Category: Divorce

No matter which parent has primary custody of your child, relocating that child after a Pennsylvania divorce is a complex process. Not following the rules can have drastic consequences, so talk to a Pittsburgh child custody lawyer to understand your rights and obligations. Otherwise, you could be in serious trouble,...

If you’re divorcing this year, you and your spouse will likely be filing a joint income tax return for the last time. It’s not too early, however, to start thinking about Tax Year 2024 and next year, when you’ll be filing your returns separately (assuming your divorce is final by...

Divorce is never easy, but couples who split after the age of 50 must deal with various challenges they would not have faced at a younger age. The spotlight is on a secure financial future and how best to manage the divorce in order to meet that goal. An overview...

Pennsylvania divorces can involve complex financial issues. One of the most contentious aspects of many divorce cases involves the division of assets and debts, and many people exit their divorces worse off financially. One way that people might prevent financial problems during and after divorce is to work with certified...

Divorcing a narcissist carries some particular risks, but people in Pennsylvania who are in this situation can also take steps to protect themselves. Narcissists tend to use several different approaches to destabilize the other person and try to get their way. Recognizing this psychological manipulation for what it is can...

Divorce symbolizes the end of a marriage and the beginning of a new life. Starting a new life without a former spouse may be intimidating, especially when financial obligations that were once shared as a couple are the sole responsibility of a single individual. Although setting out on your own...

Divorce is a confusing process, but with a little help it doesn’t have to be. What does it take to get divorces in Pennsylvania? The five parts of divorce are (1) Divorce, (2) Support and Alimony Pendente Lite, (3) Equitable Distribution, (4) Alimony, and (5) Custody. First, to get a...

In our family law practice, our lawyers often address questions and misconceptions regarding how long it takes to obtain a divorcein Pennsylvania. While the answer can be complicated, prospective clients are often trying to find the quickest path to achieve one. There are two no-fault grounds for divorce: (1) mutual...

The standard rule in Pennsylvania regarding the tax treatment of alimony payments in a divorceis that payments made by the payor are tax-deductible and that payments received by the payee constitute taxable income. However, there is an important caveat to this rule. The U.S. Tax Code only permits alimony to...

Last week, a Swiss court ordered a Russian billionaire to pay more than $4.5 billion to his ex-wife in what constitutes the divorce in world history. The 47-year-old Dmitry Rybolovev made his fortune from potash mining and is known as the “fertilizer king.” He is also the owner of the...

After a couple finalizes a divorce, both parties begin the process of moving on with their respective lives. With that process comes dating, living together, and possible remarriage. However, if the terms of the divorce settlement or court order include an award of alimony for one party, he or she...

In our Blog on Marriage and Divorce, we have looked at the many negative consequences of divorceon the individuals and the damaging, long term effects on the children. Let me strongly repeat, to those parents considering or in the process of divorce, it is not easy for children to cope...

The consequences of how divorceaffects the children are sometimes unintended. In my last writing, I stated that many children of divorced parents have to deal with many emotional issues, such as depression, rebellious behaviors and more. Most parents going through a divorce usually become very self-centered and find themselves engaged...

The importance of sex in marriage. It is said that the three main keys to a successful marriage are communication, money and sex. How well or how badly these three keys are handled will determine the success or failure of a marriage (divorce). The scriptures state in Hebrews 13:4 “Marriage...

The scriptures states in Ephesians 5:22-23 “Wives, submit yourselves to your husband as you do to The Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the Church, his body, of which he is the Savior.” The key here is the word “submit”....

The role of the husband … The husband is to be the provider. As provider, he is responsible to give leadership. The scripture calls it being the head of the family. It is more than just sitting at the head of the table and carving the turkey at Thanksgiving. Leadership...

This is what the Bible says concerning the role of the husband, Ephesians 5:23,25,28,31. “A husband is the head of his wife, as Christ is the head and Savior of the church, which is His own body. A husband should love his wife as much as Christ loved the church...

