It is that time of year when life gets to be a bit crazy. Summer is now over, and back-to-school is in full swing. If that is not enough, it is getting darker earlier too! All of these little stressors can certainly add up and make our already short fuses even shorter. What happens to those people who are going through a divorce during this and other stressful times? This blog will be short, sweet, and to the point. It will provide some tips on how to navigate through a divorce in the most civilized and decent manner. Oh, and if you have children, definitely read up as this will be extra impor ..read more

This is Part V of Through a Child’s Eyes. Divorcing while having children adds a level of complexity that no one will know and understand until they live through it (which I do not wish on anyone). Part III addressed the question, “What were some of the most damaging things that occurred during your parent’s divorce?”, and Part IV asked, “What stresses you out now that your parents are divorced?”. This part will address a very popular topic of dealing with the new partners. Christine Lombardo-Zaun, Esq., an attorney-mediator at Alpha Center for Divorce Mediation, continues her series with par ..read more

Recently I had a consultation with a couple who were seeking mediation to assist them with their divorce. The main reason for the divorce was an extra marital affair engaged in by one of the spouses. This spouse had been the stay-at-home parent to their child and did not have any income over the past year. They stated they had been told the spouse would be barred from alimony because of the marital misconduct and seemed surprised I would suggest otherwise. Michael Routh, an Attorney at Alpha Center for Divorce Mediation, explores if marital misconduct, by itself, will justify a denial of alim ..read more

Being a divorce attorney is not always easy. We are taking difficult situations and are dealing with clients who are emotionally charged. The process of divorce can be grueling. Divorce litigation can be very long and very expensive. Some couples choose mediation as a way to expedite the process along with saving some money. While mediation does typically take much less time and takes much less money from your wallet, it does not necessarily mean the process will be easy. Yes, mediation is easier, but it still requires hard work by the parties. Below are some tips to help you if you decide to ..read more

All couples who are divorcing need to revisit their estate plans. For our clients at the Alpha Center for Divorce Mediation, we always ask the parties if they created estate plans during the term of their marriage. Many of them have not previously done so; at the conclusion of their divorce we will strongly advise them of the need to do so, and we have a robust referral network that will send them to counsel who will provide expert advice in the creation of an estate plan. Debbie Y. Schneider, Esq., an Attorney at Alpha Center for Divorce Mediation talks about estate plans during a divorce. I ..read more

Usually, one of the biggest assets a couple needs to divide during the divorce is their marital residence. Normally, the practice is for one party to remain in the house and “buy” the other party out for their share of the equity in the property. This is commonly accomplished through a refinancing of the mortgage for the property which also removes one party’s name from the loan and the title. Through the refinance process, the party remaining in the house obtains a new mortgage on the property. Recently, interest rates on mortgages have increased, making it difficult for divorcing couples to ..read more

With the end of summer quickly approaching and the threat of recession looming, determining how to pay for your children’s higher education can add stress to an already challenging co-parenting environment. Normally, divorce settlements do not include details on how the college expenses will be divided since this is not required under Pennsylvania law. Support for children is only required through either the age of eighteen or graduation from high school, whichever occurs the latest. Nevertheless, if the couple chooses to do so, they can contract, within the agreement, for how much they will e ..read more

It depends. The 1980 revision of the Pennsylvania Divorce Code created equitable distribution. Equitable distribution means that all assets and liabilities acquired during a marriage are joint marital property. This is true regardless of whose name is on the asset or liability. Inheritance is one of the exceptions to that rule. Under the equitable distribution guidelines, how the inheritance is treated matters when it comes to divorce. The general rule is that whoever receives the inheritance while married is the sole and separate owner. Unless the inheritance becomes joint marital property ..read more

Divorce can be very difficult even in times when the economy is good, but there are some financial silver linings that can still be found even when an economy is struggling. What each person thinking of divorce needs to look at is the opportunity to rethink possibilities and priorities and a fresh start for both parties. Michael Hughes, Esq., an attorney-mediator at Alpha Center for Divorce Mediation, discusses some financial silver linings that can still be found even when an economy is struggling. Divorce can bring its own financial worries as newly single people may be left with less incom ..read more