After the breakdown of a marriage, many legal and financial issues must be taken care of to ensure its dissolution is resolved in accordance with Pennsylvania divorce laws, which may differ by county. When facing such challenges, it's crucial to consult a divorce attorney near me to guide you through the intricate processes. Selecting an attorney that understands Pennsylvania divorce litigation can ensure your legal rights are upheld and that a successful outcome can be reached for your divorce case: child custody, child support, alimony payments, property division and equitable distribution are just a few areas that will make an impactful difference to its outcome.
Divorces involving child custody issues can be especially complex. Custody decisions are usually determined by a judge who takes many elements of each case into consideration when making their ruling, such as who will foster strong and healthy relationships between themselves and the children, stability for each child's life, marital misconduct that could impact custody agreements, etc.
Reasons for divorce may also have an impact on aspects of it like alimony payments; depending on whether one spouse filed a fault divorce in which they allege wrongdoing by the other partner. Fault divorces tend to take longer because courts review any documentation related to adultery, abuse or gambling away marital funds as possible causes for their end.
Many parents, particularly fathers, do not understand their rights when it comes to child custody and support proceedings. Many assume that courts will always side with the mother of their children and that no money will come their way for supporting their kids.
Modern Pennsylvania family law proceedings recognize both parents as equal partners with equal rights for the children involved. Courts will always do what is in the best interest of all involved children involved, so it is vital that families understand all legal options when it comes to child support as each state imposes specific guidelines regarding this issue.
Pennsylvania's child support guidelines are founded on the principle that both parents should share equally in the cost of raising their children. To determine an initial child support obligation, combined parental income of both parties are multiplied by each contributory percentage to arrive at an initial obligation amount; payments typically continue until either 18 years of age are reached or graduation occurs from high school, though in certain instances payments can continue beyond this age threshold.
Alimony can be one of the most contentious issues during divorce proceedings, as it involves determining how much one spouse owes the other in alimony payments to help bridge any potential gaps left by its end.
Alimony cannot be calculated using any set formula; judges have sole discretion in awarding or withholding it and for how long. They also decide when alimony ends - commonly, one year of alimony for every three years of marriage has been the standard, though this duration can be altered upon a substantial change in circumstances or at either party's request.
By opting for divorce mediation, you and your spouse can negotiate an alimony amount and duration that both of you find fair instead of leaving this decision up to a judge. This can save time, money, and stress in the process. If you're unsure of where to begin, you can always learn more about the intricacies of Pennsylvania divorce laws.
Property division can often be one of the most contentious aspects of divorce cases. Pennsylvania law outlines how assets and debts known as marital property should be divided during this process, with equitable distribution used as the method to decide what is fair - taking into account factors like length of marriage; spouse earnings/assets individually; any prenuptial agreements containing separate property provisions excluded by agreement and tax consequences as possible criteria.
Couples who can reach an agreement outside of court on property division can often save time, stress and money through mediation. A property settlement agreement or marital settlement agreement may also help ensure their terms will be included into the final divorce judgment - this approach being particularly advantageous when couples with substantial assets. Furthermore, postnuptial agreements provide additional clarity as to what counts as separate and marital property during marriage as well as their financial structure during it.
For further understanding of divorce laws in Pennsylvania, refer to this authoritative source on divorce law in PA.