Family law cases address legal matters important to families and are as complicated as they are varied. If you’re facing a family law case, your rights are on the line, and having skilled legal guidance in your corner can make a big difference in the outcome. Our experienced family law attorneys at McMorrow Law have the legal insight and commitment to help.
Family Law Cases in Allegheny County
Most family law cases in Allegheny County are heard at the Family Law Center, which is part of the Court of Common Pleas, Family Division in Pittsburgh. These cases break down into divorce-related terms, as well as all the following:
- Legal separation
- Annulment
- Paternity and fathers’ rights
Divorce and Related Terms
A cornerstone of family law is divorce and cases that address related terms, including:
- Child custody arrangements, which are always based on the children’s best interests
- Child support, which is calculated according to the income shares model and takes both parents’ incomes into consideration
- The fair division of marital property, which does not always mean an equal division
- Alimony, which only applies when the court deems it reasonable and necessary because one spouse cannot cover their own reasonable needs
Aside from the division of marital property, each of these issues can be addressed in post-decree modification cases. Child support and child custody cases are also common outside of divorce between parents who were never married.
Legal Separation
Pennsylvania does not recognize legal separations. Instead, couples can live separately and apart and can create Separation Agreements that address the terms that would apply if they divorced. The court, however, cannot require a spouse to sign a separation agreement. This means that, if your spouse is not interested in reaching an agreement, you’ll likely need to pursue a divorce or request temporary support from the court. Pennsylvania allows a spouse to seek interim relief (temporary support orders) from the court during separation without a formal agreement.
Annulment
Annulment legally voids a marriage rather than ending it. In Allegheny County, strict requirements apply to both residency and eligibility. Common examples that support eligibility include the following:
- Bigamy
- Underage
- Consanguinity (or being more closely related than first cousins)
- Incapacity or impairment
- Coercion, duress, or fraud
Paternity and Fathers’ Rights
Pennsylvania’s courts do not favor mothers’ rights over fathers’ rights. In fact, both parents have nearly inviolable rights. When a couple isn’t married at the time of a child’s birth, the woman is automatically the child’s legal mother. For his part, however, the father must prove paternity to become the child’s legal father.
There are also specific factors that sometimes advance a mother’s bid for the primary custodial role. For example, mothers are more likely to give up their careers and stay home with the children, which is a relevant child custody factor.
Our Experienced Allegheny County Family Law Lawyers Are on Your Side
Our seasoned Allegheny County family law attorneys at McMorrow Law, dedicate our impressive practice to skillfully championing the rights of our valued clients throughout even the most challenging cases, and we’ll do the same for you. For more information, please don’t delay contacting us online or giving our firm a call at 412-407-2816 today.