Do You Need a Cohabitation Agreement?
If you’re cohabitating (living with someone), you need a cohabitation agreement. That doesn’t mean the world will grind to a halt if you don’t have one, but you’re going into this arrangement without a clear understanding of what happens when...[Continue reading]
Using the Domestic Relations Rules
The Domestic Relations child and spousal support guidelines deserve special mention here. Talk about a one-size-fits-all (or none) solution! The PA support guidelines are based on both parents’ net monthly incomes, with virtually no consideration for the parents’ or children’s...[Continue reading]
Why Worry About What My Spouse Needs
If you’re getting divorced, why should you worry about what your spouse (or soon to be ex-spouse) needs? Because it’s going to help you. That’s the self-centered answer. The more you can focus on meeting your spouse’s needs, the more...[Continue reading]
Concerns for Same-Sex Couples
In Pennsylvania, same-sex couples face unique legal challenges because even if they consider themselves a married couple, they are not legally allowed to marry. Even same-sex couples who are legally married in a different state are not recognized as a...[Continue reading]
Midnuptial Agreements
What is a midnuptial agreement? It’s an agreement entered into in the middle of a marriage. A prenuptial agreement is before a marriage, a postnuptial agreement is after a marriage has ended and a midnuptial agreement is during a marriage....[Continue reading]
Using the Divorce Code
Why spend all the time and energy trying to reach a “fair” agreement of your own when you can just rely on the Divorce Code? I can give you a laundry list of reasons, but I only have so much...[Continue reading]
Lawyers as Problem-Solvers
Lawyers have been called countless names over the years, many of which are unflattering. Family lawyers, or divorce lawyers, have some labels reserved specifically for them. Lawyers describe themselves in many different ways, also. Some want to be seen as...[Continue reading]
Deciding What is Fair
I firmly believe that the parties involved in a conflict are best able to determine a fair outcome. This includes couples dealing with divorce, siblings dividing a bag of candy, neighbors arguing about noise, etc. The basis of the “fairness”...[Continue reading]
How a “Simple” Divorce can take Four Years (or more)
Most people have heard the stories from their friends, coworkers, relatives, etc. of their seemingly simple divorce that just never seems to end. Most of us can imagine how complicated divorces involving millions of dollars in assets and income can...[Continue reading]
Decide or Have the Decision made for You
This phrase applies to pretty much everything in the area of family law. You can’t make any decisions for anyone else, but you can decide how you’re going to approach these challenges. If you don’t decide how you’re going to...[Continue reading]