Family Law
Can Catholics Get a Prenuptial Agreement?
A prenuptial agreement is commonly viewed as planning for divorce before a marriage even begins in the Catholic Church. The mere mention of the word “prenup” can incite a gasp and an inquisitive raise of the eyebrow. But prenuptial agreements are not necessarily executed with an eye to an exit plan, but rather a marriage […]
PA Support Modifications in the Time of COVID-19
In light of the pandemic and its impact on employment and income, is it possible you are paying too much or receiving too little under your current child, spousal, or APL support order? Do you currently have a support order (child/spousal/APL) in place? Has your income been affected by the coronavirus pandemic? Are you concerned, […]
Which Parent Gets the $500 Child Stimulus Payment and How Does It Impact Support?
The CARES Act is distributing $500 stimulus payments for each qualifying child during the coronavirus pandemic. For those that are divorced, which parent gets it? Family Law Attorney Elizabeth Early explains. Disclaimer: The regulations and guidance relating to the CARES Act payments continue to develop and are far from complete. The guidance in this blog […]
5 Tips for an Amicable Divorce
It sounds like any oxymoron. An amicable divorce? It’s possible, by following these tips from Family Law Attorney, Elizabeth C. Early. Consider using a neutral third party to guide legal discussion. The inside of a courtroom is not the best environment for cooperative settlement discussions and solution seeking if you’re trying to arrive at an […]
"Earning Capacity” and What It Means for Child Support Payments
When a marriage is ending, one of the first issues that must be addressed is the amount of child support payments that must be paid. The first task in calculating child support, whether it be spousal support, alimony pendente lite or child support, is calculating the parties’ income available for support. What is considered income? […]
Parental Alienation and What to Look Out For
When a co-parent systematically manipulates your child to reject you, it is beyond terrifying. If the behavior is severe, it can have irreversible negative effects on your child’s psyche and development. Parental alienation is one of the most complex child custody issues our clients face. However, before running into court wielding your accusations of parental […]
Divorce Mediation - What You Can, and Should Expect
Trust us, if you are going through divorce mediation, you need a family law attorney on your side. What is Divorce Mediation? Divorce mediation is an out-of-court dispute resolution tool that helps separating couples who want to amicably settle their issues with minimal involvement of the legal system. A good mediator is one who will: […]
Should Divorcing Couples File Jointly or Separately in PA?
It's not safe to assume that divorcing couples filing their income taxes one way over the other is better. In late March/early April, many divorcing couples have to make an important decision about filing their income taxes. Read some tips to answer your questions from Family Law Attorney, Mary Cushing Doherty. Don't listen to your […]
Changes to PA Spousal Support Guidelines for Dependent Spouses
Updated for 2020, learn from a family law attorney if spousal support changes and APL guidelines help or hurt, in terms of one’s personal cash flow. On December 28, 2018, new Pennsylvania spousal support changes and APL guidelines were issued that took effect on January 1, 2019. Litigants and lawyers both need to understand the […]
PFA in PA: Can I Expunge My Protection From Abuse Order?
Expungement of a PFA Order in Pennsylvania is a question that Family Law Attorneys hear a lot. The answer depends on how far the Protection from Abuse proceeded through the legal system. Let me explain. By way of background, a Protection from Abuse Order, or a “PFA Order” as it is more commonly called, is […]