Law Office of Joanne Kleiner

Pennsylvania divorce

Sep 09

Facilitating an Uncontested Divorce Through Mediation

Divorce lawyers often recommend mediation when there is any hope of achieving an uncontested divorce as it leads to an agreement in upwards of 80% of cases. The average mediation is completed in three to six months whereas the average contested divorce is far lengthier. In addition, the cost of a traditional divorce can be 10 times higher than the cost to have your divorce mediated.

Qualifying for an Uncontested Divorce in Pennsylvania

If you would like a “no court” divorce, you must meet three criteria. At least one of you – you or your spouse – must be a resident of Pennsylvania for no less than six months before filing. Both spouses must agree on whether the case involves fault grounds or no-fault grounds. Many uncontested divorces are filed based on the ground of mutual consent, which has some special requirements that your mediator can assist with, such as affidavits and a 90-day waiting period. Both spouses must also agree on the issues in the divorce, and this is where a mediator can be especially helpful.

Agreement on Divorce Issues

Even if the spouses have a good relationship and fully intend to compromise with each other, reaching agreements on all the issues that need to be resolved can be difficult. The mediator does not represent one spouse or the other but, rather, guides both parties through this process. This includes determining how to divide marital property, how to allocate responsibilities for outstanding debts, whether one spouse will pay alimony and the amount, child support for dependent children, and child custody and visitation. While the mediator does not represent either party, both spouses can opt to have their own legal representation whose job it is to preserve their client’s rights.

Preparing, Filing and Serving Uncontested Divorce Papers

Paperwork must be completed and filed to begin the uncontested divorce process. Some Pennsylvania counties have their own forms as well, and your divorce lawyer can help ensure that all necessary documents are prepared and filed. The lawyer will also help you determine where to file. Typically, you should file in the county where your spouse resides, but that may not be the case if a couple is separated, or where they live presents issues. Once the documents have been filed, the divorce papers must be served to each spouse, which is an official process that the firm can oversee as well.

Uncontested Divorce Time Frame

As mentioned above, the average traditional divorce involving the courts takes 24 months. A mediated divorce will usually take at least three months as there is typically a 90-day waiting period requirement. It is unusual for a mediated divorce to take longer than six months to finalize.

Uncontested Divorce Expenses

There are costs to file with the courts, which are usually $200 to $300. The cost for mediation is typically $1,500 to $4,000 per person. There may be additional legal fees if you opt for personal representation. There can also be some additional expenses if you have to, for instance, make changes to retirement accounts. The average cost per person of a divorce that requires litigation is $20,000, and there can be many additional expenses as the case extends for months or even years.

Other Benefits of Divorce Mediation

Divorce mediation puts your children first as it creates a harmonious family environment and eliminates the need for them to take the stand. It lets you shape the divorce to the specifics of your family. It is much less stressful and protects your privacy as you are not exposed to public court cases.

Divorce Mediation in Pennsylvania

If you’re considering divorce mediation, the Law Office of Joanne E. Kleiner is here to help. Our law firm has more than 25 years of experience helping both men and women get divorced and move forward with their lives. If you would like to schedule a consultation with a divorce lawyer, you can contact our Jenkintown office online or call us at 215-886-1266.

Feb 06

How to Use a Mediator to Create a Co-parenting Plan

Tips for Using a Mediator to Create a Co-parenting Plan

About 90% of child custody cases are resolved without a battle in court. However, keep in mind that a judge still needs to approve the settlement agreement.

Should You Use a Mediator?

In most situations, it’s a good idea for divorcing spouses to use a mediator. The exception is if your spouse is abusive. Informing the court of the abuse is important to help protect yourself and your child. If you want to try mediation, you do have the option of being in separate rooms during it to help you feel safe and more at ease with expressing yourself.

As long as both you and your spouse are willing to participate in the mediation process, it’s less expensive than battling it out in court. When a mediation fails, you will have to go to court. Thus, it’s best if your spouse is willing to do their part in a peaceful mediation. You can look over these tips together to make sure that both of you negotiate in a respectful and fair manner.

Set aside any hard feelings for the sake of saving money and walking away from the divorce in the best situation possible. When couples get too caught up in revenge during the divorce process, they often find themselves in a worse financial situation after the divorce.

