Joanne Kleiner & Associates

header-right

Main navigation

Visit Our Blog

Jun 27

Learning More About Child Support in Pennsylvania

Child support cases in Pennsylvania are governed by the Bureau of Child Support Enhancement, operating within the Department of Public Welfare. The BCSE offers a number of services to qualifying families, including locating the non-custodial parent, establishing paternity, establishing a court order, and helping out with matters related to these types of cases. Parents who need assistance or want to learn more about the available options often benefit from consulting a child support attorney.

Child Support in Pennsylvania

Child support is a court-ordered payment designed to help with the costs of raising a child. The support typically lasts until the child turns 18, but it may last longer if there are mental or physical conditions that require continued support. Parents can come to a mutual agreement and have the judge approve the support order. However, most cases are initiated by one of the parents filing an application for child support with the Domestic Relations Office.

Calculating Child Support

Once the parents are living separately, the primary custodial parent who has the child for more than half the overnights during a two-week period is entitled to collect child support. When the parents have agreed to shared custody and split time evenly, the parent who has the lower income is entitled to collect child support.

The support order may include monetary support for clothing, shelter, and food as well as support for child care expenses, basic education expenses, and health insurance. Extracurricular activities, visitation travel expenses, and extraordinary medical costs may also be incorporated into the support order. Even if a parent isn’t working, he or she can be ordered to pay child support. If the child isn’t in either parents’ care, both parents can still be ordered to pay child support.

Filing a Complaint and Gathering Documentation

Having a child support complaint filed with the Domestic Relations Office is the first step of initiating the process. Afterward, a Domestic Relations Office conference officer will be scheduled for your support conference. Each parent has the right to use legal representation and will be instructed to bring along important documents, including relevant tax returns, pay stubs, medical insurance cards, tuition expenses, day care costs, and documentation of child-related expenses.

Getting a Guideline Number at the Support Conference

With the documents provided at the conference, the DRO officer will collect information on income and expenses from both parties. The information is inputted into the system while you’re still there in the conference room. The computer system generates a guideline number for support from the income and expense data. Pennsylvania has published a child support guidelines table indicating how much the courts believe it would cost to support the number of children if the parties were still living together.

Calculating Support With the Guidelines Formula

Obtaining the monthly net income for each party is the first step of calculating the guideline amount. Net income doesn’t include withheld taxes or similar mandatory withholdings. The incomes are combined and used to look up the total support amount for the appropriate number of children provided on the PA Support Guidelines chart.

The corresponding amount is then allocated to the parents based on the proportion of income each earns in the equation. The amount of support allocated to each parent can increase or decrease based on the time spent with the children or changes to which expenses are being paid for. Often, calculating child support just comes down to putting numbers into the state’s formula.

Getting Legal Assistance With Child Support

However, bringing legal representation to the Domestic Relations Office can still be beneficial. Lawyers well-versed in divorce and family law understand which expenses qualify for an increase or reduction in support. Legal counsel also has experience with asking the right questions to uncover hidden income potentially being concealed by the other party.

Having a lawyer is also helpful for negotiating an arrangement or amount of child support that’s independent of the guidelines. If circumstances have changed, then a child support order can be changed for either party by asking the Domestic Relations Office to schedule a modification conference.

Hire a Lawyer From Our Office

If you want to learn more about child support, how to navigate the legal system, or which options are available to you, then contact our child support attorney today at the law office of Joanne Kleiner. Our Jenkintown family law office can be reached at (215) 886-1266.

Jun 13

How to Prepare for a Contested Divorce

If you are thinking of filing for divorce, know that you are not alone. Studies show that the chances of a marriage in the United States ending in divorce are between 40 percent and 50 percent. Although some divorces can be settled amicably, it’s also possible for the divorce to be contested, which can be a lengthy affair that is best settled with the assistance of a divorce lawyer or child support attorney because when children are involved, custody and visitation rights will need to be determined as well as the amount of financial support they’ll require.

