Schwartz, Fox & Saltzman, LLC. – Philadelphia Divorce Lawyers
In Pennsylvania, the Grandparent Visitation Act expanded the rights of grandparents to seek custody in certain circumstances. There are two types of custody that can be sought, legal custody and physical custody. Grandparents can seek one or both, based on
Many parties in custody disputes ask me whether their children will have to testify and whether the court will consider their child’s c opinions and thoughts. Parents are understandably concerned about whether their child will be asked to choose sides
When you’re navigating a stressful divorce, maintaining a nutritional diet can feel impossible. While eating may feel unimportant during times of emotional turmoil, it’s crucial to adopt healthy eating habits to ensure your mental and emotional wellness throughout the divorce
Managing home repairs during divorce is complex, with issues of responsibilities and liabilities adding to the ongoing emotional strain. When a house needs fixing amidst a separation, such as a roof replacement, the question of financial responsibility can become a
Understanding the requirements and implications of a 50/50 custody arrangement is crucial to avoiding potential child custody disputes in Pennsylvania. Due to the complex laws surrounding child custody, seasoned legal representation is essential. The Philadelphia child custody attorneys at Schwartz,
Drafting a comprehensive child custody agreement is crucial for ensuring the well-being of your children. A well written agreement can also help you and the other parent avoid future child custody disputes. Due to the numerous legal and factual issues
Due to the emotionally charged nature of child custody cases, people sometimes cross legal and moral boundaries by making false allegations of abuse. This can make a difficult process even more painful. If you have been falsely accused of child
Child custody disputes are often stressful and emotionally challenging. Navigating a child custody dispute when one or both parents live in different states comes with unique challenges. For over 30 years, the Philadelphia child custody attorneys at Schwartz, Fox &
If you are seeking a Protection from Abuse (PFA) order, Pennsylvania Law (§6102(a)) requires you to provide proof you are suffering physical or sexual abuse or receiving verbal threats, which places you or your minor children in reasonable fear of
Child custody is often a contentious and difficult issue, and modifying child custody can become even more contentious as parents clash over the issues. As the facts of each case are unique, there are several reasons a judge will change
Have you and your significant other recently ended your relationship? Are you seeking temporary or permanent custody of your children? Understanding the duration of a temporary custody order in Pennsylvania is crucial for successfully navigating the child custody process. In
Being served with a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order is a terrifying experience. The prospect of being separated from your family and having your reputation ruined can be even more frightening. Successfully defending yourself from a PFA order requires representation
In addition to being an emotionally difficult subject, the laws surrounding child support are complex. Successfully navigating a child support modification case in Pennsylvania requires careful strategy, and representation by an experienced Pennsylvania child support attorney is essential. The Pennsylvania
The laws surrounding child support in Pennsylvania are complex and confusing. While there are many misconceptions regarding child support, it is intended to provide financial support to the child instead of the other parent. If you have questions regarding what
Certain situations demand swift and decisive action when it comes to a child’s well-being. Emergency custody is generally pursued in Pennsylvania via a petition for special relief. If you are considering seeking emergency custody, Pennsylvania law requires you to prove
Going through a Protection From Abuse order (PFA) hearing can be a challenging and painful experience. However, with the right strategies and preparation, you can increase your chances of success. Additionally, representation by an experienced Philadelphia family law attorney can
Is your former partner or spouse continually violating a child custody agreement or order? Understanding when you can file parental kidnapping charges in Pennsylvania is crucial. With over 40 years of experience, the dedicated child custody attorneys at Schwartz, Fox
Retroactive child support in Pennsylvania refers to the financial support a non-custodial parent may be required to pay for the period before the entry of a formal child support order. Understanding the law surrounding retroactive child support is crucial for
Is your ex-spouse or former partner withholding your child or interfering with your custody rights? Dealing with a situation where the other parent prevents you from seeing your child can be emotionally challenging and legally complex. In this situation, only
If you’re contemplating divorce or seeking to better understand your rights and responsibilities, this brief guide on 5 Things You Must Know about the process is a great place to start. Whether you’re ready to begin the divorce process or
Having doubts about a relationship with another is a perplexing matter. Do I reach out now to a family lawyer, even if I haven’t decided to move in a particular direction, or, do I wait until after I have decided?