As part of the job as a divorce attorney, I am responsible for delving into my clients financials in detail. When a client informs me that he or she has received or stands to receive an inheritance, the first question from him or her is always “can my soon to...

The next key to a strong and successful marriage that we want to look at understanding the role husband and the wife. One of the main problems in any relationship is misunderstanding. The way to dispel misunderstanding is to get the proper information or knowledge of the situation. It has...

When parties are contemplating a divorceand ask me what the process will be like, I always tell clients that there are two distinct paths that a case can take. The first path is litigation. In this situation, one side files the complaint and then the parties engage in discovery wherein...

In my recent blogs regarding Marriage & Divorce, I have been dealing with the importance of communication to a successful marriage and pointed that in defining communication as an art. Therefore, there are a number of key points that must be observed for successful communication. In communicating, make sure that...

Today we will continue with our discussion dealing with some keys points on how to make marriage successful… in order to avoid divorce. We have been dealing with the very important key point – that men and women are different. It is crucial to understand and respect these differences in...

When I ended last week’s writing, I was dealing with the point that men and women are different because they are created differently. As a result, they deal or respond to life’s challenges and situations differently. Therefore, those differences should be celebrated and used as a force for unity to...

As we continue to look at some keys in working toward a successful marriage that will avoid a marriage ending in divorce, remember, it is important that God must be given first place in our marriage because He is the one who came up with the institution of marriage. Marriage...

Divorceis probably one of the most tumultuous experiences an individual can go through in their lives. Over the years I have seen it tear apart individual’s psyche as they fight internal conflicting feelings of love, despair, confusion and even hate. I have found that there is no better Individual Counselor...

As a Pittsburgh family law attorney, more often than not, you see the worst parts of a couple’s relationship. Helping clients cope with extramarital affairs and the aftermath can be a significant part of the job description depending on the circumstances surrounding a divorce. One of the most difficult points...

In any divorceone of the largest issues attorneys must resolve is determining how to divide the couple’s assets. This can obviously be a sticky issue and can be made even more complicated when gifts are involved. Generally, a gift by a third party to one spouse is considered non-marital property...

Divorcesare never easy and never “good” for either party. In fact, most divorces are just flat “bad”. So why make them worse? Of course, everyone wants the competitive advantage, whether fighting about splitting assets, child custody or child support; however, there are some things that you can do to lessen...

It’s no surprise that parents going through a divorce are often not very good at communicating with one another. While there is no requirement that ex’s like one another or even be civil to one another, the ability to work together is important when children are involved. It is obviously...

Agreements are good – Whether we are talking about pre nuptial agreements, general partnership agreements or settlement agreements. Anything in writing, agreed to by the parties, detailing their relationship or the end of their relationship, is better than no agreement at all. Well written agreements are even better. Yes any...

In a number of my recent divorce cases, I encountered situations wherein one party decides to remove or destroy marital assets prior to anyone filing for divorce. Obviously, when my clients found out, it caused significant conflict and added even more stress to the divorce process. The first question from...

As an equitable distribution in many of the divorce cases my firm handles one of the assets that needs to be addressed in equitable distribution is the parties’ Social Security benefits. In any marriage that has lasted 10 years or longer and at least one party was contributing to Social...

One of the biggest sticking points I run into as a Pittsburgh family law attorney is alimony in divorce cases. Prospective obligors typically recoil at the thought of providing for their soon to be ex-spouse for the foreseeable future while prospective recipients are often looking to guarantee themselves a certain...

Dating can be a very touchy subject while a party is going through a divorce. As a divorce, I often have clients ask me about when it is ok for them to begin dating again. While the answer is always case specific, there are certain pitfalls that an individual going...

As a family law attorney, I routinely encounter families that are going through some of their most difficult times. A divorce or custody battle is hard on the parents and can be even more trying to the child. Therefore, it is not uncommon for the child to act out, often...

Earlier this month, the Texas Supreme Court approved a set of pro se divorce forms for indigent couples with no real property. The purpose of these forms is to provide poor couples without children or real property the option to secure a divorce without retaining attorneys. The court “is confident...

