The standard for an award of custody of a child in Pennsylvania is what is in the “best interests” of the child. The changes to the custody laws in 2011 mean that custody determinations are gender neutral. Absent certain circumstances, the majority of parents share legal custody of their child and many share physical custody on an equal basis. Legal
The guilt resulting from the decision to work outside of the home when you are a mother is very real. If you are like me, you are consistently questioning if you are devoting enough focus and time to your work. And, are you centered and present enough when you are at home with your child(ren)? […]
One of Pennsylvania’s sixteen custody factors is “The well-reasoned preference of the child, based on the child’s maturity and judgment.” 23 Pa. C.S. § 5328(a)(7). The child’s preference is only one factor that the court will consider, in addition to the other fifteen. Based on this factor, the parents have the option to bring the […]
Recent news was that Angelina Jolie has added two “powerhouse litigators” to her legal team in the case of her divorce from Brad Pitt. These two joined well-known “divorce attorney to the stars,” Laura Wasser, who was the first attorney to appear on behalf of Angelina Jolie. Ms Wasser, who has represented many of the […]
Divorce impacts every member of a family, and often times those who feel the impact most are the children who never had any say in the decision to dissolve a marriage. When things get contentious, it’s sometimes easy for parents to focus so much on getting a positive outcome that they lose sight of what […]
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania recently issued an opinion in the case of In re: Adoption of M.R.D. and T.M.D. (26 MAP 2016, August 29, 2016). In this case, the Court considered “whether, in order to facilitate the termination of a biological father’s parental rights, a grandfather may adopt his grandchildren with the children’s mother […]
At LaMonaca Law, we specialize in the practice of family law. This includes custody, divorce, child support, protection from abuse and many other matters. The legal landscape of family law is always changing and you should seek the advice of an experienced family law attorney at all stages of the process. There are some misconceptions […]
A divorce action that includes support, custody, and equitable distribution can be a complicated and stressful process. Before anything is filed with the Courts, it’s essential that you meet with an attorney who can identify your goals and your fears, take in the facts of your case, and define a path forward. Additionally, it’s important […]
In Pennsylvania, when a married woman gives birth to a child, it is presumed that the woman’s husband is the child’s father by way of their marriage. Now that same sex couples can marry in Pennsylvania and across the country, does the same presumption of parentage apply to married same sex couples? Because the law […]
Let’s face it, if you are contacting our firm, it is because you are having fears and concerns about your future. These fears can be overwhelming, especially when you feel alone or when you cannot get the answers you need. We can help calm those fears and make sure your rights are protected with our […]
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