Plenty of couples walk into our office convinced that mediation is completely off the table for them. The reasoning goes something like this: “We can’t even agree on what to have for dinner, let alone how to split the house.”...
Collaborative divorce is a private process in which both spouses agree to work together to reach a settlement without going to court. Each person hires a lawyer trained in collaborative law, and everyone signs an agreement that says they’re committed...
Many high-net-worth couples considering divorce believe that the collaborative process is only suitable for straightforward, low-asset cases. This is actually a misconception. With collaborative divorce, so long as you have the right legal team and process, you can resolve complex...
When a couple gets divorced, they may need support in resolving various issues, such as property division, alimony, and child custody. Mediation in divorce can often help couples reach a fair and amicable resolution to outstanding issues. But how much...
When considering the end of a marriage, choosing between mediation and a regular divorce can be challenging. Understanding the differences between these options helps you make the right decision for your situation. Understanding mediation Mediation involves both parties working with...
Divorce is a challenging time, especially when it comes to dividing assets and real estate. One way to safeguard your residence during a divorce is by using a Qualified Personal Residence Trust. This legal tool allows you to transfer ownership...
Marriage is a journey with ups and downs. Sometimes, the downs signal deeper issues that may lead to divorce. Recognizing the indicators that your marriage may be at risk can empower you to take action. For example, you may decide...
U.S. News and World Report noted that the average military pension is about $30,000 to $35,000 for each enlistment year. Officers get around double that amount. This is no small amount, and in a divorce situation, a spouse may wish...
After trying to reconcile, the time may come when divorce becomes the best solution for you and your spouse. Many other people face the same situation. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, 31,691 marriages ended in divorce or annulment...
Unfortunately, many marriages do not last. According to World Population Review, the divorce rate in Pennsylvania sits at 10 percent. This number is relatively low compared to the rest of the country. However, married couples need to know the signs...
If you and your spouse are ending your marriage, you may be leaning toward a traditional divorce in court. However, there are alternatives to litigation such as mediation or collaborative divorce. Could one of these options be a better choice?...
Deciding to divorce is hard on everyone involved, but there are ways to make the process easier. Couples that get a collaborative divorce focus on staying out of court and design a divorce settlement they both agree on. Many couples...
Through research and receiving input from people in Pennsylvania, you may feel completely prepared for any and all aspects of your upcoming divorce proceedings (still understanding that every case is unique). However, one element that many do not anticipate is...
Differences of opinion can disrupt any relationship. However, when you reach a point where indifference causes unrelenting tension, you may have considered divorce. Your decision to separate from your spouse is a personal one. Knowing under what conditions a divorce...
If you currently face divorce, the whole process can become messy quickly. It is a lot worse when the person you divorce is a narcissist. Narcissists are manipulative and tend to only care for themselves. If you feel that your...
A Pennsylvania divorce is rarely easy, but there are steps you may want to take that may help ensure that you give all relevant matters the attention they deserve. You may feel overwhelmed at the prospect of having to find...
Even if your marriage is not working out as you intended, you may not want to battle your spouse in open court. Using an alternative approach to wrap up your marriage may not only preserve your sanity, but it may...
While there are many difficult topics to negotiate during divorce proceedings, separating marital property may be one of the most challenging. It is easy to become attached to property that you have accumulated during the marriage. It is critical to...
Gray divorce is when your divorce occurs later in life. Most older couples will no longer have children at home and have marriages that stretch into decades. Business Insider explains that the concerns in a gray divorce differ from those...
You know that you no longer want to stay married to your spouse, but you do not know whether mediation fits your divorce desires. Should you consider traditional divorce instead? To decide, see what Lifehacker says about signs that mediation...
Divorce can be an extremely emotional and often overwhelming process, especially if there are children involved. Even if you and your spouse decide to legally separate or divorce, your children deserve to have continued interaction and support from both parents....
If you happen to have children with your ex-spouse, it may be the case that having sole custody sounds more appealing to you than sharing custody with him or her. Often, this may be for reasons of convenience as compared...
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...
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....
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 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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
Many Pennsylvania parents argue about their kids. When the arguments occur in relation to divorce, things can get messy. In fact, in some situations, ex-spouses can barely be in the same room together. Constant conflict between parents is not likely...
