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Archives for January 2015

Jan 21

How to Know if Your Child Support Agreement is Fair

Making Certain Your Child Support Agreement is Fair

Mom at grecery storeIf you are divorced and have minor children, you want to know that their basic financial needs are being met, but you also want to know that you and your ex-spouse are both paying your fair share. In Pennsylvania, as in other states, the amount of child support ordered, unless agreed upon separately by the parties, is based on a state formula. The formula typically takes into consideration the income of both parents, as well as any special needs of the child.

Working Out an Agreement

If you and your spouse want to work out an agreement, there are some things you need to know up front:

  • A non-custodial parent who makes the same amount or less than a custodial parent will still be likely ordered by a court to pay support. Child support is designed, in part, to ensure that both parties share in the costs of maintaining the child’s principal residence. The custodial parent will have more expenses for food as well.
  • It will be harder to collect back support—Without an order from the court, it can be difficult to collect back support, if your spouse falls in arrears.
  • The court may reject your agreement if there is evidence of domestic violence, misrepresentation, duress or undue influence
  • The bottom line—what’s best for your children. It’s not about how much you can get or how little you can pay. It’s about what your children really need. Paying less than they need can make their home life difficult, but demanding more than they need can put them at risk when they visit the non-custodial parent, as the non-custodial parent may be unable to a safe environment.

Obtaining an Order from the Court

Though the court will use the state formula as a guideline, the judge always has the discretion to order more or less, based on circumstances. The important factors when asking the court to order child support are:

  • Ensuring that all reasonable income is included in the calculation—any consistent income, from any source, ought to be included
  • Making certain that you address special needs, including health insurance, cost of uninsured medical care and private school tuition, if applicable

Contact the Law Office of Joanne E. Kleiner & Associates

Let us help you successfully resolve your family law problems. To schedule an appointment with an experienced Pennsylvania family law attorney, contact our office online or call us at 215-886-1266.

Jan 14

The Impact of Divorce on Estate Planning

How a Divorce Will Affect Your Estate Planning

Last will and testamentIf you’ve already put an estate plan in place, and then go through a divorce, you need to think carefully about the impact of the divorce on the plans you had for the orderly distribution of your estate. You may have language in your will or trust that renders the document null and void in the event of divorce. In any event, you will most likely need to take specific steps to protect your interests.

Revoke and Replace All Wills, Codicils and Trusts

An existing will can be revoked by either tearing it up (if it is the one executed copy). You can also revoke a will by drafting and executing a new one. Though the simple act of drafting a new will may legally invalidate any prior will or codicil (an amendment to a will), it is always best to specifically state in a new will that you revoke all prior wills and codicils.

Update Any Beneficiary Designations

If you don’t want your ex (or your ex’s children) to have a claim on your estate, you need to change all beneficiary designations that name your ex-spouse. By drafting a new will, you will exclude your ex-spouse from access to any property covered by the will, but you will also want to change beneficiary designations on:

  • Retirement accounts
  • Life insurance policies
  • Bank or investment accounts that have a pay-on-death provision

Revise Any Other Estate Planning Documents

Chances are, if you have a power of attorney or an advance medical directive, you have named your ex-spouse as the person to whom decision-making authority will be granted. Confirm that someone else is willing to act in that capacity, and draft new documents naming them.

Contact Us

Let us put our commitment, experience and dedication to work for you. To arrange a confidential meeting with an experienced Pennsylvania family law attorney, contact our office online or call us at 215-886-1266.

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From Our Blog

  • The principle of equitable distribution in a Pennsylvania divorce
  • Divorce and Social Security retirement benefits
  • The effect of a gray divorce on your older children
  • Some tax matters associated with divorce
  • Some losses that divorce might cause

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