Blog Category | Family law
Tips for co-parenting over the summer months
Summer break is an exciting time for kids, but it can be stressful for divorced parents. When you have shared custody, you need a co-parenting plan for the summer just like you did for the school year. Make plans before summer starts Avoid waiting until the start of summer break...
Read MoreWhat is the difference between legal separation and divorce?
A couple may want to separate before deciding to proceed with a divorce. This time apart may serve to ease into the final separation or as a means to stop it. However, in Pennsylvania, a legal separation is not recognized under the law. Divorce is the only way to end...
Read MoreHow not to use social media during divorce
These days, almost everyone has a social media presence. For those going through a divorce, using social media can feel like an outlet, but it can also have a negative impact on the outcome of the legal proceedings. According to researchers, social media use can have a negative impact on...
Read MoreWhat are grounds for a Pennsylvania divorce?
Filing for divorce in Pennsylvania requires a few first steps to start the process. The spouse who files for divorce must declare the reason the marriage is ending. Under the law, there are four options from which to choose when filing for divorce. The legal process may vary depending on...
Read MoreHow do you know if parallel parenting is right for you?
If you recently divorced the other parent of your children, you have to come up with a parenting plan. For amicable couples, co-parenting is a great idea, but for others, parallel parenting may be the best. According to Healthline, parallel parenting is best for parents with a lot of anger...
Read MoreChallenges that military spouses encounter in a divorce
The military lifestyle involves many challenges that civilians might not always appreciate or understand. Maintaining a healthy relationship while in the military faces difficulties such as frequent moves and lengthy deployments. Marriages and divorces for military personnel often contain specific situations that require an understanding of situations unique to the...
Read MoreAm I eligible to adopt a child in Pennsylvania?
Bringing a new child into your home is so rewarding. That is why so many people choose to adopt. Adoption ensures that all kids have a chance at a loving and stable family. It also helps people unable to conceive on their own realize their dream of having a family....
Read MoreHow does parental alienation affect your kid?
If you recently divorced, it is going to take some time to readjust to life as you once knew it. This adjustment period may be easier or harder depending on unique factors. In some extreme cases, one spouse may not adjust at all. In these situations, you could end up...
Read MoreHow difficult is it to establish paternity in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, a married woman’s husband is the presumed legal father of any child born to her. If you and your child’s mother were not married at the time of your child’s birth, however, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare warns that you have no legal relationship to or with...
Read More3 types of adoption
When you decide to adopt a child, you have several options. You can adopt a child from another country, another state or from right here in Pennsylvania. You can have an open adoption, in which you get the opportunity to meet the birth parent(s), or a closed adoption, in which...
Read MoreCollaborative divorce puts the focus on respectful teamwork
A standard divorce process in court has its drawbacks and many couples are finding a better option based on teamwork and cooperation. If you and your spouse are hesitant to enter litigation, which is often contentious, collaborative divorce may be a viable alternative for you. Understanding collaborative divorce Collaborative divorce...
Read MoreCan a grandparent ask for custody?
Parental separation affects more than just the immediate family unit. Grandparents may find themselves collateral damage during a breakup. The relationship between children and grandparents is meaningful, but it does not outrank the parents. While they may not have the same rights as parents, under Pennsylvania law, grandparents may pursue...
Read MoreCan you reduce the stress of divorce for your children?
Pennsylvania parents like you put a lot on the line during divorce. You must discuss asset division. You may have to pay alimony. On top of that, you have to deal with matters regarding your child. This includes support payments, visitation schedules and custody. Of course, you also need to...
Read MoreWhat happens if you try to hide assets?
Pennsylvania couples go through many difficulties during divorce. You do not know how your spouse may react in such a tense situation. Sometimes, you do not even know how you will react. A spouse may decide to lash out without thinking it through. An attempt at hiding assets may fall...
Read MoreNavigating the divorce process through collaboration
While the end result may be desirable, divorce is hard. You might be prepared to deal with the long road ahead of you towards a new single life; however, it doesn’t have to be lengthy, overly difficult and overwhelmingly emotional. Divorce will always be an emotional life event, as it...
Read MoreAdoption facts prospective parents should know
Anyone who wants to adopt a child should become well-informed about the process and what to expect. It is not a decision prospective parents should take lightly. In Pennsylvania, although anyone may adopt a child, there are a number of prerequisites and expenses, depending on the type of adoption and...
