Family Law Blog

Can parties hire a “private judge” to decide their divorce or custody case?  The answer is yes.  Parties can utilize a process called arbitration.  When parties choose to arbitrate, they hire an arbitrator to make decisions in their case.  The parties can agree to binding or non-binding arbitration.  The parties can decide the degree of . . . Read More

Attorney Thomas Clark of Colgan & Associates, LLC will present a seminar entitled Child Custody Procedures: Form by Form for the National Business Institute on March 8, 2013 at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Harrisburg.  This full day seminar will be attended by Lawyers, Paralegals, Guardians ad Litem and Social Workers.  The program is approved . . . Read More

By law in Pennsylvania, an affair (known as “marital misconduct”) cannot be considered when the court divides your marital property.  23 Pa. C.S. §3502 states “Upon the request of either party in an action for divorce or annulment, the court shall equitably divide, distribute or assign, in kind or otherwise, the marital property between the . . . Read More

Alimony is available in Pennsylvania.  However, alimony is not appropriate in all cases and may be prohibited in others.  The court may allow alimony where it decides alimony is reasonable.  In addition to deciding the amount of alimony to be paid, the court must also determine the nature, duration and  manner of payment of alimony.  . . . Read More

There are different relevant points in time that that are considered when dividing assets and debts in divorce in Pennsylvania. The first important point in time is the date of marriage. The second important point in time is the date of separation. This date may or may not be easily determined. Many clients continue to . . . Read More

There is much misinformation with regard to this topic.  Separated spouses are not automatically divorced after living separate and apart for two years.  In fact, there is no circumstance in Pennsylvania where a marriage is automatically terminated after the passage of a period of time. The two year separation period, however, is important.  After spouses . . . Read More