If you’ve been ordered to pay alimony, you know the financial strain that it can create. While that support is typically meant to be temporary until your former spouse can support themselves financially, in a lot of cases the receiving spouse ends up taking advantage...
Family Law
Why would I want to negotiate a separation agreement?
Pennsylvania is a state that does not have a formal process for couples to go through a legal separation. In other words, if people want to end their married lives together, they will need to file for a divorce. Pennsylvania’s divorce process can take some time. Even...
When can alimony be modified or terminated in Pennsylvania?
There are many issues that need to be settled as part of a Pennsylvania divorce case. One that inevitably stokes tension is alimony. Even after the determination has been made as to how much will be paid and for how long, it is not necessarily permanent. In addition...
Do I need a custody order if we agree on custody?
Sharing a child with someone you’ve divorced or split up with is extremely challenging. In addition to deciding which parent the child spends time with when, you and your co-parent must agree on things such as medical, financial or educational issues. You have most...
What is considered income for child support calculations?
Parents in Pennsylvania have an obligation to provide for their children’s needs. As parents know, this obligation includes the necessities such as food, clothing and shelter but also includes providing for their health care, childcare, extracurricular activities,...
What is common-law marriage?
Pennsylvania recognizes a nonceremonial marriage where couples live together and present themselves as spouses to their families, friends, and community even though they do not possess a marriage license. Couples are engaged in these common-law marriages if they meet...
Can the court order an attempt at reconciliation before divorce?
In Pennsylvania, divorce can be complicated. Of course, in some cases, people are somewhat amicable and simply want to move forward with the process and end the marriage. In others, they are in dispute over a litany of issues. Regardless, there will be emotional and...
Reasons to get a prenuptial agreement this spring or anytime
Ten percent of the 2.5 million couples getting married this year were engaged on Valentine’s Day. Experts believe that each of these couples should have a prenuptial agreement to deal openly with their financial matters and provide a type of insurance if they ever...
Keeping costs down during a divorce
If there is one thing that keeps couples together and out of divorce court, other than children, it is the fear of the costs associated with a divorce. Often, couples do not believe that they can afford it, or one spouse thinks they cannot afford life post-marriage....
Child support enforcement in Pennsylvania
Child support is essential monetary support for any child whose parents are divorced. However, receiving timely child support payments is something that many custodial parents in Pennsylvania and the rest of the country have to face challenges with. Fortunately, the...