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Does Pennsylvania have a waiting period for divorce?
You have probably heard horror stories about divorces that drag on for years and wonder if this is true of all divorces. It is not. It is true that some divorces can last years, but it is usually because they are high-conflict divorces involving complex property division or couples who,...
Continue ReadingEscaping from an unfair premarital agreement in Pennsylvania
For the last few decades, attorneys have been advising their clients to sign premarital agreements, also known as “pre-nups,” as a means of reducing uncertainty and turmoil if the marriage does not last. With so many pre-nups in existence, the number of individuals asking if a pre-nup can be invalidated...
Continue ReadingDoes Pennsylvania allow child custody modifications?
Both during a divorce and after it, for many couples, the most contentious part of the divorce is child custody arraignments. And, once the child custody order is issued, one may think that it is set in stone. However, child custody arrangements can become outdated as circumstances change. When this...
Continue ReadingChild custody and parental relocation
Child custody and parenting time can be contentious issues long after a divorce has been finalized. For Lancaster parents, one of the most difficult issues in child custody concerns a custodial parent who wants to relocate with the child. There are laws regarding relocation and parents need to know their...
Continue ReadingDo you need a pre-nuptial agreement if you are remarrying?
When you are in the process of getting remarried, a pre-nuptial agreement may be something you do not consider. Getting remarried is exciting and a happy time. You may be ready to start on a fresh path with someone new since you have already experienced tre end of a marriage....
Continue ReadingHow to stay emotionally safe during difficult co-parenting
Are you struggling to successfully navigate your co-parenting relationship with your child’s other parent? If so, you’re certainly not alone. Many parents in Pennsylvania find themselves facing tension and conflict as they work out scheduling and time-sharing arrangements. But when the friction intensifies, it can negatively impact your child, harming...
Continue ReadingDivorce, child custody and holiday schedules
With holiday season in full swing, it is difficult to not see the importance these holidays have for individuals and families. For most parents, they cannot imagine celebrating the holidays without their children. However, for divorced parents, this is often a challenge. Creating a custody plan can be a difficult...
Continue ReadingWhat happens to a family business in divorce?
Dividing property frequently comes to the forefront in a Pennsylvania divorce. People will understandably view that from the perspective of items they have accrued as a couple. That includes a marital home, joint bank accounts, investments, automobiles and collectibles. However, some people have a business that could be a major...
Continue ReadingHow will your children perceive your divorce?
Anyone in Pennsylvania who is going through a divorce is sure to feel, at times, anger and frustration. However, when the divorce involves issues dealing with minor children as well, those feelings can be multiplied and, in fact, can be combined with other feelings such as uncertainty and helplessness. The...
Continue ReadingWhat happens to a family business in divorce?
Your marriage is over, and you are heading for divorce. Property division is a major part of the divorce process in Pennsylvania. This process can be complex, and the situation becomes even trickier if you own a business with your spouse. Chances are you and your spouse were not contemplating...
Continue ReadingUnderstanding child custody denials
When parents divorce and they have children in common, they must address child custody. Sometimes, parents can come to a mutually acceptable agreement about custody but often the court must decide instead. The court’s primary concern is the best interest of the child. This means that in some situations, it...
Continue ReadingDo divorce and child custody always have to be scary?
If you are a young married person who is facing a Pennsylvania divorce and child custody dispute, you feel overwhelmed and anxious about your future. You are worried about how the divorce will affect your children, your finances and your emotional well-being. You may also wonder what options you have...
Continue ReadingNavigating three child-related financial issues post-divorce
Figuring out how to effectively co-parent can be a struggle. You and your child’s other parent might have conflicting ideas about the best way to raise your child, which can lead to heated disputes that are difficult to resolve. But even if you and your child’s other parent are on...
Continue ReadingNesting can solve some child custody-related issues
For divorcing parents, they must deal with all of the things all divorcing couples deal with, but then, all of the child custody-related issues as well. This leads many to look for creative ways to solve these child custody-related issues or make dealing with other divorce issues easier. One solution...
Continue ReadingInternational child abduction
For those dealing with child custody issues, you know that there are a million issues to resolve. However, for those dealing with international child custody issues, they know that there are actually a million other issues to worry about as well. If one parent should abscond with your child, there...
Continue ReadingHow co-parents can make the best of school sports season
Navigating a coparenting relationship can be difficult, to say the least. You and your child’s other parent may have conflicting ideas about how to raise your child, which may make decisions about everything from schooling to discipline and even religious upbringing challenging and conflictual. But even if your co-parenting relationship...
Continue ReadingCan my ex just take our kid overseas?
These days, you cannot turn on the television without seeing images of international travel. It is incorporated into almost every show, scripted and reality alike. This has led many to seek international employment or try moving internationally to find their roots. This can be a wonderful journey, but not so...
Continue ReadingFour 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 ReadingWhat are the grounds for divorce under Pennsylvania law?
Divorce is never an easy proposition. For people in Pennsylvania who have reached the end of the line in their marriage, taking that next step and moving forward with a divorce proceeding is complicated and emotionally wrenching. Given the inordinate challenges that people across the nation have faced in the...
Continue ReadingTaking care of insurance coverage during a divorce
Getting ready for divorce involves not only the working through of intense emotional issues that are bound to come up, but also the more pragmatic considerations of property division and, where there are children, custody and parenting time. These strong emotions can cloud details that both sides must consider as...
Continue ReadingHow to determine an equitable division of assets in divorce
People acquire property at various points in their lives, keeping some assets for years while disposing others. Sometimes they will acquire assets or start a retirement account when they are younger before they are married. Other times they will acquire property as they grow older, some of it being acquired...
Continue ReadingWhat are your options for the family home during divorce?
If you own a home, then you might have a significant amount of equity built into it. You might also be emotionally attached to it. These realities can make it difficult to deal with the family residence in the midst of divorce’s property division process. While you may feel strongly...
Continue ReadingWill you receive alimony in your Pennsylvania divorce?
Your spouse may have earned most or all your household’s income during your marriage. If you depended on their support for your lifestyle or survival, you will likely worry about meeting your expenses after you two divorce. Furthermore, since divorcees in Pennsylvania are not entitled to alimony, you may fear...
Continue ReadingWhat is a Post Nuptial Agreement in Divorce?
A Post Nuptial Agreement (“PNA”) is an agreement between two spouses that spells out how their property and debts are to be divided in a divorce action. Additionally, this agreement may also include terms for spousal support, alimony and even child custody and is typical in situations where spouses separate...
Continue ReadingHow to prepare for a divorce
Whether you intend to file for divorce or whether your spouse files first, the thought of a divorce is often times overwhelming. This article is intended to give you some initial advice on what steps you should take first in the events a divorce. Our firm has been handling complex...
Continue ReadingHow does custody work in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania?
A custody action is initiated by someone filing a custody complaint. The complaint is prepared by an attorney and signed by one of the parties seeking custody. A parent, grandparent or even a third party may file for custody. The complaint is filed in the Prothonotary’s Office and served on...
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