FAQs

A second parent adoption occurs when the parental rights to a child are terminated by only one natural parent. The process can apply to a step parent, same-sex parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent.

“In loco parentis” is Latin for “in place of the parent.” It could have numerous implications as to child custody where a non-parent is acting as a child’s parent over an extended period of time. Consult with a qualified PA child custody lawyer about your case.

In a PA uncontested, no-fault divorce, time begins tolling on the 90-day waiting period as at the date the Complaint for Dissolution of Marriage is filed. However, if other matters /complaints are brought up, these will normally need to be resolved before the decree is issued.

PA stopped recognizing common law marriages as at Jan. 1st, 2005. If you held yourselves out as married before then, you would have a valid marriage and many implications could apply. Talk to a local family law attorney about your situation.

Pennsylvania, assuming your children have lived here for at least 6 months, and there are no prior custody orders from another state.

If you have a support order as part of your PA divorce decree, then PA has jurisdiction and its laws control child support age limits. However, it may be possible to domesticate your child support case to NJ. Consult with a child support lawyer to determine if this is feasible.

Courts have some discretion in methods used to determine support. Generally, the PA Support Guidelines will be the framework for calculation.

Yes. There is no time limit on arrears, and you are obligated to pay all child support owed.

Spousal support is normally calculated following the Pennsylvania Support Guidelines. You can find them here.

It is the responsibility of the parents to agree upon custody. PA courts largely prefer a mutually agreed upon custody arrangement. If your spouse disagrees w/ child’s wishes, then you may ask the court to determine custody. A judge will consider his age, maturity and reasons in weighing his desire.