Pennsylvania Divorce

Do I Really Need a Divorce Attorney? QUESTION: Is there any particular reason why I should hire a lawyer rather than doing a do-it-yourself divorce? You’ve seen the ads for $59 do-it-yourself divorce and you are wondering, “Why should I pay an attorney, when I can fill out the forms myself?” Some people have no […]

The Pennsylvania Divorce Process has several steps, and one of them is the discovery phase. This part is really important because it lets both parties gather all the info they need for the case. Usually, it happens after filing and serving divorce complaints, but before mediation or trial. The discovery process makes sure that both […]

QUESTION: “Can my former spouse file for bankruptcy to avoid paying child support?” Your ex is upset about paying child support. He tried moving. Then he refused to pay. Now, he says he will file bankruptcy.  Can filing bankruptcy prevent him from paying child support? In the U.S., both custodial and non-custodial parents are obligated […]

At Petrelli Previtera, LLC, our attorneys believe in the process of resolving family law issues that arise in a divorce proceeding without the necessity of litigation, if possible. This is called alternative dispute resolution (ADR). ADR includes processes such as collaborative law, mediation, and arbitration. However, if ADR is not possible, our family law attorneys are […]

For most couples, the idea of divorce is daunting.  When a marriage comes to an end, you are emotionally raw, yet also must keep a level head to protect yourself, your family and your interests.

The “typical family” is no longer typical It’s sometimes amazing to consider how much the nature of the American family has changed over the last generation or two. The old pattern was remarkably uniform: Dad worked 9-to-5 outside the home, five days a week. Mom stayed at home and was responsible for maintaining the household […]

You know that it is time to end your marriage, but are you sure that you have a legal reason to get a divorce? Pennsylvania law only allows a couple to divorce in certain circumstances. Those circumstances include: Abandonment without a reasonable cause for one year or more. Adultery. Cruel treatment that puts your life […]

A lot of people think that a long-standing area of law is completely settled and unchanging. Take family law, for instance: we’ve had the practices of marriages, divorces, adoptions, and so on for as long as anyone can remember, so nothing much can change there, right? Oh, so wrong. Even the staid topic of family […]

The old proverb says, “Marry in haste, repent at leisure.” That’s not a fair way to look at all marriages, but many young couples in Pennsylvania have learned that marriage is not quite what they expected. For some troubled relationships, the solution turns out to be a postnuptial agreement. Like the more familiar prenuptial agreement, […]

Everyone told you that things would change once you became a parent. Now that you have a child, you know how true it is. The priorities in your life shifted, and you do everything you can to keep your child safe and happy. But there may be some things you can do to with the […]