Your Family Comes First

How Much Will You Have To Pay In Child Support?
Ending a relationship is never easy—especially when children are involved. One of the most complicated parts of a split is…
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Filing for a Pennsylvania Protection from Abuse
What Is a Protection From Abuse Order in Pennsylvania? A Protection From Abuse (PFA) order is a civil court order that shields you from abuse by a family or household member, a current or former intimate partner, or someone with whom you share a child. In Pennsylvania, a judge can order the abuser to stop…
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Co-Parenting Schedules in Pennsylvania: How Custody Really Works in Philadelphia
Courts often encourage a 50/50 parenting schedule when possible. The best plan depends on…
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Dividing a Business During a Divorce
When a business owner divorces in Pennsylvania, the company is usually one of the most valuable assets on the table, and it is handled through the same equitable distribution process that applies to the rest of the marital estate. In most cases the business itself is not cut in half. Instead, the court assigns a…
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Helping children deal with divorce
Helping Children Deal With Divorce in Pennsylvania Children cope best with divorce when both parents keep conflict away from them, maintain consistent routines across two homes, and preserve a loving relationship with each parent. In Pennsylvania, this is not only good parenting advice. It mirrors the exact standard a judge uses: under 23 Pa.C.S. §…
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Modifying a child support order in PA
In Pennsylvania, the consequences of not paying court-ordered child support may be quite serious. In the most severe cases, if you fail to pay, you may face jail time. You may also have your driver’s license or your passport suspended. As such, it is vital to keep up with your support payments. If you are…
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Steps to Make Divorce Go More Smoothly
Divorce is stressful enough. The way you handle the process can make a big difference in how smoothly…
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Understanding a Father’s Right to Child Custody and Visitation
Biological fathers have a right to establish child custody and visitation with their children, regardless of whether they were married when the child was born. This means that every father has the right to ask the court for legal and physical custody rights of their child. Physical custody may include: However, if the couple was…
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When does child support end?
As discussed previously on our blog, the parent with primary custody of their children will most likely receive child support from the other parent. One of the reasons regular child support payments are so important is because it allows the custodial parent to create a schedule and cultivate a consistent routine around it. For example,…
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How can I stay financially secure during my divorce?
Maintaining two separate households after a divorce can be an extremely costly endeavor. In many instances, the same family income is divided up to run two residences and pay all bills associated with both of them. In addition to this, one spouse is inevitably paying spousal and child support, adding even more financial strain to…
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Do separate bank accounts make property division easier?
According to a recent survey, 28% of millennials are opting to keep their bank accounts separate from their spouses in lieu of the traditional approach of having joint bank accounts. One of the reasons for this is because it has become easier to split money through applications that allow one to pay someone immediately. Another…
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Considerations for infant visitation
Establishing a visitation schedule for children is generally easier as they get older, provided that the parents can agree. It’s a bit more difficult when the child is an infant because there are other considerations at play. The schedule must be in the best interest of the infant while allowing both parents to spend time…
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How does a prenuptial agreement protect a business?
The division of property in a divorce proceeding can be made much simpler by a prenuptial agreement. Business owners in particular may benefit from entering into prenuptial agreements prior to marriage, as it allows them to protect their privately owned businesses from being unfairly divided in Equitable Distribution. Determining which party retains ownership of the…
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How can parents alleviate the back-to-school transition post-divorce?
