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Since my career began as a Pittsburgh family law attorney in 1989, the court system has never been closed for an extended period. Court closures as a result of COVID-19 distance us from key guidance in managing custody matters involving minor children of separated or divorcing spouses, causing unprecedented difficulties in determining what is “in the best interest of a child.” Without court guidance how do we avoid anarchy? The ultimate […]

Many Pittsburgh couples have retirement accounts ranging from a company pension to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) that they opened online to roll over a 401(k) account from a former employer.  So, what happens when the couple files for divorce?  How are those retirement accounts divided between the parties? Retirements Account Options: Employee Retirement Income Security Act The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) is a federal law that governs […]

In the state of Pennsylvania, child support is awarded based on statewide guidelines that determine the amount owed after considering the net income of both parents, as well as the number of individuals being supported.  In many cases, the calculation to decide the amount of child support that is owed is a simple process, while the collection of child support presents many different challenges. Enforcing Pittsburgh Child Support Obligations The […]

In the United States, it is reported that the percentage of marriages that fail is somewhere between 40 and 50 percent.  But married couples are not the only ones who split up and live apart.  The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provides that 40 percent of all births are to unmarried couples.  Although the CDC does not specifically state how many of the unmarried couples live apart, it is fair […]

The National Alcoholism Center provides that over 7 percent of Pennsylvanians suffered from alcohol abuse or dependence over the past year.  With a Pennsylvania population of 12,802,503 residents as of July 1, 2015, 7 percent totals a staggering 896,175 individuals suffering from alcoholism. Individuals suffering from alcoholism bring many negative consequences into a marriage and can even complicate the divorce process including: Lack of employment: While many people with a […]