Avoid Saying “Never” or “Always”

Ultimatums automatically put the other person on the defensive, so you should avoid using them in communication. Rather than saying “you never do this” or “you always do this,” phrase it as “I feel upset when you do this.” It’s also better to avoid starting sentences with “you” because it tends to make the other feel defensive, which is why the example begins with “I” instead of “you.”

Compromise Comes with Mediation

Go into mediation understanding there will be give and take. Before the mediation, write down what’s most important to you and what you’re willing to compromise. This will help you keep clarity during the discussion of what truly matters to you. If you butt heads on an issue that’s important to you, listen to the mediator’s suggestions on finding a compromise that both of you can be happy with. This dispute resolution tool is only effective when both participants are willing participants and want to find a win–win deal.

Be Willing to Discuss Finances and Future Relationships

When it comes to negotiating a co-parenting plan, be aware that finances and future relationships may be discussed. You and your spouse want to make sure that your child is in a safe environment if they will be traveling between your residences. If you were to refuse to discuss these issues because of privacy, it will interfere with a successful mediation. Remember that court is an even less private place where people from the public will hear the details of your case.

Keep the Discussion Focused on Co-parenting

Don’t make comments regarding other aspects of the divorce. Stay focused on resolving your co-parenting issues only. You can schedule another mediation if you still have other aspects of your divorce to negotiate.

Ask for a Short Break If You Need One

It’s important that you don’t allow your emotions to get the best of you. It’s okay to politely ask for a short break when you feel your emotions becoming too much for you. Focus on taking slow, deep breaths and think about things that make you happy to help yourself calm down. Remind yourself of the benefits of staying calm, and imagine a positive outcome, then return to the discussion renewed. Be understanding and compassionate if your spouse needs a short break too. Don’t take it personally.

Consult with a Divorce Lawyer Before the Mediation

The settlement agreement that you sign after a mediation is legally binding. It’s a good idea to consult with a divorce lawyer before your mediation because they can advise you on when it’s best to give and take based on what’s important to you. They can also give you an overview of what to expect during mediation. You could even choose a divorce lawyer as your mediator if you and your spouse want to, but both of you should still consult separately with your own attorneys. You don’t want to feel unhappy after the agreement is signed. Consulting with a lawyer helps give you more reassurance that you’ll be satisfied.

Using a mediator to create a co-parenting plan is a great way to come up with an agreement that works with both of your schedules and preferences. Mediators are experienced with the different types of custody schedules that parents can use. They are also skilled at facilitating discussions and calming down a situation that’s about to get out of control. Contact the Law Office of Joanne Kleiner in Montgomery County at 215-886-1266 if you’re interested in learning more about the process.

Feb 02

How Long Do Alimony Payments Last?

How Long Can You Receive Alimony Payments?

Each year, roughly 450,000 people receive alimony payments. This money can be a way of compensating newly divorced spouses for the unpaid labor they performed during their marriage, but it usually is not meant to last forever. If you are receiving alimony payments, understanding how long they will last can help you make smart financial choices.

There’s No Set Rule for Alimony Length

Unlike child support, there are no legal requirements for how much alimony a person gets or how long alimony lasts. If a couple comes to their own decision regarding alimony length, the court rarely interferes with a divorce lawyer drafting an agreement. However, if two people cannot reach a fair decision on their own, the court may get involved. Typically, judges determine the length of alimony based on factors such as:

  • How old both parties are
  • The length of the marriage
  • Each spouses’ realistic earning potential
  • How many savings each spouse has
  • Whether the spouse has custody
  • What each spouse’s marital expectations were
  • Whether the marriage ended due to infidelity

Though there’s no strict rule, most alimony payments tend to last for somewhere between 15 percent to 40 percent of the length of the marriage. The average alimony payments end within 5 to 10 years of the marriage ending.

Alimony Often Ends Once a Spouse Can Support Themselves

In most cases, alimony is meant to support a spouse who gave up their career to assist their partner with things like childcare and home care. Therefore, alimony is supposed to bridge the gap between a person leaving their spouse and rebuilding their career. Often, the alimony is set to end once a person has had a reasonable amount of time to become self-sufficient.

