Law Office of Joanne Kleiner

Archives for May 2016

May 15

Successful Strategies for Moving On after a Divorce

Happy Woman

In the aftermath of a divorce, it can be easy to get stuck in a rut. You may, rightfully, feel a tremendous sense of loss or failure. Here are some suggestions to help you turn your divorce into a positive event in your life:

  • Take time to get to know yourself again—Often, in an attempt to keep a marriage together, parties will give up many of the things they love for the sake of harmony. Sometimes, you can even lose touch with the activities that feed you. Now’s the time to reacquaint yourself with those things that feed your passion.
  • Be open to new things—After a divorce, you don’t have to please anyone except yourself (though you do need to take care of your minor children). If there’s a new way of doing things that works better for you, now’s the time to give it a try.
  • Don’t live in the past—You can learn from the past, but you have to live in the present. Continually revisiting what went wrong or who did what to whom only keeps you stuck in the past, where you can’t possibly find any happiness. Let bygones be bygones and move forward.
  • Don’t keep it all in—Frequently, the principal cause of a divorce is an unwillingness to be open and honest in your communication. It may be too late to apply that to your marriage, but you can turn over a new leaf, so that future relationships start on more solid ground. If you have minor children, keeping open lines of communication can be critical. Be careful, though, that you don’t use your children as sounding boards for any complaints you have about your ex. That doesn’t benefit anyone.

At the office of Joanne E. Kleiner & Associates, we have more than 25 years of family law experience. We’ll help you stay focused on what matters. To schedule an appointment with an experienced Pennsylvania divorce attorney, contact our office online or call us at 215-886-1266,

May 02

The Legal Process for Relocation with a Minor Child in Pennsylvania

Process for Relocation with a Minor

In another blog, we talked about the restrictions under Pennsylvania on a parent’s right to relocate with a minor child—you must have the approval of the non-custodial spouse, as well as the approval of the court. The process for obtaining this approval is pretty clear cut in Pennsylvania. This blogs lays out the requirements.

Notice to the Non-Custodial Spouse

At least 60 days before you plan to move, you must notify the non-custodial parent of your proposed move. This notice must be sent by both regular and certified mail, and must include:

  • An address and phone number for the new residence
  • The names of anyone who will reside at the new home
  • The name of the school, as well as the school district, where the minor children will attend
  • The date of the relocation
  • Your reasons for relocating
  • A proposed custody and visitation schedule for after the move

In addition, you must provide the non-custodial parent with an affidavit for the other spouse to fill in, allowing them to agree or object to the move and/or the proposed custody arrangement. Your ex must also be advised that they have 30 days to respond to object to anything in your notice.

As the objecting spouse, you must complete and file the affidavit within the specified time (30 days of the receipt of notice of intent to relocate) and you must give the custodial parent a copy of your affidavit objecting to the move.

If an objection is filed, the court must schedule a hearing. The parent seeking to relocate has the burden to establish that the relocation will be in the best interests of the child. The objecting parent can also introduce evidence to challenge that assertion.

Contact the Law Office of Joanne E. Kleiner & Associates

For an appointment, contact our office online or call us at 215-886-1266. Let us use our experience, skill, knowledge and resources to help you make informed and effective decisions.