Child Support Arrears and Passport Denial
If you are a United States’ citizen, you are eligible for a passport; however, under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1997, if you owe $2,500.00 or more in child support arrears, you will be denied a passport until the balance is addressed. The government can, under the PRWORA, revoke, restrict, or limit […]
The B Word … Bankruptcy
Usually when the word bankruptcy is used by one of the parties in a divorce setting, confusion and uncertainty ensues. Sometimes one of the parties in a divorce attempts to use this as a weapon to seek an unfair advantage in the proceedings. It is very common that one or both of the parties in a divorce […]
Divorce Rates in Pennsylvania: Who, When, and Where?
According to the Department of Health, fewer marriages in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania were dissolved by marriage or annulment in 2015 than in the previous year. The report indicates that there were 33,600 divorces state-wide last year. In 2015, 72,774 couples were married and 33,600 were divorced. In 2014, 74,980 couples were married and 34,060 […]
What is an Annulment?
In Pennsylvania, a marriage can be dissolved by annulment, rather than by divorce, under specific circumstances. If a marriage qualifies under the law to be annulled, either party may bring an action in annulment to have the marriage declared void. Unlike divorce, an annulment voids a marriage and it is as if it never occurred […]
Gun Ownership Rights Denied to Perpetrators of Domestic Violence
In a 6-2 ruling, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday, June 27th that people who commit reckless acts of domestic violence can be denied gun ownership rights. Two men were convicted in the State of Maine for possessing firearms following misdemeanor acts of domestic violence. The case of Voisine et al. v. United States raised […]
Staying Together for the Kids
Many unhappy couples choose to remain married and delay divorce because they are “staying together for the kids.” They believe it best for their children to be raised in an intact family rather than being a child of divorce. While it may be true that children thrive in complete, happy families, staying together for the […]
The Impact of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s Death on Upcoming Cases
The Impact of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s Death on Upcoming Cases Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died on February 13, 2016. On Monday, February 22nd, the Supreme Court resumed and began hearing oral arguments without a full bench. Due to the current political leanings of the remaining eight justices, the likelihood of a 4-4 […]
The Emotional Toll of Divorce
The Emotional Toll of Divorce Every person internalizes stress and sadness differently, and divorce proceedings can take a hefty toll on a party’s emotional and psychological health. As family law attorneys, we see clients go through everything from heartbreak to anger and we support them at every stage of their emotional process. It is imperative, […]
The Media Blitz of Celebrity Divorces
The Media Blitz of Celebrity Divorces Recently, details of many celebrity divorces have been making headlines. The lives of the rich and famous are constantly making national news, even for the mundane details of their day-to-day lives like what actresses wear when they take their children to the park. The juicy details of celebrity divorce, […]
The Role of a Child’s Preference in Custody Trials
The Role of a Child’s Preference in Custody Trials In Pennsylvania, the Court is required to consider 16 enumerated factors in rendering a decision in custody cases. One of those factors is the child’s preference, so long as it is mature and well-reasoned. There is no specific age at which the court has deemed a […]