There is no more devastating accusation than child abuse. The accusation, whether true or false, can tear families apart. Authorities have to take allegations seriously, as do parents and guardians. The health and welfare of children is paramount. Pennsylvania law discusses the procedures that ar...

Nearly everyone knows Oscar-winning actor Kevin Costner, the star of the blockbuster movie “Dances with Wolves” and the hit television show “Yellowstone.” But lately, Costner received more publicity for his acrimonious divorce, which played out in a California courtroom. Costner and his wife of 1...

Would it surprise you to learn that the divorce rate in the United States is dropping? In the year 2000, 944,000 Americans untied the knot—a rate of approximately four per 1,000 people. By 2021, however, that number had fallen--only 2.5 of 1,000 got divorced that year. That's a pretty big drop! ...

Over the past decade or so, issues related to gender-based self-identification have been more broadly explored by the media and popular culture. As a result, these issues have become increasingly addressed in a variety of ways in workplaces, classrooms, medical facilities, legislatures, courtroom...

The economy is constantly evolving. Employment positions that were considered solid one day may be downsized the next for any number of reasons. As a result, there is little guaranteed employment stability afforded to most adults in the U.S. Unfortunately, when an adult loses their job, the rippl...

While October may be best known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the month is also Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. The two causes may seem different, but they're similar in that while they predominantly affect women, men are often overlooked as either patients or victims. As t...

Every year, the parents of school-age children and teens are sent a list of school supplies that their students need to bring to class when summer ends and the academic year gets underway. When parents shop for school supplies, they also generally take stock of their child's wardrobe so that they...

There aren't many public figures whose resumes are as diverse as Cornel West's. The 70-year-old is a politician, activist, actor, author, hip-hop and spoken-word performer, podcaster, 2024 Green Party presidential candidate, and educator—with ties to some of the top universities in the United Sta...

A recent missing child situation from Connecticut is a reminder that a judge deciding a child custody case depends on the parties to provide much of the information needed to make a ruling on a child custody order. In the Connecticut case, a father filed a petition in August of 2021 asking a New...

When it comes to how age affects custody agreements, most people assume that it's the age of the children that's at play. In some cases, however, the age of the soon-to-be-divorced spouses matters most. That's particularly relevant if there's a significant age gap between the parties. Why is pare...

"False imprisonment" sounds like a scenario from an exciting action movie, but it's much less complicated than you might think. In Pennsylvania, it simply means the unlawful restraint of another person that substantially interferes with that person's liberty or freedom. This is one of the crimes...

You do your best to protect your children from all types of harm, but when you learn that one of your kids is being stalked or intimidated by some random person, it can be extremely frightening. The Internet makes it easier than ever for people from all over the world to contact anyone else with ...

Divorce is never easy, and if you're going through one or have done so, you understand all of the many issues that need to be considered and addressed, particularly in cases where there are children involved. One of the most contentious of these issues is often where the kids will attend school. ...

Child custody and visitation are the most emotional and contentious parts of any divorce. Each parent hopes their former spouse is a good person with the best interest of their child at heart, someone who wants the best possible outcome for visitation and custody. Sadly, that isn't always true—ev...

The idea of using a private investigator or an “expert” as one of the tools in your child custody battle may sound a tad dramatic, but both are fairly common in high net-worth divorces, especially in matters that include highly contested child custody battles. What Is a High Net Worth Divorce? ...

As reported in an article by Fox News, in May of 2023, Christine Baumgartner filed for divorce from her husband and famous Yellowstone actor, Kevin Costner. The former couple's divorce has been messy, to say the least, and has been plagued most significantly by ongoing feuds regarding Costner's c...

Solid evidence of your positive parenting skills or your ex-partner's parenting mishaps can significantly impact the outcome of your child custody battle. As with any matter, each legal matter is determined on a case-by-case basis, and evidence is key. The following suggestions will help you zero...

Whether we like it or not, there is truth behind the common saying, "You never get a second chance at a first impression." If you have an upcoming child custody hearing, you may feel nervous about what to wear to court and how you should act. After all, making a positive first impression and show...

Getting divorced is difficult for everyone, but it can be even more complicated for those in the public eye. Doctors are viewed as pillars of the community. In particularly close-knit communities, almost everyone in town may know their doctor and hold them in great regard. So, when a doctor gets ...

Domestic violence is a tragically common problem in Pennsylvania, with thousands of families affected daily. An abuse victim has the right to seek a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order for themselves and others in their household to shield them from their abuser's aggression–but does a PFA order's ...

There are strict laws surrounding domestic violence in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Victims of violent acts or crimes waged by family members or within a household typically seek a restraining order. These orders force the aggressor, or defendant, from harming or harassing a victim or plaint...

Divorce can be a difficult and emotional experience for all parties involved. Families have to deal with new living arrangements, new residences, new money woes, and if children are involved, child custody arrangements. Those on the periphery may be especially curious about “whys,” “whats,” “wher...

Transgender rights have become a hot-button topic in state legislatures across the country, with at least 22 states passing or targeting some type of anti-trans legislation. In contrast, others have passed laws intended to protect these children. So, it's no surprise that parents living in the s...

Summertime can lay additional pressure on an already stressed-out parent. It can be exhausting to find ways to keep the kids busy without neglecting your responsibilities, mediate disputes between siblings, manage screen time, and always have an answer to the perpetual question: what do we have t...

Father's Day is an opportunity for children to show appreciation for the fathers in their lives and strengthen the bond between them. Father figures are an essential part of a child's development. Parents should nurture father-child relationships, especially if the child's parents are separated o...