Blog

8/23/12

Pennsylvania couples face pressure for same-sex parent adoption

Same-sex couples who are used to facing their own set of challenges when it comes to getting married may be surprised to find that some challenges are the same no matter what type of couple is involved. For instance, many parents want to know just when a newly-married couple is going to make them grandparents. For Pennsylvania couples who may have previously considered starting a family impossible, the idea of same-sex parent One newly-married...

8/15/12

August is Child Support Awareness Month

August marks Child Support Awareness Month, which can be a good time for those who have either gone through or may go through divorce to educate themselves on child support issues. Pennsylvania parents who face First is the apparent misconception that only men pay child support, which simply isn’t true. Statistics reveal that approximately 15 percent of those who pay child support are women. Interestingly, child support payments received are not considered to be...

8/9/12

Hope for those with domestic violence orders who own pets

Reports of domestic violence can often seem depressing, but one domestic violence shelter is working to bring hope and positivity to the lives of those they serve by opening an animal kennel on shelter grounds. Pennsylvania residents who have ever had to obtain Many of them know all too well that their pet could suffer harm at the hands of the spouse they’ve left behind. Unfortunately, though, most shelters that serve domestic violence victims...

8/7/12

BKM v. JAM 2012 PA Super 156

Trial court denied Mother’s petition for relocation to Sweden and awarded the parties shared physical The Superior Court’s analysis of and interpretation of section 5337(l) of the new Custody Act was a case of first impression. The Superior Court ruled that the trial court misinterpreted section 5337(l) when it refused to consider any evidence arising out of the time period from April 2010 forward, when Mother resided in Sweden with the children. The Superior...

8/7/12

Update on PA Motor Vehicle Laws: Cell Phone Use While Driving

Pennsylvania’s Texting While Driving Ban In terms of the banned practices of texting and using email while driving, the law makes such practices a primary offense, meaning a police officer may pull a driver over for engaging in these acts alone. Under the law, the offending party may be fined $50 but will not incur any points against their license. In The Court dismissed the punitive damages claim, ruling that these facts do not...

7/31/12

How to move on after divorce

Divorce can be a very stressful process, especially when both parties cannot decide on the terms of the divorce settlement. No matter how emotionally challenging Taking a vacation can probably be one of the best pieces of advice given to someone after a divorce. It helps in providing a clear frame of mind while taking your mind and body away from the pain that may have been caused by the divorce. Try to choose...

7/28/12

Pennsylvania to continue subsidies for adoption of foster kids

Many Pennsylvania foster parents continue to support their foster children beyond the age of 18. They say that many of their foster children simply aren’t ready to be on their own, so they continue to support them because they care about them. However, prior to Pennsylvania’s adoption of the federal 2008 Fostering Connections Act, those foster parents were not receiving subsidies for caring for foster children between the ages of 18 and 21. For many...

7/18/12

Divorce improves financial awareness for high-income women

A survey from a financial consulting firm suggests that many high-net-worth women believe that they are better off financially after their divorce than they were going into the process. When asked, 62 percent of women with a net worth of $1 million or more feel that their The perceived improvement among high-income women is a betterment of their financial literacy skills. This increase in knowledge is often the result of having to address their...

7/13/12

Easing into joint child custody for divorced Pennsylvania parents

Although couples who have recently divorced may not agree on everything, they can definitely agree on wanting the best for their children. With the children’s well-being in mind, Pennsylvania parents can try to create a solid foundation for co-parenting. It seems that agreeing to the terms of shared First off, newly divorced parents are advised to always keep their promises of being on time to their children. This appears to be a key factor...

7/5/12

Collaborative divorce for baby boomers?

According to the federal 2009 American Community Survey, adults age 50 and older have gone from being only one in every 10 people who have divorced in 1990, to being one in every four people in 2009. There are more than several potential reasons why a couple older in age may choose to One example may be that the household dynamic has changed since their children have grown older. Another may be that their...