Friday, February 17, 2012
Paying a divorce attorney is probably up there with paying taxes on the list of ways that you want to spend money. Yet, if you want a divorce you should consider hiring a lawyer. If you don’t the consequences can be significant just as they can be if you don’t pay what you owe the government. While you don’t want to overspend and pay for legal services that you don’t need, you should ask yourself the following questions before hiring the least expensive lawyer you can find to handle even a simple and uncontested Pennsylvania divorce.
• Am I Absolutely Sure This is an Uncontested Divorce? Are you confident that you and your spouse agree on everything and that your spouse is not going to present any last minute surprises?
• Am I Sure I Can Live With Our Agreement for the Rest of My Life? While some aspects of your divorce such as child custody may be reconsidered at a later date, other aspects of your divorce such as the distribution of property and other financial matters will be final.
• If I Choose a High Volume Divorce Practice Will I be Getting Legal Representation? Will an attorney actually review your case? Will you be able to speak to a lawyer, rather than a secretary, if you have a question?
• Will I Pay More Than the Advertised Price? Is the price advertised really the price that you will pay or are there extra fees involved?
• Where Will My Case be Filed? While it is legal to file for divorce in any Pennsylvania county, it may not be in your best interest to do so.
Hiring a reasonably priced Pennsylvania divorce lawyer who can adequately represent your interests is an important decision. We encourage you to think about your options, and the potential consequences of your decision, before you sign a fee agreement.
Posted by tpetrelli at 10:49 am
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Friday, February 10, 2012
The Superior Court of Pennsylvania recently issued a decision that addressed an interesting interplay between family law and immigration law.
The case, Love v. Love, involved a husband who had filed an immigration affidavit of support with the Department of Homeland Security in order to help his wife, a German citizen, gain status as a permanent resident of the United States. By signing the affidavit, the husband committed to provide his wife with a minimum level of financial support equal to 125 percent of the Federal Poverty guidelines for a period of 10 (ten) years. The trial court ignored the immigration affidavit and calculated support based only on the standard support guidelines.
The Superior Court disagreed, ruling that the trial court must enforce the baseline amount of support established in the affidavit because Pennsylvania law permits a trial court to create a support order that deviates from the support guidelines, so as long as it identifies the guideline amount and specifies the reasons for the deviation. In the case at hand, the court concluded that the husband’s commitment to pay support equal to at least 125 percent of the poverty guidelines was an “exceptional circumstance that would warrant a deviation from the guideline amount.”
In calculating the amount of spousal support, the court ruled that the affidavit would only affect support calculations if the wife’s income fell below 125 percent of the poverty guidelines, and the affidavit could only be used to increase the husband’s obligations to the 125 percent level.
This case shows that it is very important that clients make their family law attorneys aware of any immigration obligations they have, as these obligations can affect support calculations in family court. Additionally, you should consult with your lawyer prior to signing an affidavit of support for any noncitizen.
Posted by tpetrelli at 10:19 am
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Wednesday, January 18, 2012
You are facing divorce. Important, emotional and life changing decisions need to be made. You know you need the help of a Pennsylvania divorce attorney, but how can you trust someone as self centered and dishonest as a lawyer to help you fight for custody of your kids and for your home?
We’ve heard all the lawyer jokes and we are very much aware of how lawyers are portrayed by the media and here’s what we want to tell you.
Lawyers are not all the same.
Just as there are honest and dishonest mechanics, investment advisors and doctors so too are there honest and dishonest attorneys. You deserve to be represented by one of the honest lawyers.
A lawyer’s reputation for honesty matters to you, as a potential client, for several reasons. For example:
- An honest lawyer looks out for your best interests, not his own. A reputable lawyer is going to do what he is hired to do and what he is required to do by the ethical requirements of his profession. In other words, an honest lawyer will do what is in the best interests of his client, not what necessarily makes him the most money.
- An honest lawyer is well respected by judges and other attorneys. That respect benefits not only the lawyer but also his clients. Other judges and attorneys are more apt to listen to and be persuaded by a lawyer whom they trust.
- An honest lawyer can keep a case focused on its true issues. An honest lawyer may have a reputation for focusing solely on the issues that need to be resolved and for not fabricating additional issues. In some cases, a lawyer with a good reputation may be able to resolve your true conflicts without adding others and encourage all parties to act more sensibly.
- An honest lawyer will provide you with reliable and accurate legal advice. You will not have to second guess the advice provided to you by an honest and qualified family lawyer. You won’t second guess the lawyer’s motives, knowledge or skill.
Find out more about the difference an honest lawyer can make for you.
You deserve an honest and reputable lawyer to represent you in your divorce case and to make your case as easy as possible. To find out more, we encourage you to contact our honest Pennsylvania divorce lawyers today to discuss your case and to see if we may be of assistance to you.
Posted by tpetrelli at 8:32 am
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Tuesday, January 3, 2012
A divorce is a unique and important event and you need a divorce lawyer who is dependable and committed to helping you. Our divorce lawyers can help you whether you are filing for divorce or whether your spouse has initiated the divorce process. Together, we will work with you to solve complicated issues of child custody, child support, and spousal support.
