Family Law
Alcohol Abuse and Custody: What Safeguards are Available?
A straightforward custody case can be made extremely complex and contentious when accusations are raised regarding alcohol use and abuse. Regardless of whether the concerns are legitimate or not, alcohol use that may have been problematic, but tolerated while a relationship was intact, becomes magnified many times over when the parties separate and custody has […]
I Need a Family Law Attorney for my Pennsylvania Divorce/Support/Custody Case – Where Do I Even Begin?
Many individuals involved in a lawsuit realize at one point or another that they need the guidance of an attorney. The court system is a complex structure involving state procedural rules, local procedural rules, statutes as well as the practices and preferences for each decision maker. Our court system does not provide room for a […]
5 Things You Need to Know About Social Media and Divorce
June 20, 2017 By Melissa M. Boyd Social media is a constant presence in our lives. It has become a forum for us to catch up with friends across distances, share our triumphs large and small, and feel more connected to family. As such, social networking can be a positive experience. Yet it can be […]
When Counseling Perpetuates Abuse
April 18, 2017 As family law attorneys we often take for granted that the paperwork required by the Court in order to begin a divorce action is simply administrative “filler.” We often tell clients that the counseling notice we are required to file with a divorce complaint is a formality and is never utilized. But […]
If you have children and you are getting married, you need a premarital agreement. Why not make it Romantic?
March 15, 2017 By Mary Cushing Doherty When a couple is marrying, if either fiancé is a single parent or divorcee, friends may suggest they sign a prenuptial agreement. A premarital agreement need not be a divorce plan. The quick brushoff that this suggestion is offensive could be misplaced. Why not write a prenuptial agreement […]
Romantic Premarital Agreements: Solving the Planning Issues Without “The D Word”
March 10, 2017 By Mary Cushing Doherty This post originally appeared in the Journal of the AAML, Vol. 29, No. 1, 2016. I. INTRODUCTION When a couple is planning to marry, either or both may be urged by friends, family, a financial advisor and/or business partner to consult an attorney to prepare a premarital agreement. […]
Reducing No-Fault Divorce Separation to One Year: The Significant Impact on Divorcing Couples with Business Interests
January 26, 2017 By Mary Cushing Doherty Before Pennsylvania’s Act 102 became law in late 2016, parties to a divorce in most Pennsylvania counties were unable to meet with a divorce Master until they had established grounds. Without both parties filing Consents to the divorce, the delay put the business owner’s livelihood at risk. To […]
Commonly Asked Q&A for Child Support
April 26, 2016 By: Elizabeth Early One of the most commonly asked questions that I hear from new clients is: “How is child support calculated?” When parties transition from a shared household income to two separate, individual incomes, it is natural for both parties to feel anxious about just how much they will be expected […]
Reasons for Adjusting Child Support Payments in Pennsylvania Family Law Cases
March 30, 2016 By: Melissa Boyd Shortly after getting married, you and your spouse agree that you will leave your job to be at home with the family. Ten years later, you and your spouse decide to separate. The court awards you child support. After a few years, you experience life changes that make the […]
Calculating Child Support in Pennsylvania When Income Varies or Changes
March 25, 2016 By: Melissa Boyd Child support in Pennsylvania divorce cases is dependent upon a large number of factors governed by rules also known as Pennsylvania Support Guidelines. Those domestic relations guidelines dictate the amount of child support which a spouse or parent should pay based on the income of both of their net […]