Archived Articles
Four common property division mistakes to avoid
Pennsylvania is an equitable distribution state. This means that your divorce is going to result in the division of assets that is deemed by you and your spouse, or the judge, if an agreement can’t be reached, to be fair. This doesn’t, however, mean that the division of assets is...
Continue ReadingPreparing for your custody trial
Pennsylvania law allows you the chance to resolve your custody dispute without having to enter a courtroom. As part of the custody process in Pennsylvania, you are required to attend a conciliation and potentially a mediation, all before you get to a custody trial. Conciliation and mediation A conciliation is...
Continue ReadingDrivers with multiple DUIs face harsher penalties in Pennsylvania
People who are accused of driving under the influence in Pennsylvania have always faced penalties if they were convicted. In an effort to promote safer roadways, lawmakers and others keep pushing to make the penalties harsher and harsher. To have a strong defense, it’s important to be knowledgeable about the...
Continue ReadingHow long are drivers’ licenses suspended after DUI?
There are many different laws and penalties regarding DUIs in Pennsylvania. People may understand that they could be sent to jail, have to pay fines, lose their drivers’ licenses and other penalties. However, which penalties people will face for a particular DUI offense depends on their blood alcohol concentration (BAC)...
Continue ReadingParallel parenting when co-parenting simply does not work
A lot of attention is placed on co-parenting as the gold standard for shared custody. While successful co-parenting can benefit your child in many ways, sometimes you and your child’s other parent simply cannot cooperate well enough to make co-parenting work. If you gave co-parenting your best shot and it...
Continue ReadingCan I get a DUI while parked in my driveway?
You may be returning home after a night out and be shocked to find a police car driving up behind you as you pull into your driveway. If the police officer asks if you’ve been drinking that night, you may be surprised, assuming that since you are home safe, you...
Continue ReadingGetting caught up in a drug bust
Sometimes a Pennsylvania resident will end up facing drug-related charges after a nearly random encounter with police, such as a traffic stop. The police may pull over the person for a minor traffic infraction and, while talking to the person, see drug paraphernalia in their car. This gives them probable...
Continue Reading5 criminal defense strategies that you might be able to use
When you’re charged with a criminal offense, it can feel like the world is against you. The prosecution might make bold statements about its ability to convict you, and the penalties that are threatened can leave you fearful of the future. But hope isn’t lost. After all, even in cases...
Continue ReadingWhat you need to know about modifying a custody arrangement
Are you worried about your child’s safety and well-being as you are reading this? If so, then you might need to consider whether seeking custody modification is right for you. It’s easy to have an emotional reaction when you suspect that your child has been subjected to inappropriate care while...
Continue ReadingFour reasons why you shouldn’t talk to the police
A lot of criminal convictions are obtained on the very words spoken by an accused individual, especially when interacting with the police. These admissions are powerful for the prosecution in court, and they’re extremely hard, if not impossible, for you to walk back. Therefore, if you’re being investigated for criminal...
Continue ReadingHandling custody challenges during the holiday season
The holiday season is coming up soon, and often means extra stress for Pennsylvania parents who are sharing custody of their children. Hopefully, you have a custody order in place through a court that includes a holiday schedule, but even that does not completely prevent disputes. If you do not...
Continue ReadingCan the TSA arrest me for being drunk?
For anyone who has flown recently, you know it can be stressful, especially when you are stuck on a long layover or coming back to the airport after your original flight was cancelled. As such, you can hardly be blamed for having a drink or two during your layover or...
Continue ReadingSo, you want to create an estate plan
So, you’ve finally decided to create an estate plan. Maybe you just graduated college, got married, had a child, went through a divorce, received a large inheritance or maybe you simply just want a plan in place. No matter the reason, creating an estate plan is an important step to...
Continue ReadingArguing self-defense in your domestic violence case
It doesn’t take long for a verbal altercation to get heated. Sometimes, these matters even turn physical. When this happens, people can be left injured, the police can be called, and allegations of criminal wrongdoing can fly. If you’re on the receiving end of these accusations, then you face the...
Continue ReadingWhat is a field sobriety test?
Being stopped for suspicion of drunk driving is intimidating. Before making an arrest; however, the police officer may try to have motorists submit to a battery of tests that evaluate the driver’s balance, coordination and ability to divide their attention to multiple tasks. Field sobriety tests The field sobriety test...
Continue ReadingMental illness: a significant consideration in child custody
Child custody analysis requires courts to weigh numerous and often conflicting factors to determine to whom they should grant physical and/or legal custody. Mental illness represents perhaps the best example of how courts balance these interests. Parents retain a right, though not unrestricted, to bear and raise their children; however,...
Continue ReadingWhat will happen to my property if I leave no will?
If a Pennsylvania resident dies without a will, then their property will be passed to their heirs through a process called intestate succession. One can think of intestate succession as a default estate plan put together by Pennsylvania’s lawmakers. The idea behind it is to pass a deceased person’s property...
Continue ReadingAre same-sex divorces the same as traditional divorces?
We all know that marriage equality is the law of the land, and by that same law, so is divorce equality. However, many same-sex couples thinking about divorce wonder if their divorce process will actually be the same as so-called, “traditional” divorces. Stigmas The LGBTQIA+ community fought for the better...
Continue ReadingDrafting your LLC operating agreement
Once you’ve decided to form your limited liability corporation (LLC), there are many things you need to do as part of the startup process. One of your main tasks is drafting an operating agreement. What is an operating agreement? An LLC operating agreement is a written document that states the...