At the beginning of the divorce process, many clients ask me whether or not they should stay in the marital home or move out. My advice to the client is always to remain in the marital residence until the process has begun and, if necessary, have a judge determine which...

Oh if I could only get my clients to absorb and reflect on one of the most famous lines from “The Godfather” – “Nothing personal, just business.” The fact of the matter is -most of what goes on in divorces, after the parties have agreed to go their separate ways...

I have been asked many times from clients whether the “date of separation” makes a difference in Pennsylvania Divorce cases. The answer is quite simple-you betcha it does. No there is not a formal decree for separation in Pennsylvania Divorce law, but the concept of establishing the “separation date” is...

In the many years I have been doing divorce law, I have never had the opportunity to sit down with a child, a young man or young women, whose parents are divorced and discuss how it affects him or her. I had the unique opportunity of having such a discussion...

Let’s face it, sometimes divorces seem like scenes from Mario Puzo’s epic- “The Godfather”. Yes, maybe there is no bloodshed-like Sonny being riddled with bullets-or Clemenza choking Paulie to death from the back seat of the car-“don’t forget the cannolis”. But, it seems, at time, the hate between the warring...

With the skyrocketing cost of medical insurance coverage, I am getting more and more phone calls from divorcing individuals that are being prematurely dropped from their spouse’s medical insurance before the divorce is finalized. This unilateral move, by the spouse paying for the insurance, is not acceptable to the courts...

Many individuals who are contemplating Divorce are at, or near, retirement age and ask the questions whether their own, ex or soon-to-be ex partner’s Social Security retirement benefits are considered to be marital property and, therefore subject to equitable distribution. The answer is-it depends. You can contact my Pittsburgh law...

One of the most prevalent questions I am asked when couples are alimony is whether or not alimony is granted in Pennsylvania. Inevitably, the client says, “my friend told me that there is no alimony in Pennsylvania”. Well, the friend is wrong. In fact, in Pennsylvania there are two types...

I was recently speaking to a friend of mine who is also a Pittsburgh divorce lawyer and who said to me – “Does any side really win in divorce?” Let’s start with this-success, in anything, is a function of one’s expectations. For example, if you are the Pittsburgh Steelers, no...

We recently wrote that postings, pictures and other data from social media sites like Facebook are increasingly being used as evidence in divorce and child custody proceedings. We even shared several examples of how this evidence was being used in cases here in Pennsylvania. But attorneys are also noticing other...

Money troubles result in more marital discord than just about anything else in Pennsylvania and around the country. However, the national divorce rate has been falling during the recent recession. Slate cited U.S. federal government data that says divorces fell from 3.6 divorces per 1,000 Americans in 2007 to 3.5...

Ending a marriage can be an expensive way to obtain a fresh start. Recent estimates have priced the average American contested divorce as costing anywhere from $15,000-$30,000 for legal counsel, court fees and other related expenses alone. As the economy is only beginning to recover from long-time devastation, divorce expenses...

Earlier this week, we wrote that information taken from Facebook is increasingly being used as evidence in divorce and child custody battles. The internet and social media sites increase our ability to communicate with one another, but they also leave a detailed record of our interactions that we may not...

Family law attorneys in Pennsylvania say that evidence gathered from Facebook is growing more common in divorce cases around the state. The poor behavior of rival spouses often finds its way into divorce and child custody hearings and because of that many attorneys advise their clients to quit Facebook and...

Earlier this week, we began a discussion about the long list of financial considerations involved in getting a divorce, especially when children are involved. Pittsburgh residents who have made the big and difficult decision to get divorced may quickly realize that there are many more big and difficult decisions ahead....

Choosing to get a divorce is a big decision in and of itself. But once that decision has been made, there is a long list of other decisions which will need to be made as well, including many large ones that could impact the financial futures of you and your...

