Blog

Discovering that your spouse’s previous marriage was never legally ended makes an already complex process even messier. In most cases, this is not a case of intentional deception. Instead, it is the result of their divorce case...

Believe it or not, being a grandparent doesn’t give you legal standing in Pennsylvania courts. State law only allows a custody or visitation petition in a handful of specific situations. Most grandparents don’t...

A Pennsylvania custody evaluation depends on paperwork in addition to visits and interviews with the child’s parents. Evaluators build their recommendation from records most parents don’t think to organize until the...

Pennsylvania’s child support guidelines don’t rely on a single month’s pay stub to set a non-custodial parent’s obligation. When commissions or bonuses drive a big share of income, the court averages it out...

A PFA petition can turn a household upside down fast. Once it’s filed, a Pennsylvania judge can sign a temporary order that same day, and state law requires a final hearing within 10 business days after that. Ten days...

A hospital system is now running patients’ clinical notes and imaging through an AI model that calculates a private intimate partner violence risk score. Patients aren’t typically told this happens. For Pennsylvania...

Whatever you think about the significance of marriage, it can be a relevant and even critically important consideration in a Pennsylvania child custody case. The issue of marriage is particularly relevant in questions of paternity...

Pennsylvania House Passes HB 1909, Raising the Stakes in PFA Cases Pennsylvania families who live with a Protection From Abuse order may soon see the rules change. House Bill 1909 cleared the state House by a 104 to 94 vote and...

Newly divorced or separated parents in Pennsylvania should be aware that a custody schedule for the school year does not automatically govern summer. If your order is silent, vague, or your co-parent is ignoring its terms, you...

In June 2026, former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg answered the door to find a police officer and a child welfare case worker, who informed him that they had received an anonymous report of abuse concerning his...

If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected in Pennsylvania, call ChildLine immediately at 1-800-932-0313. ChildLine is a free, 24/7 hotline operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. You do not need to be...

If you lost your job in Pennsylvania, your child support order does not change until you file a petition to modify it. Until a judge approves a new amount, you will continue to owe under the terms of the existing order. The sooner...

The Pennsylvania Senate is currently considering a bill, HB 1909, that would expand penalties for anyone who violates a protective order, known as a PFA in Pennsylvania. The House passed the bill earlier this year. PFAs serve an...

Nothing is more frightening for a parent than a Children and Youth Services (CYS) investigation that threatens to take your kids away. When authorities believe your child is in imminent danger, they may initiate an Order of...

It begins with a single phone call. In Pennsylvania, anyone can report suspected child abuse or neglect to ChildLine, the state’s central registry. While the system is designed to protect children, an unexpected investigation...

When a family member, intimate partner, or former intimate partner is behaving in abusive ways, leaving safely and seeking protection effectively is rarely a straightforward process. Although Pennsylvania offers domestic violence...

When a family member, intimate partner, or former intimate partner is behaving in abusive ways, leaving safely and seeking protection effectively is rarely a straightforward process. Although Pennsylvania offers domestic violence...

Parenting is challenging, and disagreements between parents are common. However, some custody issues can escalate into what are known as “high-conflict” situations. In Pennsylvania, courts acknowledge these...

Whether it’s physical, emotional, or financial, domestic abuse (also known as Intimate Partner Violence) is a difficult experience to undergo. Unfortunately, getting out of such a relationship isn’t easy either — and it’s...

If you anticipate a custody case in the future, it is important to begin preparing now. If you have documents and other evidence to support your version of events, the court is more likely to believe you. That belief can translate...