Get free answers to your Family Law legal questions from lawyers in your area.
Her therapist is stating that our 4 yr old needs stability and our 1.5 year old needs to bond with her mama. Currently I see my children 4 days a month. We do not have any formal custody agreement, this is all verbal between us. I want to take her to court for custody so I can get 50/50 and se my... View More 
answered on Jun 24, 2023
It's difficult to know what impact the letter from your wife's therapist might have. Ordinarily, if someone wants to present someone's opinion, they need to bring that person into court to do present in via testimony. What you really need to do is to consult with a local attorney... View More
answered on May 24, 2023
These questions suggest to me that you're trying to handle this divorce without the assistance of an attorney. Briefly, if the other party doesn't wish to sign the Affidavit of Consent, then you have to wait until you've been separated for one year. You'll want to read the court... View More
Long story short, I seperated from my husband and had a child with another man before the divorce finalized. The man has made zero contribution to my child but did sign an acknowledgement of paternity at the hospital at the time my child was born. I filed for child support today and domestic... View More
answered on May 24, 2023
Consult with a local attorney experienced in family law. Domestic Relations should not be handing out legal advice. If your family was not intact when the child was born then it's not likely that your former husband has any support obligation for this child. Retain an attorney to guide you... View More
I found messages between them and my daughter stated she didn’t want him like that but he keeps trying to pressure and manipulate her into it. I’m also in an emotional psychological abusive relationship and financially trapped and don’t know what to do to get out
answered on May 15, 2023
Yes, get rid of the boyfriend! Search online for a support group for abused women in your area and see what they can do to help you. Perhaps what he's said is sufficient for filing for a Protection from Abuse Order. You may also want to take the messages to the police and see if there's... View More
One of my good friends is getting married, however her fiancé is still on the mortgage to his previous house with his ex-wife. She hasn’t paid it in close to a year. If the bank forecloses, and there ends up being a deficit judgement, will that affect my friends home too (assuming they go... View More
answered on May 2, 2023
If the new husband is not on the existing deed to your friend's home, and they do are not joint obligors on any other debts, e.g., credit cards, etc., a foreclosure against the "divorce home" should have no legal impact upon your friend's home or mortgage.
To the extent... View More
He said he will only give me half pension he said he will not give me half of disability income it's against law is that true
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answered on May 2, 2023
In general, disability income is considered separate property and not subject to division in a divorce. However, the laws vary by state, and it's best to consult with a family law attorney who can advise you on your specific situation. Additionally, pensions and other retirement accounts... View More
I’m 20 years old and I am on a phone plan with my mom and a guy who’s a friend of the family, the friend is the phone account holder. My mom tells me she logs into the AT&T app and reads mine and my boyfriend’s messages without my permission, she’s not the account holder and is that an... View More
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answered on May 2, 2023
Reading someone else's messages without their permission is a violation of their privacy, regardless of whether or not the person doing the reading is the account holder. As a legal adult, you have the right to privacy and your mother does not have the right to access your private... View More
The custody order states son should be in therapy within 7 days but I can't get appointment until June 12, 2023. The hearing is scheduled for May 30 and trial is June 12, 2023. I want to inform him of this but can't contact him by phone. Can I write him a letter or do I have to file... View More
answered on Apr 4, 2023
You should hire an attorney to assist you in preparing a motion to extend the time to begin therapy with affidavits from yourself and every relevant therapist explaining in detail why you are unable to get a therapy appointment scheduled earlier.
If the court ordered therapy to begin in... View More
My ex and his girlfriend recently moved his girlfriends parents into the home. Her father has Dementia and I am very concerned about him being around my child when she spends the night over there. People with dementia get confused easily and sometimes do things that are out of character or... View More
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answered on Apr 3, 2023
The daughters father can live with anyone he wants any time he wants as long as the child is not placed in imminent danger to life or health. Having a demented elderly parent is not a risk factor for a child, at least not without further information.
Hypothetically, if the elderly demented... View More
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answered on Mar 31, 2023
This very vague question has no answer.