From the time of your initial consultation, the divorce lawyers of Petrelli Law, P.C. will work to address your individual concerns and develop a unique legal strategy to best meet your personal goals. Whether you have an amicable and simple divorce that requires a formal agreement or a complicated and contested divorce that requires litigation, we can help you. Continue reading →
Posted by tpetrelli at 7:42 am
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Sunday, January 1, 2012
We are pleased to announce that Petrelli Law P.C. will merging with the distinguished Pennsylvania lawyers at the firm of Sacks & Weston to create Sacks, Weston and Petrelli, P.C.
As of Jan 1, 2012, Thomas J. Petrelli, Jr. will bring his experience with family law, real estate law and life insurance law to the legal professionals at Sacks & Weston. This esteemed firm has spent nearly thirty years protecting Pennsylvania land owners from issues of Toxic Torts and Environmental Law, including recovering millions of dollars for victims of fracking disasters.
The merger is part of Sacks, Weston & Petrelli’s ongoing expansion into general practice areas. The firm’s legal offices are located in Jenkintown, PA, and represents clients as individuals, in class actions and mass actions across several practice areas. Continue reading →
Posted by tpetrelli at 11:43 am
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Monday, December 19, 2011
For many people, a divorce proceeding is the first time that they have been served with legal papers. At a time when you may be angry or grieving the end of your marriage, you are also dealing with the anxiety of having to be in court to fight for what matters most to you such as your kids, your financial stability, and your home.
Stay Calm and Make a Plan Continue reading →
Posted by tpetrelli at 11:30 am
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Wednesday, December 14, 2011
There is a huge difference between an online divorce kit and a Philadelphia divorce attorney.
You may be able to download divorce forms off the internet, or use a “divorce kit” from a form company. However, the paperwork is only half the battle. After you’ve paid for the forms, you will also have to pay court costs and any applicable fees. Then you will have to fill out all forms, make sure your spouse does the same, and then file each separate form at the correct time.
When it’s time to file, you face another problem: not all Pennsylvania counties have the same filing rules. Requirements for Lancaster might not work in Philadelphia—and your forms may be rejected, leading to delays, more court costs, and completing paperwork all over again.
At Petrelli Law, you only pay $499 for your no-fault divorce. Don’t wait to start over. Call us today at (215) 523-6900 to see if you’re eligible for a Pennsylvania no-fault divorce.
Posted by tpetrelli at 12:37 pm
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Monday, December 5, 2011
For those looking for legal help in the matters of family law, Petrelli Law, P.C. provides a unique and dependable approach for all services. What sets Petrelli Law, P.C. apart from other family law firms is the firm’s commitment to exploring and building the client/attorney relationship to ensure that all your needs are met. Unlike big firms, you are not just another client here and you are not just another cog in the machine. We care about helping our clients through the legal process so that they can move on with their lives. Continue reading →
Posted by tpetrelli at 7:36 am
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Friday, November 18, 2011
The real cost of getting a divorce in Pennsylvania depends on how the divorce is handled. Below we talk about some of the options available to divorcing couples and the costs to consider with each option.
One option is for each spouse to hire his or her own attorney. Attorneys typically charge clients by the hour and costs may add up quickly thereby reducing the marital estate and depriving both spouses of money that could be spent elsewhere.
Alternatively, the spouses may agree to an alternative form of divorce resolution. If the spouses agree to mediation, for example, then a mediator can help a couple resolve their disputes. Mediation is usually less expensive than litigation but it is not inexpensive.
Finally, if the spouses can reach an agreement on the terms of their divorce including custody, spousal support, child support and the division of property then they may file an uncontested no-fault divorce in Pennsylvania. This is the least expensive option, costing just a few hundred rather than several thousands of dollars, and one worth considering in an amicable divorce.
Posted by tpetrelli at 5:57 am
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Friday, October 28, 2011
Petrelli Law has joined a nationwide network of life insurance lawyers to help consumers recover life insurance claims after a denial. Life Insurance Law was created to help victims of denied or delayed life insurance claims take the “guesswork” out of hiring an attorney with life insurance claim experience. By providing a wide range of legal experience to victims across the nation, Life Insurance Law assists beneficiaries in settling their cases quickly.
How Does Life Insurance Law Help?
Life Insurance Law provides timely and accurate information about fighting claim denials, how the payout process works and how frustrated beneficiaries can find the help they need. The attorneys at Life Insurance Law offer beneficiaries facing a claim denial a free consultation and assess whether they have a valid case against the insurance company. Life insurance lawyers advise the life insurance beneficiary on how they can avoid invalidating their claim denial case and what steps they should take to make their case stronger. Once the case is underway, Life Insurance Law attorneys will demand that the life insurance company disclose any documents and other information they used to justify their life insurance claim denial. Finally, the life insurance lawyers at Life Insurance Law will win the beneficiary a payout in 30 days or less.
Who Benefits From Life Insurance Law?
Beneficiaries who have already received a life insurance denial will benefit the most from the assistance offered by Life Insurance Law. Those who are just beginning the arduous task of filing an insurance claim can educate themselves by reading the website’s numerous articles on how to avoid a life insurance claim denial and what to do when faced with a denial.
Who Is Petrelli Law?
Petrelli Law and managing partner Thomas Petrelli, Jr. have provided legal counsel to Philadelphia residents for a combined ten years. Petrelli has also been featured in the Super Lawyers Rising Stars listings for Pennsylvania, Arrival Magazine’s Top 50 Lawyers in the Northeast, Suburban Life Magazine’s Awesome Attorneys and Who’s Who in American Law.
Posted by tpetrelli at 8:18 am
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Thomas J. Petrelli, Jr. is a 