The laws regarding the termination of child support in Pennsylvania are complex and sometimes confusing. If you want to know when your obligations for paying child support end in PA, you need the services of an experienced Pennsylvania family law
Alimony and spousal support are often fiercely contested issues in a Pennsylvania divorce. Navigating the intricacies of spousal support and alimony can be difficult which is why representation by an experienced Philadelphia divorce lawyer is essential. The family law attorneys
A divorce in Pennsylvania can be a challenging process. For military families, unique considerations must be carefully addressed. Whether it’s navigating the complexities of retirement pay, resolving child custody issues, or handling health coverage matters, working with a Philadelphia divorce
Ending a marriage is a challenging process. Depending on the facts of your case, you may be able to obtain an annulment. Due to the complex laws surrounding annulments in the state of Pennsylvania, representation by an experienced lawyer is
While uncontested divorces are ideal, the process can still be challenging and stressful—especially when it takes longer than expected. Various factors can contribute to delays, but working with an experienced Philadelphia divorce lawyer can help mitigate these issues and keep
The divorce process can be stressful and confusing. While it may be obvious your marriage is over, it is important to understand when you and your spouse began living “separate and apart” in PA if you are seeking a divorce
Obtaining emergency custody orders in Pennsylvania can be a time-sensitive and stressful process as it involves a child’s health, welfare, and safety. Emergency custody, by design, happens comparatively quickly but still must follow a specific process to prevent parents from
In Pennsylvania, getting remarried may impact your child support obligations if your individual financial situation changes due to the new marriage. This is because when a person remarries, their financial situation may change, which can affect the amount of child
Unfortunately, the answer is “it depends.” Due to the legally complex and emotionally charged nature of a custody case, representation by an experienced Philadelphia child custody attorney is essential. At Schwartz, Fox, and Saltzman, LLC, our family law attorneys have
Ideally, divorce means you can end a painful chapter of your life. However, when former spouses have children, disputes regarding child custody arise as their lives and circumstances change. Representation by an experienced Philadelphia child custody lawyer is essential if
A common question asked by a noncustodial parent is, can a sole custody order be reversed? The short answer is yes, it is possible to modify child custody orders, but the issue may need to be litigated before a Judge,
Under Pennsylvania Law, domestic violence victims can seek a Protection from Abuse (PFA) order if they can prove their spouse or partner is abusing them or their minor children. A protection order is a legal document issued by a court
In short, yes, you can obtain a Protection From Abuse Order (“PFA”) based on verbal abuse in Pennsylvania. Verbal abuse can be a form of domestic violence and can seriously impact an individual’s mental and emotional well-being. The experienced Philadelphia
Are you litigating a child custody matter in Pennsylvania in which a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) has been appointed? A GAL’s recommendations can have a significant impact on custody issues. As a Guardian Ad Litem can recommend sole custody in
Following a divorce, a common question people ask is, “What happens If I can’t pay alimony?” If you cannot make court ordered alimony payments, there can be severe legal and financial consequences. A Philadelphia lawyer who is experienced in family
If you are going through a divorce, it is natural to wonder what will happen to your house. Due to the complex legal issues in a Pennsylvania divorce, there is no easy answer regarding what happens to the house. This
As a parent, it is natural to be concerned regarding the people who come into contact with your child. However, when it comes to your ex-partner, neither of you can dictate who gets to be around your child. Instead, a
If you are an unmarried couple living in Pennsylvania, you may be wondering what legal options are available to protect your rights and assets. Entering into a Pennsylvania domestic partnership can offer you some of the same rights and legal
Property division is often a complex and intensely contested issue during a divorce in Pennsylvania. Depending on the facts of your case, your limited liability company (LLC) may be treated as marital property under Pennsylvania law (§3501(a)). To protect your
When a marriage ends in divorce, it is common for one spouse to seek spousal support and alimony which means one spouse must pay alimony to the other spouse during and after the divorce. Due to the adversarial nature of
It is recommended you retain a divorce lawyer even if you and your spouse seemingly agree on everything. The intricacies of navigating a divorce may lead to you agreeing to an unfair settlement or mistakes during the filing process. Additionally,
