Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, Family Law Blog

Dads, don't make these child custody mistakes

On behalf of Gardner Law Office on Thursday, July 11, 2019.

Divorce is an emotional experience just as much as a legal one. If you have kids, you understand just how true this is. As a father, you want to remain actively involved in your children's lives, but you might be worried about how some judges in Pennsylvania treat fathers in matters regarding child custody. This means that you could possibly lose out on precious parenting time, even if it is not in the best interests of your kids.

During divorce, it is very important to avoid certain behaviors. A judge might interpret what you think are innocent or mostly harmless behaviors much more harshly than he or she would for a mother. While this is unfortunate and certainly unfair, your careful actions can help secure a better child custody agreement for both you and your children.

What is Alimony?

By Linda Gardner of Gardner Law Office posted in Divorce on Monday, July 1, 2019.

Common issues/questions that comes up in most if not almost all divorces are whether an individual will have to pay his or her soon-to-be former spouse alimony/support or whether an individual will receive alimony/support from his or her soon-to-be former spouse. If the answer to either question is yes, the immediate follow-up questions are how much alimony/support will be paid and for how long will the alimony/support have to be paid. There is not a simple answer to any of these questions as alimony/support in Pennsylvania is dependent on the specific circumstances of each divorce case.

How uncontested divorce works in Pennsylvania

On behalf of Gardner Law Office posted in Divorce on Friday, April 12, 2019.

You or your spouse are ready to end your marriage. You do not want to fight things out in a Pennsylvania court. You both have already agreed on how you will divide assets and -- if applicable -- how you will split time with your children. This leaves you wondering if you have to go through the typical divorce process. Thankfully, the answer is no.

If you find yourself in the situation described above, an uncontested divorce may be right for you. How exactly does this type of marital dissolution process work?

Same-Sex Marriage Before You Say Your I Do's

By Linda Gardner of Gardner Law Office posted in Same Sex Marriage on Tuesday, March 12, 2019.

As a result of the United States Supreme Court's historic decision in US. v. Windsor, wherein the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act was determined to be unconstitutional and Pennsylvania subsequent acknowledgement of marriage equality, wedding bells are ringing for many same-sex couples throughout the nation. Before you say those "I do's", take a minute to assess your relationship from the far less romantic legal perspective.

Collaborative divorce is often less stressful than litigation

On behalf of Gardner Law Office on Friday, January 11, 2019.

You are ready to divorce your spouse, and naturally, you feel a variety of emotions. You cannot wait to live independently again, but at the same time, you do not look forward to fighting with your soon-to-be ex at a divorce trial.

The great news is that just because you and your spouse have decided to divorce in Pennsylvania does not mean you have to endure an ugly breakup. Instead, you could tap into the power of the collaborative divorce process, which is growing in popularity as an alternative to traditional divorce litigation.

The only gift you want for the holidays is peaceful co-parenting

On behalf of Gardner Law Office on Thursday, October 18, 2018.

If you have been to just about any store lately, you have probably seen the holiday merchandise begin to come out. As Halloween rapidly approaches, the holiday season is essentially just around the corner. Even as joyous as the holidays can be, they also tend to cause stress and anxiety as people prepare, arrange for family to visit and so on.

Divorced or divorcing parents have all of the same concerns as the holidays approach with the added stress of sharing the children. Making that work and keeping the season a happy time for everyone will probably require some work.

What does joint custody involve following a marital breakup?

On behalf of Gardner Law Office on Friday, July 20, 2018.

The dissolution of your marriage can understandably take an emotional toll on you and your spouse. However, if you share children, it can affect them just as much.

One of the biggest questions you may have is how you will handle child custody following your marital breakup. Here is a glimpse at what joint custody in particular involves in Pennsylvania.

Military divorce and your privileges as a civilian spouse

On behalf of Gardner Law Office posted in blog on Tuesday, April 17, 2018.

Whether you are in a civilian marriage or a military marriage, the frustration and pain when your relationship is in trouble are universal. Certainly, you and your spouse have your own unique issues, and many of those may stem from your partner's work, but the struggles you face — money, communication, in-laws — are common to many couples.

Being a civilian spouse in a military marriage, you may have many concerns if your marriage is approaching divorce. Even though the personal issues you face may be similar to other marriages, a military divorce has some unique differences. If you approach your military divorce as if it were just another civilian divorce, you may deny yourself important rights and benefits.

Mediating your divorce may result in better end to your marriage

On behalf of Gardner Law Office posted in blog on Friday, January 19, 2018.

You have decided to finally end your marriage, and you're looking forward to the newfound freedom you will soon experience. The challenge is getting there.

Your greatest fear when embarking on your divorce journey is that the process will be hostile and drawn out. Fortunately, mediating your divorce in Pennsylvania may help you to quickly finalize your divorce and move on with your own life.

Protect your tomorrow with a strong prenuptial agreement today

On behalf of Gardner Law Office posted in blog on Monday, October 16, 2017.

If you are recently engaged or considering marriage in the future, you know that it is an exciting time for Pennsylvania couples. It can be difficult to see past the wedding day and the honeymoon, but there are things that you would be wise to go ahead and do in order to protect your future interests.

Drafting a prenuptial agreement does not sound fun or romantic, and many people only associate these documents with the rich and famous. In reality, they can be beneficial for couples of all income levels, and it can save you a world of trouble in the event that your marriage does not end happily. A little effort today can help you avoid stress in the future.

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