Read MoreThe difference between collaborative divorce and mediation
Many couples in the greater Pittsburgh area will likely want to consider some alternative to traditional litigation if they are going through a divorce. While it is sometimes the best option, many Pennsylvania couples may find traditional litigation to be both expensive and stressful. Moreover, there is always some uncertainty...
Read MoreWhat should you include in your parenting plan?
With few exceptions, the days when one parent received primary custody of the children during a divorce with the other getting limited visitation time have passed. Rather, the courts and many parents favor arrangements where both parents continue to share in the rights, responsibilities and joys of raising their children....
Read MoreWhat are the home study requirements for an adoption preplacement?
Prospective adoptive parents in Pennsylvania must submit to a home study as part of the adoption process. The Child Welfare Information Gateway explains that this study assesses the qualifications and background of the hopeful parents and certain other individuals who may live in the home. What are the basic study...
Read MoreAs a grandparent, you can ask the Pennsylvania courts for visits
There is a popular saying that only the best parents get promoted to grandparents, and while that isn’t true, having grandchildren in your life can certainly feel like a reward for successful parenting. There is something unique and beautiful about the relationship between a grandparent and a grandchild that benefits...
Read MoreMediation to reach a child custody agreement
There are two situations in which a parent in Pennsylvania might need to meet with a child custody mediator. One is if the mediation is court-ordered. The other is if the other parent requests a session with a mediator. In the former case, a parent must comply with the court...
Read MoreHow to maintain family unity during the holidays
The holiday season can be especially stressful for a parent in Pennsylvania who has recently ended a marriage. The good news is that there are ways for families to come together to have a happy holiday season even if they lack a traditional structure. Parents will ideally collaborate to create...
Read MoreHow to handle a familial adoption in Pennsylvania
When people think of adoption, they often imagine someone taking in a child whom they never met and with whom they have no relationship, which certainly does happen. However, many adoptions that take place in the United States involve people with a pre-existing familial relationship. It is common for grandparents...
Read MoreHow prenups can protect business interests
In previous decades, the stigma of asking for a prenuptial agreement prior to getting married meant that many Pennsylvania couples opted to forgo an agreement. However, prenuptial agreements are becoming more commonplace, especially as couples obtain real estate and financial assets prior to marriage. While most couples do not ever...
Read MoreWhat is collaborative divorce?
Litigation can be a long and expensive process for spouses to go through to obtain a divorce. However, some couples may consider the collaborative divorce process instead. Through the collaborative divorce process spouses and their specially trained attorneys negotiate to reach a settlement for divorce issues. For many couples, this...
Read MoreThe adoption process when a biological parent is unknown
You love your stepchild like they were your own biological child. Unfortunately, in the eyes of the law you likely have no legal right to make decisions for them. This includes where they go to school, medical and religious decisions and other important choices. This can be changed, though. If...
Read MoreSPOUSAL SUPPORT AND MANDY MOORE AS THE STRUGGLING SINGLE PET MOM?
It turns out being a cat lady is pricier than we thought. Mandy Moore and singer Ryan Adams have been trying to hash out a settlement since she filed for divorce in January of last year. The main wrinkle? Their six cats and two dogs. Mandy argues that Adams should...
Read MoreFMLA and DOMA: What Same Sex Married Couples Need to Know
Another victory for same sex married couples, but first a little history. In 2013, the Supreme Court, in U.S. v. Windsor, 570 U.S. 12 (2013) struck down section three of the Defense of Marriage Act as unconstitutional as it limited marriage and spouse to the legal union between one man...
Read MoreWILL BRUCE JENNER CHANGE HIS NAME? WHAT’S IN A NAME?
How will Bruce Jenner’s name change go? Jenner brought a sense of (semi) normalcy and calm to his large, mixed brood of sons, daughters and step-children on E!’s “Keeping up with the Kardashians”. Bruce, a former Olympian, married Kris Kardashian in April 1991. After more than twenty years together, Bruce...
Read MorePennsylvania and DOMA: Same-Sex Marriage Legal Pros and Cons
Since May 2014 when DOMA was struck down in Pennsylvania, same-sex couples have been celebrating. Lines formed outside the marriage license department and numerous couples were finally able to make their vows official and legal. However, did some run to the altar too fast? Are the same-sex couples who are...
