Best Child Custody Lawyers in Philadelphia, PA

You do not need a lawyer to get divorced in Pennsylvania. However, the process of dividing assets and debts in a divorce can be complicated, particularly when there are more complex assets involved, like a family business. There are certain rights that you may be entitled to that you could end up losing, such as alimony, if you decide to represent yourself. An experienced family lawyer can explain these rights and help you figure out the best course of action to make sure your rights are protected. If you decide to represent yourself, you will still be held to the same standard as lawyers in following the state and local rules of court.

The length of time it takes to get a divorce depends on a number of factors. Some of these factors include whether or not you and your spouse agree to divorce, and whether or not you and your spouse agree to the division of your assets and debts. Generally, the more you and your spouse agree, the faster the process will be. Even if you and your spouse have agreed to a settlement, there is still a mandatory 90-day waiting period after filing before you can finalize your divorce. If your spouse does not agree to get a divorce, you can generally force them to move forward with the divorce if you have been separated for l year. Other factors that may affect the length of time it takes to get a divorce are whether your spouse has hired an attorney, or even what county you are getting divorced in. Every scenario is different, and a divorce attorney will be able to give you a better picture of what to expect.

Yes. Even if a parent fails to pay child support, they are still entitled to custody of their children, in accordance with the custody order or agreement. If the other parent is behind on his or her child support, this needs to be dealt with in support court, not custody court. Parents are obligated to follow the custody order or agreement, whether or not the other parent is paying child support.

Yes, child support can be modified if there is a change in circumstances since the entry of the order, such as if one parent loses a job. Child support can be modified either by the agreement of the parties, or if one parent files a petition in court. A petition to modify support in Pennsylvania must be filed as soon as possible once a party experiences a change in circumstances, since changes to support will typically only be retroactive to the date the petition was filed.

If one parent needs childcare to be able to go to work or school, the parents will typically be ordered to share the cost of childcare in proportion to their respective incomes.