The end of a romantic relationship almost always involves dividing up physical property. For those dating in high school or college, this might mean returning cds, a favorite sweatshirt and a book or two. In the case of a marriage, however, the financial consequences of ending the relationship are almost...

Listening to the lyrics of singer Katy Perry’s hits like “California Gurls” or “The One That Got Away” will probably not educate you in all that much. But Pittsburgh readers who look past the tabloid headlines and think about her pending divorce from British comedian Russell Brand could actually learn...

Some Pennsylvania couples may be surprised to know that there may be another option for ending a marriage besides filing for divorce. They can follow in the footsteps of Kris Humphries, and other celebrities, who have sought an annulment for their marriages, rather than pursue a divorce. An annulment basically...

Many Pennsylvania couples who have recently been through a divorce would simply like to put the past behind them. However, without proper planning, that could be a recipe for a financial disaster. Before, during and even after a divorce, it is essential to review your financial situation and address the...

Getting a divorce can be costly, even when you opt for a simple divorce process. That cost is deterrent enough to keep some couples from filing for a divorce, choosing instead to remain legally married — even when they are no longer committed to the marriage and may not even...

Even when a Pittsburgh divorce is the right decision, the best option and the finalization of which you are looking forward to, it is a lot to handle. While making decisions about what you want in terms of custody, alimony and property, you still have to go to work, take...

In Part 1 of our discussion, we started to talk about the difficulties encountered by recently-divorced people during the holiday season. The holidays are a busy time already, and adding the stress and emotion of divorce to that mix can make the season unbearable. That is why it is important...

In many cases, a divorce is a stressful and traumatic time. Even in a “smooth” divorce, the experience of divorce is an emotional one. Throughout the legal process of a divorce, the divorcing spouses are often caught up in their disagreements, and have become focused on the next step in...

Pittsburgh divorce attorneys were interested to see news reports of a new study completed by researchers at Bowling Green State University recently. The researchers examined the first-time divorce rates of women. The researchers looked at the data from two different perspectives: divorce rates according to education, and divorce rates according...

Most divorces have negative consequences, emotionally and financially. For the majority of people contemplating divorce, these costs are to be expected. What makes divorce even worse for many people is that the courts do not look at the facts of the marriage and the divorce in the same way that...

With our current economic situation, there’s a good reason why anyone contemplating divorce should hire an experienced Pennsylvania divorce attorney. One Pennsylvania woman, who considers herself to be luckier than most, had to move into a smaller house, pay her own mortgage while trying to support her three children, and...

The precise plan may not spread to Pittsburgh anytime soon, but in an attempt to spare people the hassle and heartache of divorce, some Mexico City authorities have proposed a novel plan – two year marriage contracts. According to the assemblyman who introduced the bill, the idea is a reflection...

A recent survey of couples who had filed for divorce found that some of the respondents had an unexpectedly high rate of optimism that the marriage could be saved. Nearly a quarter of the respondents said that they thought reconciliation was possible. For 12 percent of the respondents, their spouse...

When state governments begin to make big changes to their laws regarding alimony, it gets noticed in other states. Whether in Pennsylvania or other parts of the country, very few people are entirely satisfied with the way the spousal support system works. That is why reforms like those that recently...

It seems supremely unfair that anyone who has gone through the trials of a divorce should also be at increased risk for hair loss, but that is exactly the conclusion that has been found by new research. Particularly for women, divorce was found to be one of the strongest predictors...

Everyone needs help with something now and then. Adults who are getting divorced need support from friends, and in Pittsburgh they need assistance from an experienced Pennsylvania divorce attorney. But when parents get divorced, it is the children who need the most help of all, and they need it most...

If you are getting divorced in Pennsylvania, a good first move would be to hire an experienced Pittsburgh divorce attorney. Doing so would take a lot of the pressure off of you, since a professional will be able to handle many of the details of the process, and guide you...

The legal details involved in getting a divorce are a source of enormous stress for almost everyone who goes through that process. That is why having professional help from an experienced divorce lawyer is so important. That assistance can help to lower the almost-inevitable stress level that is associated with...