Pennsylvania children, like all other children of all other states, will from time to time exhibit self-injuring behaviors. Some will exhibit homicidal behaviors. The instinctive reaction of surrounding adults is to say the child needs mental health... View More
What is the next steps for him or me as a grandparent
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answered on Mar 31, 2023
The son can file for paternity (best to retain an attorney), and then be prepared to pay child support for eighteen years unless he litigates throughout. The asker will have difficulty in petitioning for grandparent visitation because the family statutes place the biological parents up front as... View More
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answered on Mar 31, 2023
This is a vague question about forensic expert witness output.
Just as in the 1992 motion picture "My Cousin Vinny" starring Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei, expertise knows no geographical boundaries and is admissible as long as to is helpful.
In the motion picture, a... View More
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answered on Mar 31, 2023
This is a vague question about forensic expert witness output.
Just as in the 1992 motion picture "My Cousin Vinny" starring Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei, expertise knows no geographical boundaries and is admissible as long as to is helpful.
In the motion picture, a... View More
2 children live with her and I here in PA. PA doesn’t have jurisdiction over her son and WA doesn’t have jurisdiction over her daughters. How can a custody agreement be filed? Does it have to be filed separately for the son in WA and for the daughters here? Should we get an attorney?
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answered on Apr 3, 2023
This is an expensive mess. Ordinarily, both parties would file their divorce actions in each state and will serve each other in each other's state. Then, a motion for an interim order of custody gets filed in each state and each state's judge will hold a UCCJEA conference to determine... View More
Hello, my name is Amber. I contacted my local domestic relations office to see about establishing paternity, they said I have to contact an attorney. My son was born December 30, 2022, his father and I signed an acknowledgment of paternity form at the hospital on December 31st, 2022. I decided to... View More
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answered on Mar 31, 2023
This is an impossible question to answer because of the state of statutory law that governs deceased paternity.
The hair samples that are collected outside a court order are inadmissible. The samples had to be collected under a court order to better support their reliability that the... View More
I provide all expenses for me and my daughter except for a house. My mother is making it extremely difficult for me to parent my daughter. I live in franklin county, pa, which said they do not recognize emancipation. Is there any way for me to bypass that?
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answered on Mar 21, 2023
Pennsylvania is a very weird bird when it comes to minors (people under 18 years of age). Pennsylvania allows minors to file 'private petitions' and recognizes minors as having standing when they lost access to both parents. However, all courts treat minors as minors even though this... View More
4 yrs ago I was arrested & ejected from my house for terroristic threats. I threatened to execute my ex wife by sticking a butcher knife in the back of her skull while my 5 year old son watched, then continuing on to kill my son, the family dog & myself (I was under the influence of... View More
answered on Mar 11, 2023
No, you cannot. If the child's mother files to have your fights terminated in connection with an adoption, then you may sign a consent to the termination. Otherwise, no.
I have no basis or reason to ask other than someone that was married in Italy said when they came back home they had to go to JP to remarry, PA would not accept their marriage as legal.. I dont know why. I am planning a romantic fall marriage in Italy with my fiance and we will reside in in PA... View More
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answered on Mar 19, 2023
In general, if a marriage is legally valid in the country where it took place, it should also be recognized as valid in the United States, including in the state of Pennsylvania. However, there are some limited circumstances where a foreign marriage may not be recognized as valid in Pennsylvania.... View More
Pennsylvania.
answered on Mar 1, 2023
The value of the marital home equity is generally determined as of the tie the case goes to court, or as near to that date as possible, but there may be factors which would support using a different approach. If you consult with a local attorney experienced in family law, you should be able to... View More
I was conceived from an anonymous sperm donor at the University of Penn Fertility Clinic in 1981. My parents both have mental illness from concussions. My mother keeps a dirty dusty house. My father is verbally abusive. If adoption agencies have to prescreen why wouldn’t sperm donor clinics have... View More
answered on Mar 1, 2023
It seems unlikely to me but this is not something I'm well-versd in. I suggest that you seek out an attorney who specializes in civil litigation. You might consider taking the time to do some research on the topic as well.
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