For many people who begin their journey to get a divorce, the process and all the emotions that are involved can be very overwhelming—and rightfully so. A marriage is a huge commitment and deserves much thought and consideration before deciding to end it. Because of this, and all that a marriage may consist of, the divorce process can be complicated and difficult to figure out alone.

There are some divorces that are simple; these usually do not involve many assets, do not involve children, and they are usually cases where the marriage was short and neither spouse is asking for alimony. In these cases, an experienced divorce attorney may not be needed, and a couple may be able to handle the matter  themselves. However, most divorce cases are more complicated than this scenario. In these more common situations, we highly recommend finding an experienced divorce attorney, and here are 5 reasons why:

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Categories: Divorce

The topic of divorce is complicated, and no two divorces are the same. Because of this, it is hard to lean on friends and family for guidance when navigating through all of the twists and turns of the divorce process. It is important to remember that there are trusted divorce attorneys that someone in this situation can go to for the right advice—plus, one’s future depends on it.

In addition to having the right support, it is also key for someone in this situation to educate themselves on what to expect, and one topic that can feel grey to many is the topic of alimony. Alimony serves as a means to help a party meet their reasonable needs when their income and the assets awarded in equitable distribution are insufficient to meet those reasonable needs. To help someone understand this topic, we’ve outlined the most common questions and answers:

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Categories: Alimony, Divorce

When parents are entering a divorce and/or a custody proceeding, a lot more is at stake than themselves and their material and monetary items—the importance of their relationship with their children and their children’s future will likely surpass everything else.

We understand the amount of stress this situation can bring, and highly advise those going through a divorce, which include custody matters, to consult with an experienced family lawyer who can guide them along the way so they can help to achieve the best outcome for all involved. In addition, being prepared for the child custody process, including how to prepare for a child custody evaluation, can also help. Here is some information to get you started:

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Categories: Custody, Divorce

When someone goes through a divorce, they are presented with many new beginnings and many firsts to make their own. These can be uncertain times or times of sadness and grieving, but one can also view this as an opportunity to make the most of the new path they are on.

One new beginning that many will encounter after divorce is their home—whether they will remain in the same residence that they lived in with their spouse or move to a new residence. Whichever the circumstance is, one thing is true: refreshing one’s home after divorce can impact one’s mood and outlook on life. If someone is recently divorced and is struggling with how to make their surroundings their own, the below tips can help:

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Categories: Divorce

How does someone know if their divorce is considered high net worth? A high net worth divorce has traditionally been defined as a divorce involving more than one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) in assets. This question is important to think about as there are unique considerations to keep in mind if someone is in this situation, and not taking the right steps can change the end result of their divorce.

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Categories: Divorce, High Net Worth Divorce

Every four years, the PA Child Support Guidelines are reviewed and adjusted to stay in line with the current cost of living and to make other necessary adjustments. These guidelines consider the statistical data for the cost of raising a child for a family that is not divorced as it is thought that divorced or separated families should spend the same amount on their child no matter their status. With that said, effective January 1, 2022, the PA Child Support Guidelines were modified and may be a reason for some families to consider a child support modification.

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Categories: Child Support

A divorce or separation can create a lot of stress for everyone involved, and if children are a part of the picture, it is not an easy task to keep it together in front of them through the process. For that reason, it can be a relief when the divorce or end of the relationship is final. When that time comes, though, another challenge awaits—the challenge of co-parenting.

While it may seem hard to realize at the time, co-parenting does not have to be difficult or stressful. One way to avoid the complexities of co-parenting is by communicating up front about how things will be handled. Once ground rules are in place, it can make each parent feel more comfortable about the arrangement. To help someone in this situation think through what topics they should discuss with their ex up front, we have included some ideas below:

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Categories: Custody, Divorce

Agreements can be very useful tools for marriages and can come in handy during a divorce. Family agreements, including the settlement of disputes by agreement between husbands and wives, are favored in Pennsylvania and are generally presumed to be valid, binding, and non-modifiable by the courts.

Because of the seriousness of entering an agreement, it is critical that one understands the ins and outs of the agreement and how it can positively, as well as negatively, affect them before signing one. We advise someone wanting to enter into an agreement to consult with an experienced attorney to ensure they cover all bases and meet the requirements of Pennsylvania law. To help one get started, below are a few of the family agreements that one can enter along with a description of each:

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Categories: Agreements

If someone is having marital problems, how can they determine if divorce is the right solution for their relationship? That question is not easily answered since each relationship has its own set of unique circumstances. Perhaps they have children that they need to consider, or they should give their marriage more attention before resorting to divorce. Or maybe one or both spouses in a marriage is a high net worth individual which is even more complicated.

One thing is true: marriage is a legal contract and is a serious commitment that deserves effort and thoughtfulness from both parties. While the reasons for divorce may be very different and unique, taking into consideration the following matters can help someone in that uncertain situation think more thoroughly about that next step and facilitate their thought process:

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Categories: Divorce

A high net worth divorce can be a difficult process and take a toll on one’s financial and mental states. Many who go through this process might anticipate the day that the divorce is final; however, there is another journey that begins at that time: learning how to bounce back with life after divorce.

The stage that comes after a divorce can be looked at in many different ways; perhaps it is an exciting time when one finally feels free from the burdens of their marriage or maybe it is a devastating time when one does not know how to rebuild their life and put the pieces back together. Whichever way one looks at this next stage, we have outlined 5 ways that can help one bounce back so a fresh start can begin:

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Categories: Divorce, High Net Worth Divorce