Blog

3/25/14

High profile child custody case involves medical records

When a couple decides to separate, they typically have many decisions to make. The most difficult and often contentious part of a divorce may relate to One recent case highlights the role medical records may play in a child custody hearing. A high-profile couple split in 2011. A court recently ruled that the father is to get custody of the two children. They had previously been with the mother until certain medical issues concerning...

3/18/14

Pennsylvania parents need to be aware of taxes and divorce rules

When there is a When a couple separates and files taxes, only one party can claim dependent children on their tax return. Back in the days when custody agreements were pretty cut and dry, particularly when one parent would have the kids a large majority of the time, it was simpler to decide who should claim the children on a tax return. However, modern custody agreements are more fluid, and children spend time with...

3/12/14

Organization can be key to smooth divorce in Pennsylvania

The decision to split may be an emotional one for couples. However, after the emotional decisions are handled, there are very detailed financial decisions that need to be made. Any Pennsylvania couple in the midst of It is a good idea to make a list of assets. This goes beyond the amount of money in a bank account. Assets may include retirement accounts and money market accounts. Items such as collectibles and employee benefits...

3/7/14

New insurance options for Pennsylvania couples in divorce

Traditionally, when one spouse was the only source of healthcare benefits, it could be difficult for the other spouse to move forward with plans to In the past, if a spouse wanted to keep healthcare benefits, they could do so for a limited time through COBRA. Once COBRA ran out, they were typically left without health insurance unless they got insurance through an employer or remarried. Now, even if they choose to rely on...

2/25/14

More Pennsylvania baby boomers taking steps toward divorce

As people age and make it past certain milestones, they may be seen as a much stronger and dedicated couple than their younger counterparts. However, as the baby boomer generation ages, there is a noticeable uptick in how many couples who have been married for decades that are now headed for It is currently estimated that one out of four people divorcing today are 50 or older. In 1990, that figure was only one...

2/21/14

Families set tone for changes in child custody

Family courts have the difficult job of deciding what is in the best interests of children while also respecting the rights of parents. Whenever families can come to agreements on their own, the courts will respect that approach. Typically, in families where both parents are able and wanting to be a parent, joint The popular option of joint custody boils down to one parent having primary custody and the other parent having the child...

2/12/14

Options can make Pennsylvania divorce process smoother

This time of year is notorious for seeing a spike in It may be helpful for each couple to understand that no two divorces are the same and that there are options that can essentially help couples customize their divorce. There are a great deal of decisions to be made and there is no set formula for how it unfolds for each couple. The transition from a single household to two households does take...

2/7/14

Divorce rise tied to finances and recession

Divorce rates have generally hovered around the 50 percent mark for some time. However, as with any statistical data, there are natural ebbs and flows over time. The latest studies pertaining to In the years that were considered the height of the recession, there were roughly 150,000 fewer divorces on record than what is typical for that time frame. The divorce rate dropped, even though logic dictates that the financial outlook at the height...

1/31/14

Surprising child support situation garners media attention

When a couple agrees to a The dad turned himself in to authorities, but he is asking a judge to reconsider a sentence of 180 days in jail. The 43-year-old man was having the child support amount taken out of his paycheck. When there was an increase in payments, he says he was not made aware. Reportedly, this caused his employer to continue remitting the usual payment, technically causing the dad to fall behind...

1/24/14

Pets viewed as property during divorce, but hard to part with

Whenever there is a dissolution of a marriage, there are many decisions to be made by the two parties. Some of those decisions can be easy. However, when pets are involved, it can be difficult to decide who will be the primary caretaker and to work out the details of sharing a pet. During a Pennsylvania Recent statistics document the rising role of pets in a household. It is currently estimated that 63 percent...