• 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.

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.

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.

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. 

Philadelphia divorce lawyer Thomas Petrelli is an experienced Pennsylvania and New Jersey divorce mediator who can help couples reach agreements that benefit each other and their children so that they can move on with the rest of their lives. When mediation is a viable option it can save divorcing couples money, time and the ability to have a future working relationship for the benefit of their children.

Divorce becomes considerably more complex when the couple has high assets or high income. Whether you, or your spouse, have control of the assets, our experienced divorce lawyers will work hard to make sure that there is an equitable distribution of property. Specifically, we will uncover hidden assets and make sure that they are fairly distributed and we will make sure that all income is disclosed and reflected in child support and spousal support agreements.

Call a Divorce Lawyer at 215-523-6900 For a Meeting

For a nominal fee, we offer a one on one meeting with an attorney. At that meeting you and your divorce lawyer will define your goals and consider any likely difficulties in achieving your goals. You will leave your meeting knowing the next steps that will be taken in your case and that a unique strategy to meet your divorce goals is being developed by your divorce lawyer.

When you’re ready to learn about the possible legal solutions to your situation, contact a divorce lawyer at Petrelli Law, P.C. We can be reached via our online contact form or at 215-523-6900. We look forward to working with you to meet your goals and to helping you move on with the rest of your life

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.

Sacks, Weston & Petrelli has recently sought to include corporate law, estate planning, real estate and family law,  personal injury cases, and immigration issues to its caseload.  Our environmental, insurance and family law background will make Petrelli Law, P.C. a valuable asset to the Sacks & Weston team.

Petrelli Law welcomes the opportunity to expand our practice and legal knowledge, and is grateful for the chance to help clients across the nation.  Our attorneys will provide the same dedicated, compassionate attention to our clients at Sacks, Weston & Petrelli that made our small Philadelphia firm the legal mainstay it is today.

For more information and details of the merge, please call 800-578-5300.

Stay Calm and Make a Plan

Once you have been served with the papers it is important to remain calm and to make a plan to protect yourself and your rights. Specifically, our Pennsylvania divorce attorneys recommend that you:

1. Carefully Read the Papers Served to You. They contain important information about what your spouse is seeking, how you should respond, the dates by which you need to respond, and about your rights. The papers should include a:
   1. Cover Sheet. This tells you where the case was filed, which attorney is representing your spouse and other important information you will need to respond appropriately to the complaint.
   2. Notice to Defend. This explains what will happen to you if you fail to take action on the papers served to you and encourages you to seek the help of a lawyer.
   3. Complaint. This document gets to the heart of the matter. It tells you what your spouse is seeking from you.
   4. Verification. This is your spouse’s formal affirmation that the information in the complaint is true.
   5. Supporting Documentation. Additional documentation may also be provided.
   6. Make a Plan Now That You Know What Your Spouse is Requesting. Take note of all deadlines noted in the papers and the issues raised by your spouse. Think about whether you are going to contest the requests and/or make some of your own or whether you are pretty much in agreement with the plan outlined by your spouse.

Contact an Experienced Pennsylvania Family Law Attorney

You have the right to represent yourself in a divorce proceeding. However, it is important to know that your spouse is already being represented by an attorney who is going to do his or her best to get your spouse what he or she wants.

You deserve the same advantage.

You deserve to be able to focus on your life and your emotions with the security of knowing that you have a PA divorce lawyer advocating for you. You may have received the divorce papers when you were alone, but you do not have to go through the legal proceedings by yourself. Instead, please call our office today to discuss how we may be able to help you through this difficult time.

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.

Petrelli Law, P.C. is based in Philadelphia. We know the only way to bring about fair and just solutions for our clients is by building trust. That is why our firm is constantly in contact with our clients to make sure that every question and concern is addressed from the very beginning to the final outcome.

Consult with Divorce Lawyer Thomas Petrelli

The first step in determining the right solution is opening the lines of communication. A confidential consultation appointment can be made by calling 215-523-6900.

During your initial confidential consultation, you’ll get one-on-one time with an attorney to define the situation, the difficulties involved, the goals you have in mind, and the next steps to take. From here, a unique strategy can be customized to determine a fair and just solution for you and those involved.

At the end of the consultation session, you’ll receive a detailed breakdown of how fees are applied and the different roles the firm can play in your representation. You are encouraged to ask any questions that come to mind. Our goal is to create a comfortable and trust-filled client/attorney relationship, and that starts by filling in the blanks and “What if?” concerns regarding your situation.

When you’re ready to learn about the possible legal solutions to your situation, pick up the phone and call Petrelli Law, P.C. at 215-523-6900. We look forward to working with you to meet your goals and give you the fair solution you deserve.

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.

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.