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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...

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Preparing 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...

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How 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)...

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Parallel 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...

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Can 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...

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Getting 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...

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Four 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...

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Handling 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...

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Can 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...

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So, 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...

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Arguing 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...

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What 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...

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Mental 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,...

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What 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...

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Are 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...

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Drafting 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...

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Six 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...

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How 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...

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What 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....

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How 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...

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Businesses 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...

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How 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...

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When 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...

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How 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...

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Expunging 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...

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Choosing 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...

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Why 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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