Read MoreChild Support and Paternity Suits: Beyonce’s New Sister
Paternity issues in child support matters are not uncommon. Beyonce Knowles may soon find out that she has a secret half-sister. Her father, Mathew Knowles, 63, is facing a paternity suit from 30 year old, Taqoya Branscomb, who alleges that Knowles is the father of her daughter. The child was...
Read MoreSpousal Support In Pennsylvania: What You Need to Know
When most individuals think of payments made from one spouse to another in connection with divorce proceedings, most immediately think of the term alimony. Alimony is one form of spousal support in Pennsylvania; however, there are also two others, spousal support and alimony pendente lite. Which one a dependent spouse...
Read MoreDividing Pensions in Equitable Distribution
What happens in equitable distribution if one divorcing spouse has a pension? If one divorcing spouse has a pension, it is usually safe to say that the pension makes up a significant portion of the marital estate. However, a pension is usually one of the most difficult marital assets to...
Read MoreDOMA and Same-Sex Marriage: Love Is The New Law
DOMA and Same-Sex Marriage: Love Is the New Law Just a few days ago, Pennsylvania became the latest state to strike down the ban on same-sex marriage. A federal judge in Philadelphia ruled that Pennsylvania’s Defense of Marriage Act, also known as “DOMA,” was unconstitutional. The Law defined marriage as...
Read MoreAdoption & Custody: The Indian Child Welfare Act
Adoption & Custody: The Indian Child Welfare Act – An Extra Ingredient in Native American Custody and Adoption Cases In 2009, a South Carolina couple, Matt and Melanie Capobianco, arranged a private adoption with the birth mother of a little girl. The Capobiancos traveled to Oklahoma for the birth of...
Read MoreSame Sex Married Couples: Equal Federal Taxation Treatment
Equal Federal Taxation Treatment for Same Sex Married Couples On August 29, 2013, the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS issued a press release, stating that all same-sex married couples who are legally married in a jurisdiction that recognizes same-sex marriage, will be treated as married couples for federal taxation...
Read MorePA Alimony Factors & Support After Divorce: Show Me the Money Part 2
PA Alimony Factors Related to Support: Show Me the Money Part 2 Now that you’re familiar with what alimony is (for a recap, see this blog post), the next question is “how much”? How much do I have to pay? How much do I get? Do I even qualify for...
Read MoreAlimony and Support in Pennsylvania: Show Me the Money!!
Alimony and support in Pennsylvania: Show Me the Money!! Support for a spouse no matter at what stage he/she is in, is difficult to navigate. When our clients go through a divorce, one of their most common questions is about alimony – Will they have to pay it? Will they...
Read MorePaternity Presumption in Pennsylvania: Who’s Your Daddy?
Paternity presumption in Pennsylvania may be archaic but still valid in this state. It is one of only a few states that maintain this presumption of paternity. Our Commonwealth’s law, with its goal of supporting an intact family unit, has resulted in husbands supporting children who are not their biological...
Read MoreFactors for Equitable Distribution in Pennsylvania
What factors does the Court consider when determining Equitable Distribution in Pennsylvania? Now that you know what makes up marital property, the next question is: “How will the marital property be divided up between us?” In Pennsylvania, there will not necessarily be an even 50/50 split right down the middle....
Read MoreEquitable Distribution in PA: So what exactly are we dividing up?
Equitable Distribution in Pennsylvania: So what exactly are we dividing up? One of the first questions our new divorce clients ask is: “What property will my ex be able to claim in court?” What will you and your spouse be dividing up as you go through your divorce? Who gets...
Read MoreName Changes: Your Parents Name You “North West”…so now what?
Name Changes: Your Parents Name You “North West” …so now what? North West. Apple. Blue Ivy. Bear Blu. It seems as if celebrities today are determined to come up with wild, shocking, and never heard before names for their offspring, possibly in a bid to help their children “stand out.”...
Read MoreFirm News: Meghan Zupancic, Esquire Joins McMorrow Law
McMorrow Law, LLC would like to welcome Meghan L. Zupancic to the firm. Meghan joined McMorrow Law as an associate attorney. Meghan attended the University of Pittsburgh, where she graduated cum laude in 2009. Meghan is a 2012 graduate of the Duquesne University School of Law. During law school Meghan...
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