PA Supreme Court Upholds $10,000 Defense Fund in Custody Agreement
PA Supreme Court Upholds $10,000 Defense Fund in Custody Agreement In a recently reported case, Pennsylvania Superior Court upheld the provision of an agreement whereby a Father agreed to pay to Mother $10,000 every time he filed to contest the parties’ custody agreement. Huss v. Weaver, — A.3d — (2014), 2014 Pa. Super 238. The […]
Valuing a Business Entity: The Role of “Personal Goodwill”
Valuing a Business Entity: The Role of “Personal Goodwill” Determining the value of a business for purposes of equitable distribution is a complex and complicated process. In many cases, a court may order that a forensic accountant be appointed to assess the value of the business that is subject to equitable distribution. The concept of […]
Pets and Custody
Pets and Custody: What do we do Meow? It’s estimated that 70-80 million dogs and 74-96 million cats are owned in the United States. Approximately 37-47% of all households in the United States have a dog, and 30-37% have a cat. As a caring pet owner, many people in a divorce situation are confronted with […]
Paternity Laws in PA
Paternity Laws in PA By: Melissa D. Towsey, Esquire “Paternity” is how fatherhood is legally defined under the laws of Pennsylvania. When a child is born to an unmarried woman in Pennsylvania, there is no legal relationship between the child and the father. Paternity can be established two ways: (1) by agreement of the parents; […]
How Long Does it Take to Get a Divorce?
The Waiting is the Hardest Part: How Long Does it Take to Get a Divorce? By: Melissa Towsey, Esquire The answer is that it depends. A divorce based on mutual consent under Section 3301(c) of the Divorce Code, meaning both parties agree to moving forward with the divorce process, could happen in five (5) or […]
The Goal of a Fair & Equitable Distribution of Property in a Pennsylvania Divorce
The Goal of a Fair & Equitable Distribution of Property in a Pennsylvania Divorce By: Melissa D. Towsey, Esquire Pennsylvania is not a 50/50 or community property state. Our Commonwealth follows the principles of “equitable distribution”, meaning that the net marital estate (marital assets less marital debts) will be divided as the court deems “equitable,” […]
Legal Separation in Pennsylvania
Legal Separation in Pennsylvania By: Melissa Towsey, Esquire The terms “legal separation” do not exist in Pennsylvania family law. The concept of a “date of separation”, however, is an important date for purposes of equitable distribution (dividing your assets) and triggering various filing deadlines. The date of separation is important in determining when the divorce […]
Should You Tell Your Employer That You are Getting a Divorce?
Should You Tell Your Employer That You are Getting a Divorce? By: Melissa Towsey, Esquire In our technologically sophisticated world where we post, pin and Instagram our most intimate thoughts and feelings, the question remains – how much do you tell your employer about your divorce? In many instances, you will have to inform your […]