Seeking a divorce does not mean you have to impoverish yourself to escape an unhappy marriage. Pennsylvania law provides lower-earning spouses several tools to protect themselves financially before, during, and after a divorce. One of these tools is establishing spousal
Divorcing your spouse is an emotionally painful and stressful process. Divorces often require invoking the formal litigation process which is an inherently confrontational process. As such, it is important to understand what can be used against you in a divorce,
The typical cost of a divorce in Pennsylvania depends on a number of factors. Naturally, people seeking divorce desire a level of legal and financial certainty during this difficult process. While it’s not possible to predict the precise cost of
Obtaining a divorce can be a mentally and emotionally draining process. While a divorce is designed to allow you to exit a toxic relationship and start a new chapter of your life, you should also take steps to protect your
Consulting a divorce lawyer in Philadelphia is the beginning of a difficult and potentially lengthy legal process. You can prepare for your consultation by: This article breaks down a divorce checklist to prepare ahead of your consultation with your family
Property division can be a heavily contested issue during a divorce. Pennsylvania is an equitable distribution state; this mean the state uses an equitable approach when dividing marital property and debts. The equitable distribution process does not necessarily mean each
If you and your spouse have decided to divorce, a marital settlement agreement may be required to divide your assets and debts. Specifically, a marital settlement agreement in PA acts as the “roadmap” to resolve some or all of the issues
In Pennsylvania, a Protection from Abuse order (PFA) is meant to protect an individual from further contact, harm, or harassment from their abuser. A PFA is a type of restraining order in PA created to provide legal protection to victims
To initiate a divorce action against your spouse, you need to serve them divorce papers. This is because you must provide them notice and an opportunity to respond. However, this can be difficult if you have not seen or spoken to
Yes, you can obtain a divorce without your spouse’s signature. There are many reasons why spouses refuse to sign. Sometimes the other spouse cannot be located or they do not want the marriage to end. Regardless of your situation, talking
You and your spouse want to work together to resolve the issues arising from your divorce, such as child custody, child support, alimony, and the distribution of marital property, and you’ve heard of the various alternative dispute resolution methods such
You’ve heard divorce mediation is much less expensive than a litigated divorce, and that is correct – but there are so many more benefits to the divorce mediation process over litigation. If you and your spouse are willing to negotiate
Divorce is painful and in many cases can be made less so if you and your spouse agree to mediate the issues arising from your divorce, and perhaps file an uncontested divorce. But when is divorce mediation not appropriate? The
16 Things Not to Do During Divorce Mediation Are you divorcing and considering trying divorce mediation? This informative article by the divorce mediation lawyers at SFS Attorneys gives you the top sixteen behaviors to avoid during mediation to get the
Couples use divorce mediation to help them agree on issues such as child custody, child support, spousal support, and property distribution. You and your spouse are considering entering into divorce mediation as an alternative to litigation because you want to
Divorce is difficult on families even in the best of circumstances, but when one party has narcissistic personality disorder, reaching an agreement on issues such as child custody, child support, spousal support, and property distribution can be very difficult. However,
Once you’ve decided to divorce, you want it over quickly. You’ve heard divorce mediation is quicker and less expensive than divorce litigation, but how much quicker? How much less expensive? The Philadelphia divorce mediation lawyers at Schwartz, Fox & Saltzman
The short answer is yes, you can get a divorce with just mediation in Pennsylvania. In this article, the Philadelphia divorce mediation lawyers at Schwartz, Fox & Saltzman explain what divorce mediation is, how to complete the divorce process using
15 Questions to Ask a Divorce Mediator Considering divorce mediation? Divorce mediation is a popular form of alternative dispute resolution that allows couples to craft their own support, custody, and property distribution arrangements and avoid going to court. Here are
When you’re facing divorce as a business owner, your company—your livelihood—can suddenly feel like it’s on the line. Who gets what? Will your spouse walk away with part of your business? Will you lose control over something you built from
