Pennsylvania Divorce Lawyers
Divorce can be a painful and difficult decision, and adding the ensuing legal process on top of it can complicate matters even further. Although you are within your rights to represent yourself in divorce proceedings, it is much more prudent to seek the advice of a lawyer who is skilled in this area. Why? You only have one shot at determining where your property and assets go, who will take care of your children, and what support is available. An experienced divorce attorney can not only represent you in court on these matters, but can also provide guidance to you.
In Pennsylvania, the Court of Common Pleas has jurisdiction over divorce cases. One of the primary issues to be decided in divorce cases is alimony. The purpose of alimony is to attempt to equalize the economic situation of the divorcing spouses. Pennsylvania takes the standard of living during marriage, earning potential, property, and expenses into consideration when determining the alimony award. Further, Pennsylvania has recognized a set of guidelines which dictates the amount of support depending on the spouses' incomes and dependents. Under Pennsylvania law, an alimony award can only be changed if there is a substantial change in the spouses' incomes and/or expenses.
Another serious matter brought before the court during divorce proceedings is child custody. The Pennsylvania courts determine custody based on what is in the best interest of the child. Once a custody order is in place, it can be changed based on various circumstances. A child also has some input in custody arrangements as he gets older. Pennsylvania recognizes two types of custody: Physical and Legal. Physical custody refers to the actual physical possession of a child, and can take the form of full, partial, or shared physical custody. Legal custody refers to the right to make important decisions about the child, including education and medical care.
Often times parents cannot come to agreement during the divorce procedures. When this happens, divorce mediation is required. Divorce mediation is where both parties sit down in a room with a mediator. The mediator is the neutral party. This means the mediator cant give advice to either party and cannot be the lawyer. Mediation can be voluntary or enforced by the court. An advantage to divorce mediation is that it allows the divorce parties to maintain control of the divorce. By doing divorce mediation, both parties have a higher likelihood of reaching agreements and putting more money back into their wallets.
Divorce can be an emotionally draining experience. It will be difficult to navigate through the emotional turmoil but having good advice can help you prepare for the transition to your new life. Your future depends on the decisions you make at this critical time and qualified Pennsylvania divorce lawyers can help you make the right choices. They will advise you of your rights, the best ways to secure those rights, and provide you with a list of options. This is no time to go it alone. Get professional help today.
About the Author
If you are in the state of Pennsylvania and need to get in touch with a lawyer, be sure to check Charlie Pace's site, PA Divorce Lawyers for local recommendations and articles on PA state laws.
Source: http://articles.bankqu.com