The end of a marriage is rarely met with joy and celebration. Even if it is the best course of action for you, your spouse, and your children, navigating the divorce process is still stressful. It will be even more...
The divorce process in Pennsylvania often looks very different from what it was a few decades ago. Instead of a long, anger-filled court battle that eats up time and money, you may avoid the courtroom altogether. The caveat is that...
When people get a divorce, they may pursue mediation. There are a few things people should consider as they select a mediator. While mediation can help shorten the divorce proceedings, it still takes time. According to FindLaw, many couples can...
Even though your marriage is ending, you may not have much interest in a protracted court battle. Fortunately, you likely have some options for a more peaceful divorce. With one of these, divorce mediation, you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse voluntarily...
Creating a manageable co-parenting plan in the aftermath of divorce is often one of the most challenging aspects of the process. Co-parenting requires a high level of communication and dedication between ex-partners to work well, and this can be difficult....
Collaborative divorce is a well-known alternative to litigating the end of your marriage in court. While this offers many benefits, it does not mean that there are no challenges involved. The stakes are high in a collaborative divorce. Before you...
Your post-divorce life in Pennsylvania may present you with the new opportunity may be to relocate to a new area. Yet a proposed relocation can become difficult if you share custody of your kids with your ex-spouse. Many past clients...
Divorce often provides a window into various aspects of society. Divorce rates are sometimes tied to economic conditions and the changing attitudes of Americans. A decrease in divorce rates and in marriages in the U.S. and in the state of...
When you and your spouse split up, you need to figure out who gets to keep what. You also need to determine what happens to any debt you have when the marriage ends. Depending on circumstances, dividing up debt may...
If you are considering divorce mediation, you are far from alone. From saving on court costs and attorney fees to saving your children from a drawn-out battle, there are many reasons to consider this alternative to traditional litigation. However, for...
Pennsylvania parents like you prioritize your child during divorce. Co-parenting during and after the legal proceedings is often full of trial and error. But above all, you want what is best for your child. This includes figuring out how to...
A divorce in Pennsylvania can bring out the worst in both parties. Despite efforts to maintain the peace, sometimes hostile behavior escalates quickly. You may wonder why you should bother to try to keep things on an amicable footing. According...
Past posts on this blog detailed what types of assets qualify as marital property. It may come as a surprise to you to learn that a 401(k) falls on this list. Your 401(k) account likely exists due to your employment...
You and your spouse may have already decided that you want to settle your divorce via a process of alternative dispute resolution rather than the traditional court trial. However, you still have to decide whether mediation or collaborative divorce is...
You may feel a sense of relief following the finalization of your divorce. We encourage you to take a deep breath and brace yourself for some news that you might not want to hear. According to TODAY, this is the...
Pennsylvania couples like you may face disputes on the road to divorce. Some of these disputes may turn ugly. There is no shame in admitting that you cannot surmount your disputes on your own. Today, we will look at mediation...
Most people have fond memories of generous grandparents willing to give them the world and then some. In fact, studies show that most grandparents contribute financially to their grandchildren’s lives. Sometimes, it is $20 in a Christmas card. Other times,...
The bad behavior of one spouse can result in the decision of the other spouse to seek a divorce. Sometimes, the spouse who behaved poorly is the one who files for divorce, possibly because they have already begun a new...
Property division may be one of the most complicated topics to negotiate in a divorce decree. In addition to becoming attached to certain items obtained during the marriage, you may find it difficult to decipher what types of property are...
Pennsylvania divorce mediation is an alternative to litigation. It can help the divorce process proceed faster and more cost-effectively than if you take it to court, even if you have serious conflicts. Our mediators often help clients improve communication and...
Getting divorced can surface very different emotions for people depending on what caused their marriage to crumble in the first place, personality traits, past traumas and whether or not they have an adequate support system. People in Pennsylvania who are...
If you and your spouse contemplate divorce, Pennsylvania law requires you to equitably divide your marital property between you. But an equitable division does not necessarily mean a precisely equal division. In fact, FindLaw explains that an equitable property settlement...
When going into a divorce, it is important to remember that there are no guarantees. This can cause people a great deal of anxiety, especially if there is ongoing conflict between divorcing spouses. Sometimes the other spouse may not want...
As collaborative divorce becomes more common, you may be wondering whether this measured and more cordial way to approach to divorce proceedings is right for your situation. Keeping the courts out of your divorce has myriad benefits. Most importantly, you...
Custody matters are often difficult to work through in a divorce. After all, you both want time with your children and to ensure you have rights in raising them. It is not uncommon for there to be disagreements between parents...
Divorce can feel like an uphill battle. When spouses try to settle matters in court, it can leave them feeling exhausted and resentful. That’s because separation litigation can pit couples against one another by dragging out the process. When this...
There is much to contemplate when seeking a divorce in Pennsylvania. Division of property, living arrangements and child custody are significant factors, but there are small details, as well. Consider the minor issues along with everything else. Paying attention to...
The way the family law courtroom treats custody has changed considerably over the past 20 years. It used to be almost universally assumed that the mother would end up with primary custody of any children involved, but times have changed....
Maybe you never formally adopted your stepchildren, but you intend to pay support and want parenting time with them because you view them as part of your family. Perhaps you have companion animals or pets that are so important to...
Most people think of divorce as a process in which two spouses go to court and fight in front of a judge. Though a bit oversimplified, divorce litigation can more or less fit that picture. However, divorcing couples have another...
Going through a divorce often is a stressful and emotionally taxing process. If you and your spouse want to divorce amicably, one way to do that is to consider a collaborative divorce, which avoids couples ending up fighting in court....
Family law mediation has been an alternative way of solving family disputes outside court for many years. As stated in an article in Forbes, mediation is one of the processes divorcing couples can use. It involves a third party tasked...
By its very nature, a divorce implies that two people do not work well together in all situations. The challenges may range from financial struggles to marital infidelities and the resulting loss of trust and more. Whatever the reason that...
When you have a family law issue, it may be your first time dealing with the legal system. You may have no idea what to expect. This may also be true if your case is going through mediation. It can...
Collaborative law divorce is an excellent way to end a marriage without fights. It is where divorcing couples sit together with their respective attorneys and negotiate to come up with an appropriate solution. Many couples have seen this as a...
Divorce proceedings can be trying. Most couples want to finish the divorce as quickly as possible. Given the high emotions, they do not often find time to agree. The fighting can make the divorce more difficult. Because court tends to...
Collaborative divorce embraces the idea of a couple working together to make decisions and reach an agreement. It aims to do this outside of the courtroom. This is a popular concept because it does help to reduce stress, increase cooperation,...
Millennials are often known to divorce differently than their parents. According to a recent report, nearly 30% of them aren’t committing to joint bank accounts after marriage. That may be due to the Millennials who witnessed their parents’ separation and...
As with any major life decision, people thinking about a divorce ask around, canvassing their friends. Are you glad you went ahead with your divorce? How has your life changed? What do you wish you had done differently? It often...
Many of us have more intense feelings about our families than about anything else in life. This sometimes makes solutions to problems seem impossibly far away. Specialists in family law help families create and maintain better agreements for a better...
You and your partner have decided to go your separate ways, but you’re already dreading the custody agreement that the courts will devise. Fortunately, there’s a way that’s often simpler, less expensive and more collaborative. Mediation is the process of...
You may have seen a few startling headlines this year about a raging epidemic of divorce among older people. Stories of skyrocketing rates of so-called “gray divorce” made it seem like experienced married couples do not stand a chance. Is...