For decades, it has seemed as though divorce rates have been rising ever higher in Pittsburgh and indeed across the country. The truth is that while divorce rates are high, they have not been increasing year after year. However, the fact that divorce rates are not as high as commonly...

The new Steve Carell comedy-drama “Crazy, Stupid Love” is generating some discussion as to whether its depiction of a separating couple is realistic. The movie is attracting some criticism because (spoiler alert), the separating couple reunites at the end. Adults probably know this movie is a work of fiction that...

Divorce is often thought of as something that young people go through. Young couples who get married before they really know each other or before they really understand what they are getting into find that they are unhappy with their marriages and get divorced. Even though many people think of...

Spousal support is hard to pay and hard to try to live on, except maybe if both ex-spouses are multimillionaires. Even though “hardship” does not seem to be a word that applies in that case, when spousal support is being paid in the millions, there is plenty for the parties...

If you’re suffering from a serious illness, that last thing you need is for your spouse to take off and leave. But recent studies indicate divorce rates increase when a spouse is seriously ill – particularly if the ill spouse is the wife. According to CNN, a study published in...

Most people, whether they live in Pittsburgh or anywhere else in the country, are willing to forgive a lot of faults that they perceive in their spouse. These could be little faults or big ones, but the bigger they get, the harder it is for an aggrieved spouse to overlook...

A new study shows a surprising connection between sex and divorce. The study, conducted at the University of Iowa and published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, reveals that girls who lost their virginity as teenagers were more likely to divorce. According to the Huffington Post, the study looked...

Long commutes to work are not just a drain on your pocketbook and a waste of your time. It turns out that they also increase the likelihood that you will get divorced. A recent study that looked at the effect on marital relationships of one or both spouses adding a...

The U.S. Census Bureau recently released a report on the trends in marriage and divorce in the United States. Perhaps surprisingly, the report finds that divorce rates have slowed from a peak that occurred around 1980. Since then, the rate of divorce has slowed, and the age at which people...

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, the couple that was already famous and successful when they married in 1986, then became even more successful over the next 25 years, have announced that they are separating. Pittsburgh divorce attorneys noted that the couple recently ended their time as governor and first lady...

Most people assume that as unemployment rates rise, the stress on marriages with one or both spouses being out of work grows to such an excruciating point that a rise in divorces is almost inevitable. That is what researchers from Penn State expected to find when they examined the connections...

In the last post, we started to look at some of the tax situations that arise in divorce. Now we continue that discussion with some more things to keep in mind during divorce negotiations, and after. The IRS looks at the calendar to determine if you are married for tax...

Raising twins is stressful. In fact, it may be so stressful that it accounts for a finding that parents of twins are somewhat more likely to get divorced than parents without twins. The tendency for parents of twins to divorce at higher rates than parents of non-twins was slight. It...

Divorce rates have actually decreased a little over the last twenty years. But for people over 50 years of age, it has doubled. There were around 300,000 couples over 50 that divorced in 2008, and if the trend continues there will be 400,000 divorces in that age group in 2030....

For many divorced couples, the idea of vacationing with an ex-spouse is absolutely out of the question. But for those who can get along reasonably well, vacationing together with their children can be a good way to save money and produce some good memories for the kids, and maybe even...

Social Security benefits are usually the last thing on someone’s mind when they are getting a divorce, but those benefits are going to matter. Around half of all marriages in the U.S. end in divorce, and Social Security is the primary source of income for 72% of single retirees. Many...

In their careers, male and female members of the military have largely similar responsibilities and face similar challenges. Their personal lives, however, tend to be very different. According to Pentagon statistics, women who serve in the military experience divorce at much higher rates than do their male comrades. Pentagon statistics...

While it is commonly understood, and studies have confirmed, that there is a relationship between having an unhappy childhood and having an unhappy and unfulfilling adult life, less commonly studied are the effects of a happy childhood on a person’s adult life. A recent study found that, perhaps not surprisingly,...