Author Archives: Jennifer Courtney
How Do Pennsylvania Courts Enforce Prenuptial Agreements?
A prenuptial agreement can be a valuable tool that helps individuals protect their rights and property in case a marriage ends in divorce. There are many reasons people decide to use prenups before getting married, including additional financial security, fewer arguments about money in a marriage and the protection of children’s future inheritance. Having a… Read More »
Is Pennsylvania a 50/50 Property Division State?
If you are preparing for a divorce in Pennsylvania, you may have questions about how your property will be divided and what you will get to keep. In Pennsylvania, courts use “equitable distribution” rules to fairly divide marital assets and debts. It’s important to note that “equitable” and “fair” do not necessarily mean a 50/50… Read More »
Are Retirement Benefits Considered Marital Assets in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, retirement benefits are considered marital property — at least to a certain extent. Only benefits acquired during a marriage can be divided in a divorce. Any benefits acquired before marriage or after separation, along with retirement benefits acquired in an inheritance, are considered separate property and are not subject to the asset distribution… Read More »
What Is the Separation Period in Pennsylvania for a Nonconsensual Divorce?
The divorce process is made logistically simpler when both parties consent to it. But what happens if one of the parties does not respond to the divorce notice, cannot be found or simply does not provide consent? In October 2016, the state of Pennsylvania passed a law that reduced the length of time a person… Read More »
Can a Person File for Legal Separation in Pennsylvania?
There is no law in Pennsylvania that allows for the status of “legal separation.” You are either single, married or divorced. Couples may decide to separate, however, and in doing so will face many of the same issues as divorcing couples. These include how they will share expenses, divide property and share custody and visitation… Read More »
Does the Noncustodial Parent Have to Cover the Cost of Braces?
When you get divorced, your child support arrangement and the amount you pay will be determined based on the needs of your child at the time of your divorce. But what happens when new expenses arise? For example, if you are the noncustodial parent of a child who needs braces, will you be responsible for… Read More »
Does Pennsylvania Child Support Cover Childcare Costs for Working Custodial Parents?
In Pennsylvania, as in all states, parents must provide child support until their children are at least 18 years old, with few exceptions. The amount of money the support payer provides to the custodial parent depends on the state’s child support guidelines as they are applied to each case. These guidelines primarily take into account… Read More »
New Tax Cuts Eliminate Child Dependency Exemptions
Dependency exemptions are often a point of contention among divorced or unmarried parents during tax season. However, in the wake of tax reform, these dependency exemptions will no longer exist, neutralizing at least one common source of debate and frustration for divorced or unmarried parents. Under the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act of 2017, the… Read More »
New Tax Law Affects Deductibility of Alimony
The tax reform bill, which Republicans in Congress passed and President Donald Trump signed into law in December, will make matters slightly more difficult for some divorced people. Under the new law, individuals who pay alimony can no longer deduct those payments on their tax returns, and those who receive alimony payments will not have… Read More »
What Is a No-Fault Divorce?
Many new clients at our family law firm have heard divorce referred to in different legal terms but are a bit unsure of their meaning. One such term is “no-fault divorce,” which clients sometimes confuse with “uncontested divorce.” No-fault divorce still requires the parties to reach consensus on important issues but eliminates the first point… Read More »