Neither mediation nor collaboration is necessarily going to be the best —or worst— choice in all cases. Which approach to use is determined by the unique circumstances of your case and your individual preferences. Here are the most common factors that may influence your choice. To read about the common factors, see here.
The Complaint for Divorce is the initial document filed with the Pennsylvania court. It is in this document that the filing will request the court to terminate the marriage under certain specified grounds. There are fault and non-fault grounds to divorce in Pennsylvania. To read about the divorce grounds, go here.
Mediation provides parents with an alternative to traditional divorce. During the process of mediation, parents can work together and create a parenting plan that honors each parent’s unique contribution to their child’s upbringing. Benefits include: Mediation is Non-Adversarial Mediation is Easier on Your Children A Mediator is Neutral The Mediation Process is Free of Blame…
In this city with a deep and proud relationship with football, a custody dispute has pushed the debate about the sport’s safety into a new arena: family court. But the science around the long-term cognitive and neurological damage caused by football is still emerging. Judges who side with parents trying to prevent…
The bill would eliminate the tax deduction for alimony and make alimony income tax-free to the recipient for divorce decrees. Under current law, ex-spouses who pay alimony can deduct the expense from their federal income taxes; ex-spouses receiving alimony payments have to claim the money as taxable income. To see more, read here.
For many, the word “divorce” suggests images of angry interactions, family fractures, exorbitant attorney fees, and months if not years of court battles. Sadly, these images are realities for couples involved in divorce litigation. Unlike divorce litigation, divorce mediation is a prototype for positive co-parenting. From the outset professional divorce mediators establish the centrality…
In Pennsylvania, both parents must provide financial support to their children at least until the children turn 18 or become emancipated, which means they can support themselves. When parents have divorced, separated, or have never lived together, the parent with more custodial time is generally entitled to receive child support payments from the other…
Currently the person receiving alimony pays income tax on the alimony received. The alimony payer is able to deduct alimony payments from his/her income, reducing the payer’s tax burden. Beginning January 1, 2019, any alimony orders issued from that date forward, the tax burden for alimony will no longer shift from the payer…
Pennsylvania has its own divorce laws regarding who is eligible to file for a divorce. Each state protects its jurisdiction and makes sure the appropriate laws are applied to the appropriate cases. To prevent your case from being dismissed, make sure you meet the Pennsylvania residency requirements. The most common mistake people make is…
On the day of your wedding, everything is perfect. You are marrying the person of your dreams and you are taking vows to be together forever. However, unfortunately over 50% of the time, that wedding day becomes a fantasy. For whatever reason, the marriage falls apart, whether a spouse had an affair, money issues,…