Pennsylvania Family Law

At Petrelli Previtera, LLC, our attorneys believe in the process of resolving family law issues that arise in a divorce proceeding without the necessity of litigation, if possible. This is called alternative dispute resolution (ADR). ADR includes processes such as collaborative law, mediation, and arbitration. However, if ADR is not possible, our family law attorneys are […]

You have decided that your child should be put up for adoption at birth. You are confident in your decision and you are not looking to discuss whether or not it is the right one. You Still Need a Lawyer Even if you are no longer deciding whether or not adoption is the right choice, […]

Paternity by estoppel A recent article in the Legal Intelligencer discussed the application of the concept of paternity by estoppel to a custody case recently decided by the Pennsylvania Superior Court. Paternity by estoppel is the concept whereby once a man has been held out as a child’s father, his paternity cannot be later denied. […]

How to Prepare for a Child Custody Trial You’ve been there for every day of your child’s life. You were there when she opened her eyes for the first time, when she took her first steps, when she rode her first bike… but, you may not be there for the next “first”.  You are getting […]

§ 6103.  Jurisdiction. (a)  General rule.–The court shall have jurisdiction over all proceedings under this chapter. (b)  Effect of departure and nonresidence.–The right of the plaintiff to relief under this chapter shall not be affected by either of the following: (1)  The plaintiff’s leaving the residence or household to avoid further abuse. (2)  The defendant’s […]

For most couples, the idea of divorce is daunting.  When a marriage comes to an end, you are emotionally raw, yet also must keep a level head to protect yourself, your family and your interests.

Before you can move forward with the adoption of a child, the child’s biological parents’ rights must be legally terminated. This can be done in one of two ways. Either the biological parents can voluntarily terminate their legal rights or their rights can be involuntarily terminated. The process, of course, becomes more complicated if the […]

The Family Courthouse at 1801 Vine Street in Philadelphia is a place families mostly want to avoid at all costs.

The “typical family” is no longer typical It’s sometimes amazing to consider how much the nature of the American family has changed over the last generation or two. The old pattern was remarkably uniform: Dad worked 9-to-5 outside the home, five days a week. Mom stayed at home and was responsible for maintaining the household […]

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 […]