Continue ReadingSix key DUI defense strategies
A DUI conviction can leave your future in jeopardy. It can threaten your license, your job, and even your freedom. With a significant risk of harsh penalties, it’s crucial that you know how to build an aggressive criminal defense that protects your interests as fully as possible. But what defense...
Continue ReadingFocusing on the legal issues, not emotions, in a divorce case
If a divorce is happening, chances are that something has gone wrong in the relationship, even if the couple says they have simply “drifted apart.” No one gets married with the thought that the relationship could end in divorce. For many people, the animosity, ill will and emotional turmoil that...
Continue ReadingHow to prepare for child custody negotiations
Child custody can be a delicate issue for both parents and for the child. Parents can help prepare for the child custody process by being familiar with what is used to determine child custody and what is taken into account when deciding what child custody arrangement will be best for...
Continue ReadingIf I am just starting out, why would I need an estate plan?
Younger people in Lancaster County who are just starting out in life might not see much of a need for a will or other estate planning documents. After all, they will usually have relatively modest property to worry about should they suddenly die or just not be able to care...
Continue ReadingWhat happens if I refuse a Breathalyzer test?
Imagine you are driving along the road and are pulled over by a police officer. At some point during the traffic stop, the officer may reasonably suspect that you have been drinking alcohol and ask you to submit to a Breathalyzer test to determine your blood alcohol content, or BAC....
Continue ReadingHow can parents successfully co-parent?
One of the biggest fears divorcing parents have is the effect their divorce will have on their children. However, successful co-parenting can lessen that effect on Lancaster kids. Communication is key The backbone of a successful co-parenting relationship is communication. Indeed, many marriages fail because of a lack of communication...
Continue ReadingBusinesses of all sizes need ongoing legal support
While Lancaster and the surrounding areas have their share of large employers, many if not most people in the area earn their living by working for or owning small or mid-sized businesses. Many of these smaller businesses will either have no full-time in-house attorneys or a very limited staff. Even...
Continue ReadingHow can I build a child custody modification case?
Your child custody dispute may have been settled a while ago, but there’s a strong chance that you may end up having to revisit your custody arrangement as circumstances change. If you think that a change is necessary to protect your child’s best interests, then you’ll want to file a...
Continue ReadingWhat are Miranda rights and why are they so important?
We’ve all seen crime shows where the police, as they are arresting a suspect, read them their rights. It is often a high drama moment, and many people have heard the phrases so many times that they know them by heart. What movies and television shows are reenacting is the...
Continue ReadingWhen is an ignition interlock required?
A DUI conviction can seriously disrupt many things in your life and carries major penalties. In addition to the high fines, loss of driving privileges and potential jail time, you may be required to use an ignition interlock device, which is a device installed in your vehicle that you must...
Continue ReadingUnderstanding “clean slate” and who is eligible in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, being accused of a crime and subsequently arrested is challenging in many, many ways. If there is a conviction, there will be concerns not just about the penalties, but the long-term consequences even after the sentence is completed. The person might be aware of the expungement process and...
Continue ReadingHow does an allegation of domestic violence affect custody?
Like other states, Pennsylvania recognizes that there are some situations in which parents might not be able either to share decision-making or to split the time with the children about equally. One of these situations is when one parent has abused the other. Sadly, domestic violence does happen too often...
Continue ReadingPolice don’t need a chemical test to charge for DUI
It is a common image in popular culture of police giving someone a portable breath test at the side of the road. The idea is the officer is using that instrument to decide if a person is too drunk to operate a motor vehicle, and, thus, in violation of the...
Continue ReadingHow do penalties increase for people with multiple DUIs?
When people drink alcohol in Pennsylvania there are plenty of activities that are both fun and legal to do. However, driving one’s vehicle after drinking too much can result in being charged with a DUI. Being charged with a first DUI can result in license suspensions, fines, jail and other...
Continue ReadingCan the “two-hour rule” play a role in my DUI defense?
Pennsylvania drivers who are arrested and face the prospect of a conviction for driving under the influence might understand the basics about the charges. That includes the traffic stop itself, field sobriety tests, the breathalyzer and blood-alcohol concentration. What they are often unaware of is the nuance of these cases....
Continue ReadingExpunging a criminal record in Pennsylvania
It should come as no surprise to most Pennsylvania residents that a criminal record can have many ramifications. One bad night or one mistake can result in a criminal conviction, and even one misdemeanor charge on a record can have permanent consequences in almost all areas of life. People with...
Continue ReadingDomestic violence charges can derail one’s career, life
A resident of Lancaster County might not realize how easy it is to get charged with assault, battery or other crimes related to domestic violence. In some cases, a person might make a serious mistake in the heat of a family squabble or a tense situation with one’s ex. In...
Continue ReadingChoosing a guardian for a minor child
It can be difficult for a parent to think about a situation where he or she is no longer able to care for their child. However, it can be helpful to designate a guardian who can step in and make decisions for the child if needed. There are some factors...
Continue ReadingWhy should I update my estate plan?
For those of us that have taken the time to make an estate plan, we know how good completing that task makes us feel. It is like having insurance. Not only is it a sound financial decision, but also provides piece of mind for the inevitable. What many may not...
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What is the Statute of Limitations for White Collar Crimes in Pennsylvania? What Is an Expungement? Can I Be Charged with a White-Collar Crime Even if I Didn’t Directly Commit the Act? What Are the Consequences of Being Convicted of a White-Collar Crime for First-Time Offenders? Is It Possible to Have a White-Collar Crime Conviction Expunged in Pennsylvania?RSS Feed
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