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Practice Areas  This information is not intended to substitute for legal advice given after a proper consultation with a lawyer.
ADOPTIONS The happiest proceedings in our practice are adoptions. We have represented our clients in family adoptions, subsidized adoptions, agency adoptions, interstate compact adoptions and international adoptions and can assist you in the termination of parental rights and finalization of your adoption.
ALIMONY Alimony is available in Pennsylvania, but it is not always granted. We have successfully represented clients in obtaining post-divorce alimony and in defending alimony claims in divorce masters hearings and other proceedings in the Court of Common Pleas. We can assess your case to determine if alimony is likely and, if so, we can estimate an amount and duration so you can be prepared in court.
APL Under certain circumstances, the law provides for the economically dependent spouse to receive spousal support or alimony pendente lite (APL) . We have successfully represented clients in obtaining APL and spousal support and in defending claims for APL and spousal support. We can assess your case for the potential that an order for APL or spousal support will be issued and, if so, the likely amount and duration of the Order. We can attend the initial support conference with you and represent you at any support hearing that may result, as well as in the exception process, if necessary.
CHILD CUSTODY Where children live and under what circumstances each parent gets to see them is often the most difficult and emotional part of family law. The process starts with a conference before the Custody Conciliator and can proceed to a full evidentiary custody hearing before a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. We have represented clients in hundreds of custody conciliation conferences and dozens of full custody trials. Many of these proceedings have involved obtaining and defending out-of-state relocation of children and grandparent’s rights. We can get you into court, get you an order that assures you the most contact with your children that the law will allow and represent you throughout the process.
CHILD SUPPORT The child support process starts with a conference before a Domestic Relations conference officer. We have done hundreds of these conferences and can prepare you for that conference by reviewing your income and the income of the other party and giving you an accurate estimate of the initial support order. We have represented clients before the support master for years. If your case proceeds to a de novo hearing before the support master, we can help you present your case in a cohesive and effective way. If exceptions are filed, we can brief and argue your case before a judge of the court of common pleas.
CHILDREN AND YOUTH MATTERS Monroe County Children and Youth Services is the agency designated to investigate allegations of abuse or neglect of children while in the care of their parents or other caregivers. We have represented hundreds of parents facing allegations of abuse or neglect and parents whose children have been removed from the home and placed in foster care or other residential facility. Allegations of abuse or neglect may be made by an anonymous source and can result in final termination of a parents’ rights. We are available to assist in protecting parents’ rights from the initial contact with the agency and throughout the hearing process in the Court of Common Pleas.
CUSTODY RELOCATION When children are moved a distance from one parent, the law of custody relocation applies. Generally, whenever one parent wants to move the child(ren) out of the jurisdiction, whether it is the County or the State, that parent can do so only with the consent of the other parent or by Court Order. The only way to get a Court Order is after a hearing and the court’s application of the Gruber factors. The Court can be asked to stop a relocation until the hearing is complete. We have litigated numerous custody relocation cases, both seeking relocation and seeking to stop relocation. We can represent you in the proceeding to relocate or prevent the relocation of your children.
DIVORCE In Pennsylvania you can get divorced on fault and no-fault grounds. We have assisted hundreds of clients in finalizing their divorces. Most divorces are entered as no-fault, but we have successfully litigated fault divorces and have obtained bifurcated divorces for clients. We also represent our clients in obtaining special relief and injunctions from the divorce court.
EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION Most divorces involve the distribution of marital property (homes, pensions, business, bank accounts and other valuable assets) and/or debt. We have litigated equitable distribution issues in divorce masters hearings, the trial court and in the appeals courts. We have also negotiated and prepared hundreds of settlement agreements.
GRANDPARENTS’ RIGHTS Under certain circumstances, grandparents or other caregivers may have rights to custody or visitation of minor children. We have litigated dozens of hearings in the Court of Common Pleas in both obtaining and defending custody rights of grandparents and other caregivers.
GUARDIANSHIP Under certain circumstances a family member may not meet the requirements necessary to obtain custody of a minor child. In such instances, the family member may be able to acquire guardianship of the child and the child’s estate. Guardianship grants the caregiver authority to take care of the child and make important decisions regarding the child’s welfare. We have successfully acquired guardianship for our clients.
LIVING WILLS Under Pennsylvania law, you can make an advance directive about how you wish to be treated in the event you are have a terminal condition and are unable to communicate your wishes. A properly executed advance directive or living will communicates your wishes regarding treatment such as life support and mechanical breathing and can relieve your family from having to make those difficult decisions. We have prepared these document for clients for many years
POWERS OF ATTORNEY If you are unable to handle your own financial affairs or healthcare decisions, a Power of Attorney will grant authority to the person of your choice to take care of your finances or treatment decisions until you are able to do so yourself. Without a Power of Attorney, your family might have to resort to costly court proceedings to have a guardian, who may not be the person of your choice, appointed to make decisions for you.
PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENTSBefore any marriage, the parties should consider whether a prenup is warranted. Such an agreement can provide for distribution of assets in the event of death or marital separation or divorce and can eliminate equitable distribution and alimony in the event of another divorce. We have negotiate and prepared many prenuptial agreements for our clients.
QDRO’S Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) are the product of the federal law ERISA and allow a local divorce court to direct almost any pension or retirement administrator to distribute benefits in a divorce or support matter. We have prepared many QDRO’s for private and public pension plans.
 TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS
Termination of parental rights generally arises in two contexts. One is where a parent has had no contact from the other parent and wishes to have a new spouse adopt his or her child. We have successfully litigated many such actions for clients seeking to legally form their new families in the context of an adoption. The other is when the Children and Youth Agency seeks to end a parent’s relationship with his or her children due to some deficit on the parent’s part. We have defended these actions on behalf of parents trying to maintain their place in their children’s lives.
WILLS Upon death, the law of the state in which you last lived will dictate who gets your property unless you make a will. Your will can direct your assets and appoint the personal representatives that you choose for your estate and the guardians and trustees for your children.
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The happiest proceedings in our practice are adoptions. We have represented our clients in family adoptions, subsidized adoptions, agency adoptions, interstate compact adoptions and international adoptions and can assist you in the termination of parent
more...
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Alimony is available in Pennsylvania, but it is not always granted. We have successfully represented clients in obtaining post-divorce alimony and in defending alimony claims in divorce masters hearings and other proceedings in the Court of Common Pleas.
more...
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APL
APL
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Practice Areas
This information is not intended to substitute for legal advice given after a proper consultation with a lawyer.
ADOPTIONS
The happiest proceedings in our practice are adoptions. We have represented our clients
more...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Where children live and under what circumstances each parent gets to see them is often the most difficult and emotional part of family law. The process starts with a conference before the Custody Conciliator and can proceed to a full evidentiary custody
more...
|
|
|
|
|
|
The child support process starts with a conference before a Domestic Relations conference officer. We have done hundreds of these conferences and can prepare you for that conference by reviewing your income and the income of the other party and giving y
more...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monroe County Children and Youth Services is the agency designated to investigate allegations of abuse or neglect of children while in the care of their parents or other caregivers. We have represented hundreds of parents facing allegations of abuse or
more...
|
|
|
|
|
|
When children are moved a distance from one parent, the law of custody relocation applies. Generally, whenever one parent wants to move the child(ren) out of the jurisdiction, whether it is the County or the State, that parent can do so only with the co
more...
|
|
|
|
|
|
In Pennsylvania you can get divorced on fault and no-fault grounds. We have assisted hundreds of clients in finalizing their divorces. Most divorces are entered as no-fault, but we have successfully litigated fault divorces and have obtained bifurcated
more...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Most divorces involve the distribution of marital property (homes, pensions, business, bank accounts and other valuable assets) and/or debt. We have litigated equitable distribution issues in divorce masters hearings, the trial court and in the appeals
more...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Under certain circumstances, grandparents or other caregivers may have rights to custody or visitation of minor children. We have litigated dozens of hearings in the Court of Common Pleas in both obtaining and defending custody rights of grandparents an
more...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Under certain circumstances a family member may not meet the requirements necessary to obtain custody of a minor child. In such instances, the family member may be able to acquire guardianship of the child and the child’s estate. Guardianship grants th
more...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Under Pennsylvania law, you can make an advance directive about how you wish to be treated in the event you are have a terminal condition and are unable to communicate your wishes. A properly executed advance directive or living will communicates your w
more...
|
|
|
|
|
|
If you are unable to handle your own financial affairs or healthcare decisions, a Power of Attorney will grant authority to the person of your choice to take care of your finances or treatment decisions until you are able to do so yourself. Without a Po
more...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before any marriage, the parties should consider whether a prenup is warranted. Such an agreement can provide for distribution of assets in the event of death or marital separation or divorce and can eliminate equitable distribution and alimony in the
more...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) are the product of the federal law ERISA and allow a local divorce court to direct almost any pension or retirement administrator to distribute benefits in a divorce or support matter. We have prepared many QDRO
more...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination of parental rights generally arises in two contexts. One is where a parent has had no contact from the other parent and wishes to have a new spouse adopt his or her child. We have successfully litigated many such actions for clients seeking
more...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Upon death, the law of the state in which you last lived will dictate who gets your property unless you make a will. Your will can direct your assets and appoint the personal representatives that you choose for your estate and the guardians and trustees
more...
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