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answered on Jul 28, 2024
Living in government housing in Pennsylvania and having a son on Megan's Law list raises important concerns. Each housing authority might have its own rules and regulations regarding visitors, especially those with criminal records.
Typically, housing authorities prioritize safety and... View More 
Anything I can do legally? Since we have joint custody.
answered on Jul 20, 2024
The first question is there a written court order regarding custody between the parents or is there agreed to document that the parties have been living with or is there no agreement regarding custody?
The second question is do you have 50/50 legal custody or just 50/50 physical custody... View More
Her mother is abusive, does drugs, smokes, and drinks. She doesn't want to live with the abuse anymore and wants to live with us. Her mom won't consent to her moving out. We live in ND, she's in PA.
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answered on Jun 21, 2024
This is a complex situation involving family law, child custody, and potentially child welfare issues across state lines. Here's an overview of key points to consider:
1. Age of majority: In Pennsylvania, the age of majority is 18. At 17, your daughter is still legally a minor.... View More
In May 2022, Lehigh County CYS conducted an investigation into the father of my four children was deemed "valid" and subsequently closed, yet CYS failed to inform me of this matter. Then, in August 2022, he was arrested for DUI while the children were in the car. Despite numerous reports... View More
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answered on Jun 3, 2024
It's understandable that you're feeling frustrated and desperate for justice given the decade-long neglect by Lehigh County CYS. To pursue legal action, gathering all relevant documents and reports from hospitals, schools, doctors, the police department, and the District Attorney will be... View More
His girlfriend was named beneficiary. Went to lawyer who wanted $5k. She wouldn't pay. My 3 sisters n myself and his church are to evenly divide 50% of his estate but we do not have access to anything. We have never had a good relationship with her. As benefactors, should we be updated on... View More
answered on May 5, 2024
Heirs' rights?
Yes, you actually do have many. The best starting point is duties of an Executrix in PA, which are many, but the overriding drive is that every personal representative of a probate estate is to maximize the value of the Estate for the benefit of creditors and the heirs,... View More
We have been separated for more than a year, but living at same property.
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answered on Apr 16, 2024
In this situation, your tax filing status for 2023 depends on your marital status as of December 31, 2023. Here are a few things to consider:
1. If your divorce is not finalized by December 31, 2023, you are still considered married for tax purposes. In this case, you can choose to file... View More
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answered on Apr 11, 2024
Here are the general steps for requesting a court order to withdraw funds from a restricted minor's account for orthodontic expenses in Pennsylvania:
1. Gather documentation: Collect estimates or invoices from the orthodontist showing the total cost of your daughter's braces... View More
My parents are verbally abusive, and want to send me to a psych ward against my will. I don't believe that going into inpatient care is going to be the best option for me, but they don't care about my opinion. I believe the best option for me is to leave, as my parents won't let me... View More
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answered on Apr 13, 2024
Pennsylvania justice is similar to that of a farmer leading his cattle to slaughter. The reach of justice is beyond belief, and only good voting will fix the problem.
Pennsylvania has a legal fishing net known as a dependency proceeding. This is an aberration of a process that lassos... View More
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answered on Mar 25, 2024
If you are involved in a Protection From Abuse (PFA) case and fail to attend the hearing, the consequences depend on your role in the case. If you are the petitioner, the one who requested the PFA, not showing up could result in the dismissal of your case. This means the protective order may not be... View More
move back to PA but my parents want to stay in Portugal. I was hoping someone could help me figure out how to get emancipated so I could live on my own without my parents.
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answered on Mar 18, 2024
Hi Juliette, I understand that you're facing a challenging situation and are looking for ways to live independently in Pennsylvania (PA). Emancipation laws vary by state, but generally, they allow a minor to become responsible for their own welfare and make decisions independently of their... View More
Can she appoint my friend guardianship of me while living in Portugal?
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answered on Mar 11, 2024
As a US citizen living in Portugal on a D8 visa, your legal status and guardianship arrangements are subject to both US and Portuguese laws. In general, guardianship is appointed by a court when an individual is deemed incapable of making decisions for themselves, usually due to age (being a... View More
I know she filed some time ago but I wasn't working at the time. I just started working recently. Post office left a pink slip for me to pick up and sign for mail from Domestic Relations. If I don't sign and it's returned undeliverable, what happens? The mailing address is one that... View More
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answered on Mar 10, 2024
There are numerous and serious misunderstandings about what child support is and isn't. This response will be too brief to fully explain this conjecture. We will try as much as we can.
The first major misconception is that joblessness is no defense against child support. A prisoner... View More
We went to court last week. While in court the father told the judge he will put our daughter on his insurance to help with therapy costs. The Orders states "father offers to add child to insurance to help with out of picket therapy costs". Now he's saying he's not required to... View More
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answered on Mar 10, 2024
This is not an easy question. Pennsylvania judges all too often shoot from the hip, and they can either contempt a parent or not based on what is written or what is not written in a court order.
Here, the order appears to provide that "dad offers" which is not an order at all. The... View More
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answered on Mar 6, 2024
Retirement accounts are marital to the extent that the benefits accumulated during the marriage. Anything prior and anything subsequent are not marital, however, you will need to prove what you had when you got married to have that portion excluded. Like all marital assets, you can expect that... View More
I am married, I work and purchased the house alone, I pay all the bills, and also take care of the kids. My wife works and contributed nothing towards the bills, she does not share her tax refund. After divorce and she is rewarded what ever the court decides, can I sue her after for loss and... View More
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answered on Mar 6, 2024
The short answer is no. Divorce will determine what you each are awarded based on what you both have at the time of your separation.
I am married, can I leave 100% of everything I own for my kids, or any family members, including house and retirement, in case of divorce or death? Thank you for your help.
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answered on Mar 6, 2024
You can do a will that leaves everything to your children, however, if you do not leave anything to your spouse, your Spouse can elect to take against the will and depending on what state you are in will determine what your spouse is entitled to receive. As for retirement accounts, they generally... View More
I’m from PA and i turned 18 about 4 months ago. my mom threatened to call the police on me to kick me out after an argument but when i told my friend he mentioned squatters rights would protect me so I was curious as to if that were true or if she can still kick me out within 3 days
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answered on Mar 31, 2024
In Pennsylvania, once you turn 18, you are legally considered an adult and your parents are no longer obligated to provide housing for you. However, if you have been living in the home, you may have some protections under landlord-tenant laws.
While your friend mentioned squatter's... View More
answered on Feb 21, 2024
Establishing paternity is sometimes necessary to clarify rights and obligations. Paternity suits can be initiated to determine biological fatherhood through a blood test. This allows a biological father to secure visitation rights or enables a mother to obtain child support from an unwilling... View More
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answered on Feb 23, 2024
In the absence of a designated beneficiary form for a 401(k) plan, the distribution of the funds will typically follow the plan's default provisions and legal regulations. Generally, the spouse of the deceased individual is considered the primary beneficiary by default in many cases,... View More
Just want to hire an attorney for my child custody case and file contempt for the other parent doesn’t follow many of the court order. Thank you.
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answered on Mar 10, 2024
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