What Income Counts Toward Child Support?
As a non-custodial parent, you will probably be required to pay child support in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania’s child support guidelines are based on the “income shares” model, which uses the combined income of both parents, minus any applicable deductions. Even government benefits count toward this income, meaning that if you earn...
Read MoreHow to Estimate Child Support in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, child support is intended to cover the entirety of a child’s needs. This includes food, clothing, shelter, and daycare needs, with a support obligation lasting until the child turns 18 years old or graduates from high school (whichever is later). Support payments are estimated based on the combined...
Read MoreStep-by-Step Guide to Filing for Child Support in Pennsylvania
If you are raising a child and require financial assistance, you can file for child support against the child’s other parent. Filing for support requires that you provide various information, which can be time-consuming and even confusing. The court process can be intimidating, making you wonder if it is even...
Read MoreHow is Child Support Calculated in PA?
A parent’s obligation to financially provide for their child exists whether or not the parents are married. If you are dealing with a child support case, the amount of support must cover the entirety of your child’s needs. Child support must cover a broad range of the child’s necessities, including...
Read MoreWhat Expenses Does Child Support Cover in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania?
As a parent, you want to be actively involved in the upbringing of your child, even if your marriage with your spouse has come to an end. Pennsylvania courts require each parent to contribute financially to their children to ensure that their basic needs are met. Since the custodial parent...
Read MoreWhat are the Benefits of Choosing Mediation Over Litigation in Pennsylvania?
In 2023, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania experienced just over 28,000 divorces, a divorce rate of 2.4%. While relatively low compared to other states, if you and your spouse are parting ways, you want to ensure that the terms you and your partner agree are sustainable. If you and your spouse...
Read MoreWho Can Be a Mediator in Pennsylvania, and How Do I Choose One?
Mediation is becoming a popular method of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), especially in family law matters. It allows spouses to maintain control over their situation and make decisions that are best for their family. Mediation is typically a relaxed process entered into voluntarily by both parties. If either party wants...
Read MoreWhen is Mediation Not Appropriate or Likely to Be Unsuccessful in Pennsylvania?
At face value, divorce appears to be the formal process by which a couple terminates their union. Many fail to realize that issues regarding property division, alimony, child support, and child custody must be decided upon. Many couples willing to hear the other side’s perspective prefer to resolve their issues...
Read MoreHow Can I Legally Change My Child’s Name in Pennsylvania?
A parent may request that a child’s name be changed in an effort to begin a new chapter in life. Parents should be aware that the court makes the final ruling on whether to grant a name change and that notice of the court proceedings must be provided to both...
Read MoreWhat Are Protection from Abuse (PFA) Orders, and How Can I Obtain One?
Protection from abuse orders (PFAs) are intended to protect those who are suffering abuse at the hands of someone with whom they share a domestic relationship of some kind. If you need a PFA to protect yourself, the time to act is right now, and an experienced Harrisburg protection from...
Read MoreWhat Are My Rights Regarding Adoption in Pennsylvania?
Adoption is a beautiful way to grow your family, but the legalities can be daunting. If you’re preparing to adopt, knowing your rights and protecting them is key. In fact, one of the most important steps anyone in your position can take is consulting with an experienced Harrisburg adoption attorney...
Read MoreIf I Get Divorced, Will I Be Ruined Financially?
Divorce is a significant life event that can have substantial financial implications for both parties involved. For many facing this transition, the concern about financial ruin is paramount. However, understanding how Pennsylvania law addresses the financial aspects of divorce can help alleviate some of these fears. This blog aims to...
Read MoreUnderstanding Paternity Laws in Pennsylvania: A Guide for Parents
Navigating the legal landscape of paternity can be challenging for parents in Pennsylvania. Whether you’re a mother seeking child support or a father wanting to establish a relationship with your child, understanding paternity laws is crucial. This blog aims to provide a comprehensive overview of paternity laws in Pennsylvania to...
Read MoreUnderstanding Child Support in Pennsylvania
Child support is a hot-button issue in many divorces. It’s a matter that is best resolved with a skilled Pennsylvania child support attorney on your side. Pennsylvania has developed child support calculation guidelines as outlined in the federal Child Support Enforcement Act. These guidelines take into consideration the following: Needs...
Read MoreWhy people break child custody agreements
Child custody agreements outline the rights of both parents, including who has physical and legal custody, visitation and other rights. In many cases, judges seek to build fair agreements where the child spends equal time with both parents. However, these agreements differ based on the case and jurisdiction. Therefore, parents...