According to the CDC, almost half of marriages in the U.S. end in divorce. You believe yours might be one of them, but your spouse wants to keep trying to make it work or refuses to discuss divorce. What can
Divorce doesn’t have to mean conflict. If you and your spouse want a respectful, efficient, and low-stress separation, an amicable divorce, also known as a mutual consent or uncontested divorce, may be your best option. This guide outlines exactly how
From The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 1, 2022: Domestic violence homicides were up 240% last year. Why is Philly getting guns from so few accused abusers? Gun violence has made too many of our fellow Philadelphians live in fear of leaving
The idea of compromising with someone you are divorcing may seem far-fetched at first. What makes compromise possible even under the most difficult emotional circumstances is the presence and guidance of a trained divorce mediator. A thorough divorce mediation checklist
When you’re facing divorce and significant wealth is on the line, the decisions you make now can shape your financial future for years to come. Whether you own a business, receive income from a trust, hold stock options, or maintain
Typically, both parties in a marriage are named on the deed and the mortgage when they jointly own real property. However, there are some instances where only one of the two parties is responsible for paying the mortgage. This is
Beginning January 2005, claims of common law marriage for all relationships which began after that date, became illegal and unenforceable. Relationships prior to that date were “grandfathered in” and remained a claim that could be made. With that being said,
Does a Long Separation Lead to an Automatic Divorce in Pennsylvania? If you have ever heard the saying, “if it’s too good to be true, then it probably is?” That is the spot on answer to anything being “automatic” as
When you are divorcing in Pennsylvania, how your property gets divided is likely one of your top concerns. You may have heard term “community property” mentioned in reference to divorce, but Pennsylvania is not a community property state. Instead, we
Filing for Child Support If the Other Parent is in Jail The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections reports that greater than 81,000 children in PA have a parent in jail. Regardless of whether you are the parent receiving the support or
Child Support Arrears & Passport Suspension It might come as a surprise to many to learn that if you owe $2,500 or more in child support, you are not eligible to receive a U.S. passport. However, those who care about
How a Criminal Record Affects Your Child Custody Case in Pennsylvania In Pennsylvania, a criminal record can contain arrests, information collected by criminal justice agencies, and more.While most information in a criminal record is not an automatic bar to child
While adultery can be relevant in some aspects of a divorce case in Pennsylvania, it usually does not affect child support obligations nor child custody in most instances. This article by the family law attorneys at Schwartz, Fox, & Saltzman
Pursuing child custody is a stressful and very emotion-packed process. Always remember that the Court focuses on what it believes, based on the evidence presented, is in the child’s best interest. This article by our child custody attorneys in Philadelphia
How Depression Could Affect Your Child Custody Case in Pennsylvania When going through a divorce and child custody, there is an extreme amount of stress, significant change and uncertainty and it is normal to be emotional, scared, and sad. However,
Stay-at-home parenting is a viable option in today’s world. There are certainly economic issues to be addressed, but an at-home parent can obtain custodial rights. In the event of divorce or separation, stay-at-home moms have the same legal rights as any other
Special Needs Child Support in Pennsylvania In Pennsylvania, disabled children with special needs receive additional financial support because the mathematical formulas used for calculating child support do not independently take into account those additional expenses that the child needs. Evidence
What Happens When an Unmarried Couple With a Child Separate in Pennsylvania? When an unmarried couple with a child separates in Pennsylvania, both parents have rights and responsibilities related to the child. How to Prepare for Separating as Unmarried Parents
This guide from noted PA child custody lawyer Lee A. Schwartz, Esq. outlines what shared legal custody is in Pennsylvania & how it compares with other types of custody. The PA child custody lawyers at Schwartz, Fox & Saltzman, LLC
Child Support Holiday Schedules in Pennsylvania When a family unit dissolves during a divorce, “family holidays” and traditions are also affected. It is within everyone’s interest to minimize the effect on the children, encourage the parental/child bond, and build new
Our law firm has handled divorce, property division, spousal support, alimony pendente lite and child support matters, when people live overseas, but have Philadelphia area family law cases in court. We have experience representing people living in North America, South
