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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 
In Feb 2019 we had an unexpected homebirth. We lived together for 1 year when mom took our son to her family and refuses to speak, acknowledge, or even accept child support from me or my family. He was only seen informally by medical professionals, & never received legal documentation while we... View More
answered on Jul 20, 2024
I am sorry you are going through this. Sadly based on the information you have provided if the child has not been in PA for at least six (6) months PA does not have jurisdiction over the child. You will have to go through the Texas courts. Reach out to a Texas family law attorney to inquiry about... 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
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
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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
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
answered on Mar 12, 2024
From the way the Order is written, it does not appear to bind Father into placing the child on his medical insurance. It merely states that Father "offered" to place the child on his insurance, not that the Court mandates him to do so. However, there may be a creative legal argument that... 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
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
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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
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answered on Mar 17, 2024
The law in Pennsylvania regarding the distribution of marital property is not a knife's edge split of everything. The law is "equitable distribution" of the marital estate which means a fair distribution of the marital estate.
So, the amount on the table for distribution is... View More
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answered on Feb 23, 2024
The form you need to waive publication of your name change typically varies depending on the jurisdiction where you're filing for the name change. In many states, this form may be referred to as a "Petition to Waive Publication of Name Change" or something similar. However, the exact... View More
They hate that we’re together and fixing issues in our marriage and have been very agressive with actions trying to manipulate him to leaving. He fought back and stayed by my side and now his family is threatening to kidnap the kids. Local cops said best thing to do is run away but that doesn’t... View More
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answered on Feb 23, 2024
It's understandable that you feel frightened and overwhelmed by the threats your family members and their partners are making against your children. It's crucial to take these threats seriously and seek assistance from law enforcement immediately. You can file a report with the police... 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
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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