Ascertain the Value of Assets and Income

When it has become impossible for you and your spouse to agree on how you’re going to split the assets or how much child support is necessary, you’ll probably find it best to have an experienced attorney by your side who can help protect your specific interests. However, there are a number of steps you can take to prepare for your case and be ready when the divorce proceedings begin. One of the most important aspects of progressing smoothly through a contested divorce is to accurately determine the assets and income you have.

When it comes to your assets, it can be easy to forget which items are owned by you and which are owned by your spouse. This can be particularly difficult if you’ve never handled the family finances. When you are thinking of getting a divorce, the first thing you need to do is identify which assets are yours. Look for any bank statements you can locate and find out all that you can about who really owns the home that you live in and the cars that are in your driveway. Copy any document you believe is important to identifying your complete assets. You also need to be aware of your specific income level, which is something that your recent tax returns will assist you in identifying.

Focus on Custody

If you have children, some of the most important facets of the divorce proceedings will include child support and child custody. We’ll try to make sure that all the medical and educational needs of your children are taken into consideration when determining the best course for both custody and visitation. In the case of child support, it’s important that you include all your sources of income in order to identify the level of financial assistance that’s necessary.

If you believe that custody will be contested along with other aspects of your divorce, consider starting a journal about all the important events that have recently happened in your child’s life. This can be important if you have some safety concerns regarding the other parent. A journal will allow you to keep track of all the details you might otherwise forget if you don’t write them down. Keep recording any pertinent details even after the divorce proceedings have started. It can sometimes prove to be very helpful.

Seek the Counsel of an Attorney

In some situations, it may be possible to get through a divorce without retaining an attorney. This might be true in cases where mediation is possible as a means of dividing the assets and an agreement can be reached regarding child custody and support. However, if any of these important aspects is in dispute, it would probably be wise to arrange legal counsel. Before you seek out an attorney, make sure that you are organized and have everything you believe you’ll need for a contested divorce.

When you already have a binder or folder filled with what you believe to be the essential documents related to your case, it’s possible that you can save money on the expenses associated with litigation. An experienced attorney from our practice will understand how Pennsylvania law relates to your circumstances and attempt to achieve a favorable outcome for you. Our firm will guide you through this process and try to minimize the stress you experience as the divorce proceeds.

If you are considering filing for divorce and expect the matter to be contested, call the law office of Joanne Kleiner to schedule an appointment. We’ll arrange a consultation for you with our divorce and child support attorney so that you can determine whether our services are the right fit for your needs. Our office is located in Jenkintown, and we can be reached by phone at 215-886-1266.

May 03

How Divorce Can Affect a Stay-At-Home Mom’s Finances

In 2012, 29 percent of women with children under the age of 18 were stay-at-home mothers. Of those, 34 percent already lived at or below the poverty line. Since 40 to 50 percent of first marriages in the United States end in a divorce, some of those moms could be headed toward financial disaster.

A Stay-At-Home Mom’s Ability to Earn an Income

Dropping out of the workforce even for a year or two could impact a woman’s ability to gain employment in the future. Leaving a job may also impact how much a woman can earn when she does re-enter the workforce. In many cases, women face more barriers when it comes to finding a well-paying job.

You may have to start at a lower level of pay or take an entry-level position in order to get back into paid employment. The skills that you had 10 or 15 years ago before you left paid employment may not be in demand now. Employers may want new skills related to technology, so you might have to take some classes or refresher courses.

How Spousal Support Facilitates Your Financial Future

When you’re already going through the stress of a divorce, trying to write a resume and apply for jobs may be too overwhelming. You may need some time to emotionally recover from the divorce, practice your interviewing skills, work with a job coach, create social media or job search profiles and plan out your process of re-entering the workforce. Having a spousal support plan in place gives you some flexibility. Once you do return to paid work, it could be another one to two months before you receive your first paycheck. Therefore, spousal support will be important until you’re back on solid financial footing again.

