Medicinal Marijuana and Custody
Medicinal Marijuana and Custody In April of 2016, Pennsylvania became the latest state to enact legislation allowing physicians to prescribe medicinal marijuana to patients suffering from a list of qualifying conditions. Two years later, Pennsylvania dispensaries opened their doors. While many localities have eased restrictions when it comes to MJ, “recreational” use remains prohibited under […]
Cultivating Cooperation in Custody: Four Keys to a Successful Co-Parenting Relationship
Cultivating Cooperation in Custody: Four Keys to a Successful Co-Parenting Relationship Raising children is no easy task. As the saying goes, “it takes a village.” This is true for any household, but parents who are going through a separation or divorce can face a litany of additional challenges where feelings of anger or betrayal cloud their […]
Marital Misconduct and Equitable Distribution
Marital Misconduct and Equitable Distribution Many divorce cases include the allocation of marital debts and assets between former spouses. In Pennsylvania, this process is called Equitable Distribution. Pennsylvania courts apply several different statute-based factors in deciding how best to distribute all assets and debts that parties accumulate from the date of their marriage up to […]
You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know: The Value of Sound Representation in Divorce Actions
You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know: The Value of Sound Representation in Divorce Actions “Paul” worked hard for 30 years to support his wife and two children. His job was in sales and commission based, so he worked tirelessly around the clock to establish himself as one of the top performers in his field. […]
The Many Meanings of Shared Custody in Pennsylvania
The Many Meanings of “Shared Custody” in Pennsylvania The term “shared custody” gets thrown around a lot in Pennsylvania custody cases. Sometimes it’s used interchangeably with “50/50” custody. Where appropriate, shared physical custody is a great way of ensuring that each parent maintains a continuing and significant role in their children’s lives and gets to […]
COVID-19 Co-Parenting
COVID-19 Co-Parenting COVID-19 has introduced fear, uncertainty, and disruption to households across the country and across the globe. For some parents who are divorced or separated, this means additional strife in an already rocky relationship. For others, these unprecedented times have introduced chaos and discord into an otherwise balanced custodial arrangement. Whatever the state of […]
Adultery and Alimony in Pennsylvania
Adultery and Alimony in Pennsylvania In Pennsylvania, adultery is generally defined as a married person engaging in voluntary sexual relations with a person other than his or her spouse. In addition to being one of several “fault grounds” giving rise to a complaint in divorce, one spouse’s extramarital affair can carry a lasting impact throughout […]
Pennsylvania’s Newly Proposed Custody Bill: What to Know
Pennsylvania’s Newly Proposed Custody Bill: What to Know In May 2019, a new House Bill was introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly which, if passed, would radically shift how Pennsylvania Family Courts make determinations in child custody cases. Sponsored by Rep. Susan C. Helm (Dauphin/Lebanon Co.), House Bill 1397 would represent a departure from the […]
My ex just won the Lottery. Can I stop paying alimony now?
My ex just won the Lottery. Can I stop paying alimony now? “Alimony” is a series of monthly maintenance payments made from one former spouse to another for a fixed period of time following entry of a divorce decree. In Pennsylvania, alimony is often characterized as a “secondary” form of relief, available to a dependent […]
Where Medicine Meets Law: Vaccinations and Legal Custody
Where Medicine Meets Law: Vaccinations and Legal Custody Since the 18th century, vaccines have been used to stave off and in some instances eradicate the spread of polio, measles, mumps, and other diseases that children have historically been vulnerable to. In more recent years the conversation over the pros and cons of vaccination has gained […]
