Divorce Topics

As an attorney who has been a career divorce mediator for many years, I am constantly asked the following questions:

You know that it is time to end your marriage, but are you sure that you have a legal reason to get a divorce? Pennsylvania law only allows a couple to divorce in certain circumstances. Those circumstances include: Abandonment without a reasonable cause for one year or more. Adultery. Cruel treatment that puts your life […]

You want to formally end your marriage. You and your spouse are already living separate lives. In fact, you can’t even find your spouse and you haven’t been able to for some time. While it is possible to get a divorce if you can’t locate your spouse, you need to be prepared for the reality […]

With social media playing such a significant role in our current culture and our lives, it is no surprise it has crept its way into the family law arena.

The Monroe County Court of Common Pleas recently affirmed a support master’s recommendations as to an award of alimony pendente lite (APL) and medical expenses in a case between divorcing spouses. APL is financial support that the higher-income spouse pays to the lower-income spouse after divorce proceedings have begun. In the case, Gilmore v. Gilmore, […]

You are ending your marriage. Everything about your family and personal life is about to change. As you take the necessary steps to dissolve your marriage and protect your personal finances it is important to also take the necessary steps to protect your Pennsylvania business if you don’t want your professional life and future income […]

We often hear how more couples are divorcing than ever before, but is it true in Pennsylvania? According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health: 35,610 couples divorced or had their marriages annulled in 2011.* That is the highest number of Pennsylvania divorces and annulments since 2005. Yet, the number of Pennsylvania divorces and annulments in […]

A recent Pennsylvania case featured two ex-spouses who disagreed whether the husband was entitled to a modification of their existing support order. In the case, Windley v. Schwarz, the spouses were divorced in New Hampshire and thereafter agreed to a uniform support order. Under the agreed upon order, the husband was to pay the wife […]

News was made in June 2012 when a man sued his ex-wife over her collection of shoes. Yes, her shoes. News outlets such as ABC News reported that the husband and wife finalized their divorce three years ago with a settlement, and now the husband is claiming that pursuant to their settlement he is entitled […]

Ending a long term relationship is just as painful whether you are legally married or not, and a long term relationship that is not recognized as a marriage may result in similar issues to a marriage when the relationship dissolves. Pennsylvania does not yet recognize same sex marriages, nor do all municipalities recognize domestic partnerships. […]