Typical Factors That Go Into Allocation of Spousal Support

Many factors go into the negotiation and allocation of spousal support. In some cases, the current income of the higher-earning spouse is compared to the likely income of the stay-at-home parent when determining the amount of money awarded. In other cases, the length of time that the wife was a stay-at-home mom is put into consideration. For example, a woman who took a year off to care for a healthy infant may have an easier time of going back to full-time employment compared to a woman who has been out of the workforce for the past 15 years. A woman’s education and marketable skills will also be factored into the decision.

If you only have a high school diploma, you may have a more difficult time finding work compared to a woman with a college degree. The ages of your children could also be a factor. You might have a more challenging time finding employment if your child is an infant or a toddler compared to a child who is in high school and does not require as much parental care. Some of the other factors that go into spousal support negotiations include:

  • If the mother has a child with a disability
  • The wife’s age at the time of the divorce
  • The wife’s health status, such as her own disability or chronic illness

Negotiating Spousal Support for a Stay-At-Home Mom After a Divorce

When a stay-at-home mom is considering a separation or has been served divorce papers by her spouse, the financial effects can be dramatic. Many women expect to receive spousal support, but those negotiations could be as contentious as child custody.

A woman who never worked or quit her career to raise a family has probably sacrificed years of income, retirement savings and payments into Social Security. This could have significant ramifications for her financial future. If you’re in this position, our Jenkintown divorce lawyer may be able to negotiate spousal support on your behalf, giving you the time that you need in order to make and implement a financial plan. With legal representation, you’ll also have more time to apply for jobs, interview, be hired and get your first paycheck.

It’s important to note that a man can also play the role of stay-at-home parent. In these cases, the ex-husband may seek out spousal support. When you are in need of a family lawyer, contact Joanne E. Kleiner & Associates at 215-886-1266 to schedule a consultation. You may also stop by our office in Jenkintown and make an appointment to learn more about your rights under Pennsylvania law.

May 02

Distinguishing Between Marital and Sole Property

About a quarter of American states have community property rules in which assets and debts are split 50/50. However, Pennsylvania is an equitable division state, which means that marital assets are divided in an equal manner if not necessarily 50/50. Therefore, it is important to know the difference between what is owned jointly and what is owned separately outside of a marriage.

Assets Owned Prior to Marriage Are Generally Sole Property

If you owned an asset prior to getting married, you will generally get to keep it after the marriage ends. For example, if you owned a furniture set before getting married, that would likely be yours to keep in a divorce. However, exceptions can be made in the event that an asset appreciates during the time two people are married.

Asset Appreciation and Commingling Exceptions

When an asset appreciates in value during a marriage, that appreciation is often considered to be a joint asset. For instance, say you had a 401(k) that was worth $1,000 on your wedding day. That $1,000 would typically be exempt from being divided in a divorce. However, if the account was worth $10,000 when the divorce became official, some or all of that $9,000 in appreciation could be eligible to be split in a divorce settlement.

Commingling of funds takes place when joint money is used to maintain a separate asset, such as if you spent $10,000 to upgrade the home that your new husband owned while you two were dating. While the house started out as separate property, it could now be considered a joint asset since both parties have contributed money to its upkeep.

A Prenuptial Agreement Could Determine How Property Is Labeled

A prenuptial agreement is a customized divorce agreement that is created before a marriage even takes place. It allows both parties to the relationship to determine who keeps the marital home or what happens to a business owned by one person in the marriage. It can also determine if property is to be sold instead of one person keeping it for him or herself.

For a prenuptial agreement to be valid, it should be created and signed several months before the wedding. Each party can have a Jenkintown family lawyer review the agreement before signing it. In addition to property division matters, a prenuptial agreement can also help a couple work out whether either party is entitled to spousal support.

Assets Held in a Trust May Be Treated as Separate Property

If an asset is held in a trust, it is generally considered to be owned by the trust. Therefore, it would likely be considered separate property or an asset that is otherwise not allowed to be divided per the trust’s terms. As a general rule, if creditors and tax authorities can’t get at something owned by a trust, a former spouse likely cannot either.

Just as with a prenuptial agreement, a trust’s terms can be reviewed by a divorce lawyer prior to the wedding. If necessary, edits may be made to help strengthen the protection it provides the asset from a divorce.

