Family Law Archives

January has unofficially been called “divorce month” among family law practitioners across the United States. Divorce cases increase in January for various reasons. A common reason is that many people believe that the start of the year brings new opportunities. Couples who are considering divorce will often wait until after the December holidays to begin… Read More

The main goal of spousal support, or alimony, is to help a lower-earning, soon-to-be ex-spouse transition into a lifestyle where they can support themselves. It is important to keep in mind that alimony and child support are two separate payments. Although every divorce is different, there are some basics about how spousal support works. How… Read More

Many divorcing parties may not realize that having a prenuptial agreement does not necessarily make divorce easier. Divorce, even in the best of circumstances, can be complicated. A prenuptial agreement is a contract between two marrying parties that provides a foundation for understanding the assets each party brings to the marriage, as well as an… Read More

Divorce is tough on everyone, including adolescents caught in the middle. Ironically, many parents expect their teenagers to handle a divorce easier than their younger siblings. However, teens feel the impact just as strongly as their younger counterparts. For this reason, divorce lawyers encourage divorcing parents to spend time focused on helping their adolescent children… Read More

For newly divorcing spouses, whether preparing taxes on your own or through a paid tax preparer, one typical question involves how child support payments are treated. Parents should know the tax laws and how these payments are treated. For the parent who pays child support monies to a former spouse, these payments are not tax… Read More

Despite the many rewards, parenting comes with many challenges. This can be especially true if you are newly-divorced. You want to put your child’s best interests first, but you may have a hard time adjusting to the changes and may still have deep conflict with your former spouse. Although your marriage ended, if you have… Read More

If divorcing parents cannot agree on child custody arrangements, Pennsylvania courts will step in to decide which parent gets full custody, if the parents can share custody, and if necessary develop a visitation schedule. This decision will be based on examining several factors to determine what is in the best interest of the child, including: Records… Read More

Most married couples would likely agree that marriage takes work. Some generations ago, the amount of work put in, some might argue, seemed to be higher. As of 1990 fewer than 1 in 10 people who got divorced were over the age of 50. But over the course of the last two and a half… Read More

After a divorce, the thought of changing one’s name back to a maiden name can elicit a range of emotions. For some, it can evoke a feeling of independence and new beginnings; but for others, it is just another inconvenience caused by divorce. Whether you look forward to the change or simply need to do… Read More

Many individuals considering divorce recoil at the cost of splitting up. The division of marital assets can be destructive to savings, real estate, businesses and other possessions. While division tries to be fair and equitable, many feel they are left with less than half of what they had. If it is any consolation, consider the… Read More