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For many couples, the divorce process is extremely challenging, from both a financial and emotional perspective — there may be a great deal of tension between the couple regarding the divorce itself, and the high-conflict atmosphere introduced by some attorneys can lead to the provision of legal assistance that is not actually constructive for either party. Fortunately, since the introduction of no-fault divorce in Pennsylvania (married couples have the option […]

In Pennsylvania — just like the rest of the country — it is not uncommon for unmarried couples to have and raise children together, and for the most part, this arrangement will not lead to excessive legal friction until the couple decides to “split up.”  Fundamentally, the issue in Pennsylvania is that when an unmarried couple has a child together, paternity is not automatically established.  The father’s name is not […]

Parents who are receiving child support in Pennsylvania might get a small raise in 2017 — if they negotiate or go to court under the new Pennsylvania child support guidelines, effective May 1, 2017.  To find if you might be entitled to a raise (or have to pay more), look at the new Pennsylvania child support guidelines that are posted here. The Pennsylvania courts do not automatically grant child support […]

Many people look forward to the time when they become grandparents.  A time to go to parks and museums and spoil their grandchildren without all of the formal responsibilities that come with being a parent.  But what happens when two parents divorce and family stressors get in the way of grandparents being allowed to see their own grandchildren?  Do grandparents have any rights under Pennsylvania law?  If you are a […]

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 2015, there were 2582 divorces in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania alone.  While there are no clear statistics on how many of those couples attempted to complete a do-it-yourself divorce, there are certainly countless websites and fill-in-the-blank forms suggesting that proceeding without an attorney is efficient and easy in addition to being cost effective.  But there can be numerous concerns and pitfalls when a divorcing couple tries to complete a divorce […]