Category Archives: Family Law
Pennsylvania Child Support – Part III – Child support deviations
The final step in determining a child support amount is accounting for any appropriate deviations to the base support amount that was calculated according to the method described in the previous part to this series. There are two types of deviations that the court may order: particularly listed deviations, and deviations that are based on […]
Can Pennsylvania Stepparents Ever Be Required to Pay Child Support?
Pennsylvania courts favor child custody and support arrangements that are reached without judicial intervention, but things don’t always turn out that way. The process of determining custody and child support terms can develop into a prolonged legal dispute, made even more complex if stepchildren are involved. For example, the case of Shiloh v. Shiloh (2015) […]
How Fast Can You Get a Divorce in Pennsylvania When You Are in an Abusive Marriage?
Your home is meant to be a safe haven, free from conflict and anxiety. However, when ongoing arguments lead to psychologically or physically hurtful battles, you certainly don’t feel that way. But you no longer need to be trapped in an abusive and harmful situation. All forms of domestic violence and emotional abuse are considered […]
How an Adoption Petition in Pennsylvania Became a Lengthy Court Battle
Adopting children can bring joy to qualified families and individuals, but sometimes adoption proceedings can also create complicated legal hurdles. When a Penn Hills foster mother attempted to legally adopt a young girl who was in her foster care, the child’s maternal aunt traveled to the United States from Cameroon to prevent the adoption. A […]
Pennsylvania Child Support – Part I – Income Available for Support
Both parents of a child are obligated to provide financial support for a child. There is a multi-step process involved in determining child support in Pennsylvania. First, income is determined. Next, the base child support amount is calculated. Then, allowable adjustments are considered. This is the first in a three-part series on these steps. The […]
Save a Tree and Have Both Spouses Sign One Document
As most people know, Pennsylvania recognizes the ownership concept of tenants by the entireties. That is, the assets held jointly by a husband and wife ordinarily cannot be levied and executed upon by a creditor holding a judgment against only one spouse. Assuming then that the Lender is obtaining either a Guaranty Agreement or simply […]
How Do Divorce Costs for Mediation and Collaborative Law Compare with Litigation?
When you want a divorce, you’ve got a variety of approaches to choose from ─ some more costly than others. While cost is not the only consideration, it’s a major one for most couples. Many marriages go on the rocks over financial stress and finances can remain hotly contested issues during divorce. Yet couples who […]
What Are Some Ways to Establish Paternity Under Pennsylvania Law?
Establishing paternity is often a crucial issue when an unmarried mother seeks child support or a father wants a legal relationship with a child, even after a divorce for example. Pennsylvania Code Rule 1910.15. Paternity lays the ground rules for how you can establish paternity in Pennsylvania. The main two ways are: Acknowledgment of paternity. […]
Tips to Navigate the Divorce Process
As a family law attorney, I see clients most often at one of the lowest points of their lives. Everything that has been familiar and stable is undergoing a major, life-altering overhaul. The change, itself, is scary, but the process to become divorced is even scarier. I have some suggestions to help in this transition, […]