Read More3 ways to protect your mental health during divorce
When you decided to get divorced, you likely recognized the process would be difficult. But you may not have fully understood how the process could impact your mental health. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, approximately 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. experience a mental illness every year. The following...
Read MoreHow Co-Parents Can Prevent Disputes Over Gift Giving
The holidays bring about good feelings for many. However, for single parents, holiday gift-giving may cause stress and anger. Disputes between co-parents may escalate as gift-giving events approach. One parent may feel pressure to keep up with the other parent’s spending. Gift duplication may prove a real prospect and cause...
Read MoreHow should you tell your grandchildren about your divorce?
Divorce rates are on the rise among Americans ages 55 and older. The oldest generations face challenges when they decide to end their marriages, and this often includes not only deciding how to tell their children, but how to reassure their grandchildren as well. If you and your spouse have...
Read MoreHow to build a successful co-grandparenting relationship after a divorce
If you have adult children, you may worry about how your kids may take the news of your divorce. Fortunately, they are likely to adjust to your post-divorce situation eventually. When your children have children, though, you want to be sure you and your ex-spouse can co-grandparent successfully. Even if...
Read MoreHow to cope after a marriage ends
It is estimated that up to half of all marriages in the United States will end in divorce. While a divorce may be an emotionally painful event to experience, there are things that Pennsylvania residents and others can do to move past it. For example, individuals should focus on what...
Read MoreAddressing divorce and parents interfering with parenting time
When Pennsylvania couples divorce, child custody and parenting time can be a challenge. In many cases, they work together for the good of the children. In others, there is disagreement, and problems such as parenting time interference will crop up. Direct and indirect parenting time interference Parents might obstruct the...
Read MoreRaising a happy child after a divorce
If you are thinking about delaying a divorce for the sake of your children, you may have nothing to worry about. Research has shown that children in Pennsylvania and throughout the country can still have normal lives even after their parents split. In some cases, staying in a toxic marriage...
Read MoreDivorce rates for couples with a huge difference in ages
Romantic relationships in Pennsylvania and elsewhere that involve couples with a significant age difference between them are sometimes referred to as May-December romances. Like most love affairs, May-December relationships may start with a great deal of romance. The bad news is that recent studies show that these types of marriages...
Read MoreKey issues to think about before moving forward with a divorce
Couples in the Harrisburg area and the surrounding areas of Pennsylvania can face challenges in maintaining a healthy marriage. Many unions can be salvaged with improved communication, lifestyle changes, understanding and perspective. Still, many marriages have reached their natural end and people can no longer stay together. When thinking about...
Read MoreHow is alimony determined in a Pennsylvania divorce?
Alimony is a payment made by one former spouse to the other former spouse following divorce. It is designed to address economic or financial inequity between the former spouses but is a divorce-related topic that can quickly grow contentious. As a result, it is helpful for divorcing couples to know...
Read MoreAre happy husbands and unhappy wives really the norm?
The idea that marriages between men and women make the men happy and the women miserable is not true, despite being a well-known “fact.” At least that is the conclusion of a scholarly researcher specializing in happiness. According to her understanding of the best available research, everyone is happier having...
Read MoreThe 5 biggest strains on a marriage
In a marriage, there are stressors that appear with time. As life changes, you are challenged with different aspects of your life. This can lead to problematic ways of coping with your stressors. Relationships are hard work and require more energy as challenges arise. Strains on a marriage are reoccurring...
Read MoreA financial cheating study may help marriages and marketers
Nobody has done detailed scientific research on “financial infidelity,” until now. The authors of a major new study even needed to clearly define the problem for the first time. The scholars say many kinds of people might find uses for their work. Some may suffer from financial cheating, while others...
Read MoreGenetic testing and how it can affect families
Family secrets have been linked to divorce and marital strain since long before we had direct-to-consumer genetic testing like 23andMe. However, the popularity of these kits has made it easier than ever for people to discover untold stories and mistaken (or hidden) identities. As such, there are families across Pennsylvania...
Read MoreAddressing common co-parent conflicts
Co-parenting can be tough, especially after a contentious divorce. Keep in mind, though, that putting in the work to get along with your child’s other parent can pay dividends when it comes to raising a happy, healthy kid. Try these tips to get past the most common issues that arise...
Read MoreDo grandparents have rights in Pennsylvania?
When custody rights are a factor in a divorce, parents are often at the center. But because grandparents are so often involved in raising children, they may also be entitled to visitation and perhaps even custody, depending on the situation. In Pennsylvania, the court may indeed grant grandparents’ visitation requests...
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