It is impossible to predict the future, but a strong estate plan can help you lay the foundation for a strong future for yourself and your family. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to estate planning, and any effective plan should be tailored to your individual needs and objectives.
Protect your future with a strong estate plan
When child support is ordered, use options to make it work
If a divorced parent in Pennsylvania does not have sole custody of the children, chances are his or her settlement came with an order for monthly support payments. No matter how indignant or frustrated one may feel about a child support order, there is usually little that can be done about it. The best advice may be to find a way to make the payments as painless as possible.
High asset divorce means greater risk in some states
A large part of divorce is the separation of assets. The custody of children, the ownership of the house and the division money and other assets are among the items that are negotiated. A couple going through a high asset divorce may have even more at stake, and the state where the couple lives may add to that risk.
The rights of grandparents in Pennsylvania
Like many grandparents, you may feel that having grandchildren is one of the great joys in your life. There is something gratifying in the innocence and exuberance of a grandchild, coupled with the devotion and trust they offer without condition.
Women who conceive through assault may face child custody battles
When a woman is the victim of a sexual assault, it is always a possibility that she may become pregnant. This could mean that she is forced to contend with her attacker if he demands child custody. While Pennsylvania offers some protection for mothers in this situation, many other states are slow in passing legislation in this area.
Fathers' rights restored after mother hid children for 2 years
The residual effects of a custody battle that gained attention in Pennsylvania and across the nation continue to play out in the courtroom. A mother is already serving time for denying fathers' rights to her ex-husband by hiding two of their children for two and a half years. Recently, the woman who helped her was also sentenced.
Before property division, electronic data may be investigated
When divorces occur in the public eye, lurid details often emerge. Many of these details are the result of investigators mining the computers of their clients' adversaries. While the particulars of most divorces in Pennsylvania are not published and discussed in the media, electronic data may still be used as part of the investigation to determine property division and other issues.
Child support may not include extracurricular activities
When a child discovers an interest or talent, it can be a remarkable thing. Seeing a child develop as an artist or musician is gratifying for many parents in Pennsylvania, and most would do whatever they can to encourage and develop that talent. However, one divorced couple must now follow a judge's child support order to fulfill their daughter's dream.
Child custody battle turns bitter, endangers child
When adults in Pennsylvania or other states battle over the custody of a child, it can quickly turn bitter. Some people are not beyond using extreme methods to discredit whomever else seeks child custody, even if the child's best interests are at stake. One family is waging a brutal war over the custody of a five-year-old boy.