In Pennsylvania, having shared or 50/50 custody does not negate child support obligations. Typically, the higher-earning parent must still pay child support to the lesser-earning parent, and the support amount considers the net income of both parents and the how
Child custody in Pennsylvania vary greatly depending upon families’ needs, desires, resources, and parental fitness. Ultimately, a court decides who gets custody based upon the best interests of the child. This article outlines and explains the types of child custody
Learn how long a divorce can take in Pennsylvania and what factors and issues can prolong divorce proceedings from the Philadelphia divorce lawyers at Schwartz, Fox & Saltzman, LLC. A divorce in Pennsylvania can be completed in as little as
What is the difference between a separation agreement and a divorce decree in Pennsylvania? They are quite different in the eyes of the law. Learn the differences between a marital separation agreement vs a divorce decree from the Philadelphia divorce
Filing for child custody or child custody modification is a procedurally and factually complex process. Additionally, each county court in Pennsylvania has their unique requirements and nuances. The PA child custody lawyers at Schwartz, Fox and Saltzman, LLC have over
How to Get Full Custody in PA Wondering how to file for sole custody of your child in PA? The child custody lawyers at Schwartz, Fox & Saltzman, LLC explain how and why sole custody is awarded to the custodial
In Pennsylvania, divorcing parents often share joint legal and physical custody of their children. In many cases, parents can agree on the child custody arrangement. In others, a judge must decide what child custody arrangement is in the best interests
So, you want to take your kiddos on vacation and you are separated or divorced from their other parent, there are some things you need to consider about vacations:
1. Do you have a Custody Order through the Court, with the other parent?
2. If you do have a Custody Order through the Court, is there language in the Order that speaks to vacationing?
3. If you have a Custody Order and there is no vacation language, or if you don’t have an Order at all, what should you do to make this vacation as peaceful and relaxing as possible?
Support Contempt actions are instituted once a Payor, for what can be a multitude of reasons, falls behind or fails to pay his or her Support obligation through the statewide PACSES system or through some other Agreement entered into between parties to a support or alimony action. Punishment mechanisms are statutorily in place if necessary
Let’s start with the premise that Pennsylvania is an Earning Capacity state. What is earning capacity and how can it impact your Support Order? First, a person cannot intentionally decrease their income, with the hope that this intentional decrease will result in a lower support Order. Let’s take the case of a fictional couple, Donnie
Traditionally, Family Lawyers bill their clients one way…hourly. However, there is an alternative. That alternative is Flat Fee Lawyering. Clearly, however, not every case is right for Hourly Lawyering and not every case is right for Flat Fee Lawyering. We, at SchwartzJordan, offer both options. You choose which method is right for you, up front,
Property division in Pennsylvania divorces sometimes takes a Solomon-like approach in order to achieve a fair and equitable division of these assets during divorce. Pennsylvania is an Equitable Distribution state. This does not necessarily mean an equal, or 50-50% sharing
Before the recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court opinion in A.S. v, I.S. decided December 29, 2015, Stepparents in Pennsylvania had no child support obligation to their stepchild, even if that stepparent had a partial child custody order with the stepchild. In
Voluntarily terminating one’s employment, which includes not only a total cessation of employment, but also an intentional decrease in one’s income, will not serve to lessen one’s child support, spousal support or alimony obligation, in most cases. Pennsylvania is not
A divorce is a painful process that raises many difficult questions. One of the most common questions is whether to leave the marital home. This decision should be carefully considered as it could have important legal and financial consequences. Can
Social media dominates our electronic culture. We are drawn to it, to give us a glimpse into people’s private lives. People post everything, the interesting, the salacious, the relevant and the boring. We post innocuous pictures and words; we post
Child relocation in Pennsylvania is subject to a formal legal procedure that was established in October of 2012. “Relocation,” under the Custody Statute in Pennsylvania, occurs when a parent, whether or not there is a Custody Order, decides that he
The confusion surrounding child custody and just “how it works” is a major concern and worry for parents who are contemplating separation or who need to get clarity about the issue. In deciding what direction you are about to travel,
