or more, that person may be eligible for benefits that stem from the earnings of the other spouse. However, there are certain provisions to this rule. If a former spouse’s benefits are less than the other person’s benefits, he or she cannot be eligible for those benefits. Also, an ex-spouse cannot collect his or her own benefits plus...

5/26/15

Ruling in international child custody case makes headlines

The family court system works diligently to make decisions based on the best interests of the children involved; however, the rights of parents to visit or have access to children must also be respected. When Pennsylvania families need to seek family court assistance for an international The actress mom and her ex-husband married in 2006, and they then separated in 2008. A divorce was finalized in 2010. During that time, the couple had two children...

5/20/15

Child support payments sought decades after child is grown

Child support issues can be extremely contentious for some families. While the family courts in Pennsylvania hand down What makes this case noteworthy and unique is the fact the couple divorced in 1977. The hoopster, Meadowlark Lemon, is now 83 years old, and his son is 48. The basketball player and his wife were married for 22 years before their split. The son and his mother contend Meadowlark Lemon was ordered to pay $2500 a...

5/13/15

Terminating parental rights can be part of adoption process

Adoption is a very emotional and complicated area of family law. Each case can vary widely compared to the next. In many cases, the adoption process may entail the termination of parental rights. This aspect of an adoption is one area that can either be a simple matter of consent or can lead to litigation for a Pennsylvania family. One approach to termination of parental rights in order to proceed with an adoption is to...

5/6/15

Marital home issues can impact divorce process in Pennsylvania

Regardless of how amicable a If one party decides she or he wants to keep the house, that spouse may have to purchase the interest of the other. That buy-out amount may depend on an appraisal of the home. The spouse who stays in the home may have to agree to refinance any existing mortgage within a given time frame. Any agreement concerning these issues must be drafted with careful attention to detail, including...

4/30/15

Aspects of divorce to consider for older Pennsylvania couples

While the One aspect is spousal support. Temporary support is not uncommon among younger couples. However, alimony for life, known as permanent alimony, is often normal for couples who have been married for an extended period of time. Retirement funds are also an issue for older couples, as there may be much more at stake than with younger couples. Retirement funds are likely to be split in half, which can drastically alter the retirement dreams of...

4/21/15

We can help with smooth navigation of adoption process

Adoption is a highly personal and emotional journey for families under any circumstances. When the adoption process involves same sex couples or step-parent adoptions, the adoption process should be as smooth as possible for everyone involved. Nevertheless, Pennsylvania parents and soon-to-be parents may find the process anything but smooth, necessitating the help of legal representatives. When a step-parent or same sex partner wants to adopt his or her spouse’s child, the biological parent of that...

4/14/15

Divorce will affect future finances and retirement

Divorce leads to changes in all aspects of a person’s life, including where a person lives and what the financial future may look like. Aside from an initial Any joint retirement accounts will typically be split between the parties. While this is all well and good, the ability to keep adding to those accounts may be altered. This is due to the simple fact that, with separate incomes that are no longer combined, there...

4/7/15

Judge allows unusual means of filing for divorce

The The case involves a couple who wed back in 2009. Apparently, the wife has only been able to communicate her husband through social media, namely Facebook, and through phone calls. This fact led the judge to rule that the woman could file a divorce summons by sending a private message to her husband through Facebook. The ruling requires the woman to send the divorce filing message once a week. She must do this each...

4/2/15

Divorce can factor into a Pennsylvania couple’s benefits

For many, Social Security benefits are a much needed source of support as they age. When a If a marriage lasted for 10 years or more, a person can claim benefits based on the earnings history of an ex-spouse. This holds true as long as the person seeking Social Security benefits is single. If a marriage lasted less than 10 years, there is no way to claim any Social Security benefits related to the...