Although we’re hopefully over the worst of the COVID–19 pandemic, the virus hasn’t gone away. As restrictions ease, everyone will have different opinions about how to live alongside COVID-19 safely, which raises a...
There’s no doubt that filing for divorce can be stressful and time-consuming. And when you’re already busy working or caring for your family, you might want to avoid adding legal proceedings into your packed schedule....
In Pennsylvania, minors can be charged with crimes and sometimes tried as adults, if the crime is serious enough. One common charge for juveniles — mostly teenagers — is domestic violence. Teens may be accused of assaulting...
When one parent has physical custody, visitation allows the other parent to build a loving, healthy relationship with their kids. If you’re planning your visitation this summer, though, you might be wondering how to make the...
The CDC reports over 630,000 people got divorced or had their marriages annulled in 2020. The CDC data includes same-sex divorces, and although Pennsylvania law governing divorce is applied the same to all marriages, same-sex...
In Pennsylvania, victims of domestic abuse have a way to seek protection via a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order. Although this option exists, domestic abuse and gun-related domestic abuse are still on the rise in...
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro has issued a statement warning of the potential for misuse of Apple AirTags, which were developed to help individuals find important personal items like car keys and wallets. As great as...
In November 2021, Jana Russo filed for a temporary protection-from-abuse (PFA) order against her estranged husband, David Russo, Greene County District Attorney. She alleges that Russo has a history of drinking heavily and...
A recent Butler County custody case demonstrates what can happen when a public profile and family law matters converge. In the case, U.S. Senate candidate Sean Parnell petitioned the court for a gag order to stop his wife and her...
A recent Pennsylvania Superior Court case clarified that only truly unusual needs and expenses warrant deviating from child support guidelines. The case emphasized that unless there are exceptional circumstances, the court will...
When the television series Modern Family premiered in 2009, it was one of the first times blended families were depicted realistically—albeit humorously –in all their messy glory. There is no strict legal definition of a...
To have in loco parentis standing over a child essentially means that you’re acting in the place of a parent. If you have this status, you can seek child custody – but is there a difference between “caregiving” or...
Child custody and visitation issues can be contentious, emotional, and divisive. When two parents cannot agree on a custody arrangement, the Pennsylvania courts decide for them, taking the best interests of the child into account....
The majority of child custody exchanges go smoothly. The parents are looking out for the best interests of their children, even if they personally can’t stand one another. There are times when custody exchanges can get...
Sometimes co-parents need extra help in coming to important decisions regarding their children. In Pennsylvania, this assistance can come in the form of a parenting coordinator, a specially trained lawyer or mental health...
A Family Court judge in PA should be objective and impartial at all times. This is the only way to ensure that both parties in a child custody case get the fair hearing they’re entitled to. However, the recent suspension of...
An unusual case in Pennsylvania recently raised the issue of Acknowledgment of Paternity forms in child support cases. In this case, despite not being a biological parent, the Court considered making the mother’s former...
While custody cases usually only contemplate the custody rights of a child’s two parents, in some instances in Pennsylvania, the right of custody may also extend to grandparents and other third parties who stand in loco...
One of the most difficult parts of a divorce can be coping with the idea that your children won’t be with you at least part of the time, and in some cases, even a majority of the time. While it’s natural to have some...
Child custody is one of the most emotionally charged and challenging aspects of any divorce. Even if two married people no longer love or care for each other, they almost always still want what’s best for their kids, and the...