Inheritances Are Often Considered Separate Property

If you inherit money from a family member, you are generally allowed to keep it in the event that a marriage ends. However, rules relating to the commingling of assets may come into play as they relate to how the cash is treated when the marriage actually dissolves. If you are planning to inherit money or assets, you can also make arrangements to open separate accounts to better track how they will be handled.

Everything Else Could Be Considered Marital Property

Anything else that is acquired during a marriage may be considered joint property that can be divided in a divorce settlement. This includes everything from a toaster set or artwork gifted to a couple at a wedding to a cat that was adopted during the last months of the union. It is important to note that animals are generally considered property, much like a house or a car. However, some jurisdictions have allowed the creation of legally binding pet custody arrangements.

If you need a Jenkintown divorce lawyer, call (215)-886-1266 to learn more about how Joanne Kleiner & Associates can be of assistance. An online intake form is also available to begin the process of finding legal counsel.

Apr 06

Steps Parents Can Take to Help Their Children Through Divorce

Roughly 40 percent of children do not live with or see their father on a regular basis. Not having both parents in a child’s life can have a profound impact on that child’s ability to grow into a successful adult. However, there are things that a parent of either gender can do to make a divorce easier for a son or daughter to process.

Parents Shouldn’t Hesitate to Answer Questions

It is natural for children to have questions about the fact that their parents are no longer together. For instance, they may wonder why the divorce happened, if there is a chance of a reconciliation and if the divorce was their fault. Ideally, parents will reassure the child that the divorce was not his or her fault and that the marriage is likely over for good.

When a parent chooses to answer a question about the end of a relationship, it should be done in an age-appropriate manner. Furthermore, the answer should not paint the other parent in a bad light. Instead, it should focus on the fact that both parents are committed to being there for the child regardless of their feelings for each other.

Be Sure to Establish Consistency

If parents share custody of their children, it is important that they set boundaries and guidelines that are enforced by each person. For example, if bedtime is 9 p.m. at mom’s house, bedtime should be 9 p.m. at dad’s house too. A child custody lawyer may be able to help parents create a plan that can be followed and enforced at all times.

By creating boundaries, a child is less likely to misbehave or feel as if he or she can manipulate either parent. Parents are urged to stick to these rules even if they feel guilty about the breakup. While it is natural to feel empathy for what the children are going through, it does not mean that they do not have to act like civilized people.

Providing Distractions Can Be Helpful

Mothers and fathers can help their child through a divorce by creating distractions for him or her. For instance, a mother could organize a camping trip that lasts for several weeks over the summer. Furthermore, a father could organize a weekly trip to see a minor league baseball team to ensure that the child gets to see that parent on a regular basis. By giving the child something to look forward to, it can help a child adjust to his or her new reality without focusing on the negative event that took place.

Encourage Relationships with Both Parents

Children tend to do better in school and life in general when they have relationships with both parents. Assuming that this will not put the child in danger, be sure to encourage and insist on the child talking to the other parent as frequently as possible. Even if you feel like the other parent is unworthy of your attention, your focus should be on the child and his or her needs while growing up.

Take Care of Yourself

You cannot rely on your children to take care of your emotional needs after the divorce. Instead, you may want to find a therapist or some other source to vent to when you are feeling angry or upset. This will allow you to put on that brave face for your children when they are around.

Focus on the Positives of the Relationship Ending

Although a divorce can be emotionally and financially challenging in the short term, there can be benefits for both the adults and the children in the long term. For example, you may be happier that you are single instead of being in a mediocre marriage. Your child is likely to notice that you are happier, and your son or daughter will also benefit from the lack of drama that took place at home. If you or the child was a victim of abuse, getting out of a marriage by almost any means necessary may be ideal for yourself and for your son or daughter.

If you are looking for a divorce lawyer in Jenkintown, PA, to help handle your case, turn to the law firm of Joanne Kleiner & Associates. Give us a call today for more information or to schedule a consultation. We can be reached by dialing (215)-886-1266 at your earliest convenience.