Years ago, Hollywood superstar Robert De Niro and his wife, Grace Hightower got divorced. Some time later, they reunited. There may be Pennsylvania spouses who can relate to such scenarios. There may also be people who relate to De Niro’s...
Many Pennsylvania households include children who are trying to adapt to new lifestyles. When parents decide to divorce, their decisions have significant impacts on their children’s lives. Not only is it important to try to keep legal stress to a...
Legally severing marital ties is typically not without its challenges. When a Pennsylvania resident files a petition to divorce, he or she must resolve many issues regarding property division and, perhaps, child custody, alimony or other matters. It is wise...
Many Pennsylvania parents get a bit stressed out when the school year begins to wind down, and they must think ahead to their summer plans. For parents who work full time outside the home, finding safe, affordable ways to occupy...
Most Pittsburgh residents are not billionaires. However, a married couple in this city and other Pennsylvania regions may currently be preparing for a high-asset divorce. Those who are may want to review the recent Jeff Bezos case. Founder of Amazon.com...
When you go through a challenging time in life, it often helps to have someone, such as a close friend or loved one, to lean on and to turn to for support. Even the most trying circumstances can often be...
When couples end their marriages, they typically want to keep matters out of the court as much as possible. When a Pennsylvania spouse decides to divorce, he or she doesn’t wish to get caught up in a seemingly endless round...
Current data show that people in Pennsylvania and elsewhere who have ended their marriages then remarried are prone to similar outcomes in their subsequent relationships. Hollywood star Tom Arnold’s current situation may be evidence that such data are correct, as...
Many Pennsylvania families will encounter difficult challenges when parents decide to end their marriages in court. It is not uncommon for divorce issues to arise that prompt parents to seek the court’s intervention to resolve. Child custody and visitation are...
Pennsylvania parents who decide to end their marriages must negotiate fair and agreeable settlements that include terms regarding the care and upbringing of their children. One of the main issues to be resolved in such situations is which parent will...
Deciding to end a marriage is definitely one of the most intensely personal choices of a lifetime. Many Pennsylvania spouses will file for divorce in 2019 and beyond. Some will choose mediation or collaborative law to negotiate their settlements; others...
As 2018 nears its end, many Pennsylvania parents will be among those seeking to end their marriages. Divorce is never easy, and issues — such as child custody, visitation or support — can complicate matters. As recently mentioned in previous...
Matt Barnes enjoyed a successful career in the NBA for nearly 15 years. Pennsylvania basketball fans may remember when he retired in 2017. Some may also have followed his divorce from Gloria Govan, who starred on reality TV show “Basketball...
Most households in Pennsylvania need 50 percent or more of their income just to make ends meet. In families that include a primary breadwinner rather than dual, full-time incomes, deciding to divorce may mean that a major financial adjustment is...
Many Pennsylvania residents will be among those throughout the nation who decide to end their marriages in court before this year’s end. Some are looking for the swiftest, quietest, uncontentious ways to finalize divorce, simply wanting to leave their pasts...
A top priority of all good parents in Pennsylvania and beyond is to act with children’s best interests in mind. When divorce occurs, parents may disagree about what is best. The court will step in to make all custody, visitation...
A study at a university in another state suggests that marriages in Pennsylvania and elsewhere last longer today than they have in recent decades. While the overall national divorce rate, especially among millennials, appears to be declining, that doesn’t help...
Every year there are many Pennsylvania couples who end their marriages. Reasons for doing so vary, but those that do separate often find they can relate to others who have gone through similar experiences. Divorce is stressful and affects every...
No two Pennsylvania marriages are exactly the same; therefore, neither are any two divorces. When a couple chooses to divorce, they often encounter various challenges regarding child custody, property division or other issues that can make the entire process quite...
Pennsylvania is one of the largest states in the nation. One can logically assume that this means it also has one of the highest populations. Perhaps being a large state has something to do with the reason the divorce rate...
When Pennsylvania spouses decide to divorce, they can choose which process they wish to facilitate to accomplish their goals. In situations where one of the spouses wishes to contest the divorce, or a couple is facing property division or custody...