Going back to school amidst the uncertainty that comes with divorce presents a difficult challenge for children who might already be overwhelmed with the transition of new classes, teachers, schedules, friends, activities, and routines. In preparation for the beginning of the school year, divorced parents should re-evaluate their parenting plans and communication strategies to ensure…
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How to choose between litigation and an agreed upon settlement
Couples who are getting a divorce may hope to reach an agreement on child custody and property division through negotiation. This means that they face a difficult dilemma if those negotiations falter and they are forced to decide between taking a less satisfactory settlement or proceeding to litigation. Litigation can be stressful, time-consuming, and expensive.…
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Taking taxes into account in a divorce
Once a divorce is finalized, tax filing status will change from married to single or head of household. This is usually based on marital status on the last day of the year. However, there may be a number of more complex issues to consider. For example, if there is a retirement account to divide, a…
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Consider all assets in the property division process
Individuals contemplating divorce may realize that, as part of the property division process, they will need to make a full accounting of their assets and debts. In their initial thoughts about property division, most people think of their primary assets: their home, bank accounts and vehicles. However, there are many more assets that will be…
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An overview of joint custody
Of all the complicated issues that are involved in a divorce case, child custody is one of the most critical. After all, even if a happy marriage is no longer realistic, the couple will be forever bound together as parents of their children. That means they must attempt to reach an arrangement that works for…
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What expenses can child support cover?
Some couples who go through a divorce arrive at child support orders after lengthy and contentious arguments in court. Others are able to negotiate an agreement between themselves on the amount and frequency of child support payments. However, after the child support order is in place, you might be wondering exactly which expenses can be…
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Can I get custody of my grandchild?
As a grandparent, you have a special kind of relationship with the child of your son or daughter. If your son or daughter is going through a divorce, the fear of losing contact with your grandchild is a legitimate concern. Do you have any legal rights to gain custody of your grandchild? Several circumstances exist…
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Are “millennials” taking a different approach to divorce?
There are millions of people in America who belong to the “millennial” generation. These individuals—typically categorized as those who were born between 1980 and 2000—have influenced quite a few different aspects of American society, from how we communicate with one another to how we work and form relationships. Are millennials are taking a different approach…
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How can you protect a business in a divorce?
Most married couples bring their own assets and debts into their relationship. For example, it is not uncommon these days for people to have thousands of dollars in student loan debt by the age of 22. Conversely, there are times when an inheritance from a relative will unexpectedly boost financial security. These types of unique…
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Telling social media about your divorce
In a world where we are increasingly learning more about the people that we don’t see rather than the people we do, it seems logical to share about your divorce on social media. But while your friends may care about what you are going through, when you are still in the process of getting a…
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6 signs you are in an abusive relationship
Abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, or a combination of any or all of these. While physical abuse is the most easily recognized form of abuse, emotional and verbal abuse can be just as damaging, and it is often easier to overlook. Many people have difficulty identifying when a relationship is abusive. Abusive relationships…
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5 things you should know before adopting a child
Adoption is a significant commitment and an emotional process, but it is also extremely rewarding. It’s often costly and the legal process can be time-consuming, but the end effect will be well worth the effort. Adopting a child will transform your life, regardless of your age or marital situation. You might be wondering what it’s…
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3 tips for successful co-parenting after divorce
Divorce is a difficult and emotionally trying event for anyone, but parents have an especially complicated set of challenges. Not only do parents have to find ways to manage their own stress and emotional well-being, they also must consider the needs of their children and adapt appropriately based on the children’s ages and circumstances. Following…
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Points to keep in mind if you are facing a “gray” divorce
Divorce after the age of 50—so-called “gray” divorce—is no longer an attention-getter among friends, family and co-workers. It is much more common now than it was even a decade ago. The issues you face now are going to be different than they would be for a younger person. Here then are five points to keep…
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Getting a fair deal in property division during a divorce
Among the variety of issues that must be addressed in a divorce case in Pennsylvania, property division is the most likely to have a long-term impact on a person’s financial security. After all, for most married couples, working together toward greater financial security is one of the main goals in life, particularly nowadays when both…
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How to get your finances together for divorce
Choosing to divorce your partner is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make. You may find yourself experiencing a variety of emotions at this time and feel inclined to rush the process of finalizing everything. But rash decisions often lead to a poor outcome, particularly where finances are concerned. Before you file your…
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What can I do if I cannot afford support payments?
Sometimes things can happen in life that makes it hard for you to pay child support. You might have lost a job, developed a serious medical condition that requires expensive treatment or simply fallen on hard times in Montgomery and Bucks counties and in Philadelphia. Though you are willing to pay child support to your ex,…
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