Family Law Archives

Adult adoption may sound strange, but it is or all intents and purposes a valid legal process. Someone may want to adopt a woman who 32. A person may have been reunited with their birth mother and want to make her their legal mother. Although it may seem unusual, adult adoption is both legal and… Read More

Living with another partner before a divorce is finalized is not recommended; however, every situation is different. For those wishing to cohabitate before a divorce is completed, they should reconsider if children are involved, if they share property, or if there is potential alimony. How Could My Children be Affected? A parent who has children… Read More

Rather than a divorce, many couples choose a separation. By separating, the couple is still legally married and can decide to divorce later. While separated, the couple is usually still connected through financial responsibilities and their children. Some states allow legal separations and handle alimony, child support, child custody, and the division of marital assets…. Read More

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