Blog

8/20/24

Can mediation still work in high-conflict divorces?

When you face a high-conflict divorce, it can be easy to lose hope for a collaborative, less contentious process. After all, if you and your spouse struggled to see eye-to-eye during your marriage, how can you find common ground when you finally untangle the intricacies of your shared finances? Yet, even in such challenging situations where emotions run high and compromise feels out of reach, Mapping out your priorities Before kickstarting your divorce process...

8/18/24

How can you change your name after your divorce?

You may have taken your spouse’s last name when you got married. This may have been an important step in your marriage because it bound you and your spouse together publicly in a specific way. Yet, if your marriage ends, you may not want to keep that last name. Instead, you can opt to change your name back to your previous last name or another last name. One option you have for going back to...

8/9/24

3 ways to divide your marital home in Pennsylvania

When you are going through a childless divorce, the fate of your marital home often takes center stage. For many couples, their home is their most valuable asset, both financially and emotionally. Deciding its future can be complex, stirring up a mix of practical concerns and deep-seated feelings. Understanding your options and approaching this decision with a clear head can help you avoid legal problems down the road. Exploring your options When it comes to...

7/23/24

How can I resolve co-parenting conflicts after divorce?

Divorce brings a whirlpool of changes to family dynamics, but it does not end your role as a parent. As you and your ex-spouse adjust to co-parenting, disagreements can and will arise, even when you both have good intentions. So, how can you Understanding the roots of disagreements Co-parenting conflicts often arise from differences in parenting styles, communication challenges, or lingering emotions from the divorce. Recognizing the deeper roots behind your disagreements allows you...

7/11/24

3 potential benefits of mediating a divorce involving minor children

Children can be a powerful source of connection between spouses. They can also be one of the most common reasons parents fight when they decide to divorce. Trying to negotiate shared custody arrangements can be difficult. Even when people want amicable divorces, their feelings about their parental relationships might prevent them from achieving that goal. Quite a few parents preparing for divorce decide to use mediation as a way of resolving their disagreements about parental...

7/8/24

How to build a strong parenting plan after divorce

Ending a marriage creates major changes in the lives of everyone involved. However, the impact can be particularly profound for children. Imagine having to face your parents’ separation at an early age, adjusting to living arrangements and schedules that are all new to you. As a parent, navigating this challenging transition with your child can be overwhelming. But by creating a solid parenting plan, you can help provide stability and reassurance for your children. A parenting...

6/11/24

3 things to know about stepparent adoption in Pennsylvania

Stepparent adoption is a relatively common family law matter. People who combine their families may develop close bonds with the children of their spouses. They may eventually want to become the lawful adoptive parent of the child instead of continuing to only be a stepparent. Many people considering a stepparent adoption don’t know what to expect. They may have unrealistic expectations for the process. Reviewing the three facts about stepparent adoption detailed below can help...

6/3/24

Strategies to develop strong co-parenting relationships

For newly divorced parents, the challenge of maintaining a nurturing environment for their children while managing their emotions can be tough. However, the effort to establish a strong co-parenting relationship is crucial, not only for the well-being of the parents but, most importantly, for the child’s development and happiness. Here are some effective strategies to cultivate a healthy co-parenting relationship: Communicate effectively Always keep the lines of communication open. Use clear, concise language and avoid...

5/23/24

Can I adopt my spouse’s child?

Stepparents often form deep emotional bonds with their spouse’s children, leading many to consider stepparent adoption. This legal process solidifies the relationship between the stepparent and the child, granting the stepparent full parental rights. Criteria to legally adopt Stepparent adoption is a legal procedure that establishes the stepparent as the child’s legal parent, effectively severing ties with one biological parent. In Pennsylvania, you must fulfill certain criteria to adopt your spouse’s child. First, you must...

5/17/24

Should you consider collaborative law for your divorce?

By design, the traditional legal system is adversarial, where two sides are fighting against each other and only one party can emerge victorious. This system may work for numerous legal issues, but it may not be effective for family law disputes, including divorce or child custody. This is because in such cases, there is no clear “winner” or “loser,” as both parties stand to gain or lose something depending on the resolution. Instead of aiming...