There can be various ways of determining this. The most common guideline is that alimony ends after remarriage. Pennsylvania law also acknowledges that alimony usually should end if the recipient is cohabitating with another party in a marriage-like arrangement. In some cases, a couple may agree for alimony to end after a person graduates from school, or any minor children leave the home. One party can always ask for alimony to end after a situation changes. Therefore, if one spouse gets a high-paying job, their ex may be able to petition the court to end alimony payments ahead of schedule.

Permanent Alimony Is Rare

It is extremely rare for a court to order indefinite alimony with no specific end date. This usually only happens after the end of long marriages in which one spouse has no savings or work experience. The most common example of this happens when two people get married at a very young age, have children immediately, decide to have one parent stay at home and do not divorce until they are seniors. Since a senior with absolutely no job history is unlikely to get a job that pays decently, they could need alimony for the rest of their life.

Permanent alimony can also occur if a spouse is incapacitated. If one person has a mental or physical condition that keeps them from caring for themselves, that individual may need alimony to survive. The court is also more likely to order extreme alimony amounts when one spouse has a lot of money and the other has none. So if one spouse is a millionaire and the other spent the 20 years of marriage without working at all, lifelong alimony is a little more likely.

If you are in a situation in which alimony can be helpful, it’s important to consult with a divorce lawyer as soon as possible. An attorney can help you draft an alimony agreement that suits your needs. At the Law Office of Joanne Kleiner, our team will work hard to help you get the alimony you deserve. Learn more about our Jenkintown divorce services by calling (215) 886-1266 or filling out our contact form.

Dec 02

What Are the Differences Between Getting an Annulment and a Divorce?

Key Differences Between an Annulment and a Divorce

If you’re considering ending your marriage with the assistance of a divorce lawyer, you’re not alone. In the USA, about 50% of marriages end in divorce. Second and subsequent marriages have even higher divorce rates, and understanding the difference between an annulment and a divorce will help you make the best decision for your personal and financial future.

Invalidation of the Marriage

The biggest difference between a divorce and an annulment is that an annulment declares the marriage to have been legally invalid. A divorce is the ending of a legally valid marriage. By declaring a marriage invalid, an annulment is like erasing a marriage. However, the legal marriage records still remain on file in the courts. A religious annulment has no legal standing. If you want a legally binding annulment, this requires a court process.

Legal Termination of a Valid Marriage

A divorce is the legal termination of a valid marriage. The divorce decree states that both parties are single again. It ends all of the legal rights and obligations that married spouses have to each other. It also ends the legal benefits of a marriage, such as health care and survivorship benefits.

Reasons for a Divorce

Courts accept a wide variety of reasons for a divorce. The most common type of divorce is a no-fault divorce. This means that neither party is the cause of the ending of the marriage. “Irreconcilable differences” is the most frequently cited reason behind a no-fault divorce.

Pennsylvania law allows you or your soon-to-be-ex-spouse to file for a fault divorce. A fault divorce entails proving that the other party in the marriage acted in a way so as to end the marriage. Some reasons for a fault divorce include adultery, domestic violence, and cruel treatment. In a fault divorce, there are differences in the divorce settlement. For example, the spouse who committed adultery may be ineligible for alimony. The other spouse will have to prove to the court that the adultery took place in order to be granted a fault divorce.

Reasons for an Annulment

You may consider filing for an annulment if you or the other party believes that the marriage should never have taken place. For example, you may have gotten married by the justice of the peace after going on just two dates with your spouse. If you decide this marriage should never have taken place, filing for an annulment is a way to erase the marriage. Other reasons for an annulment include the discovery of secrets. If you would have had access to this information at the time of the marriage, you would not have gone through with it. For example, if your spouse had a child and didn’t tell you about them, this may be a reason for annulment.

Legal Grounds for Annulment

Pennsylvania courts also offer legal grounds for annulment that are not available for divorce. For example, if the marriage is incestuous or if one or both of the spouses were not legally old enough to marry, these are grounds for an annulment.

Eligibility for Alimony

After an annulment, neither party is eligible to receive alimony or spousal support. After a divorce, one of the parties may be able to receive alimony. Alimony may be granted if one person was a stay-at-home spouse or parent, cannot work, or earns significantly less money than the other spouse.

A consultation with a divorce lawyer in Jenkintown, PA, makes it easier to understand the options for ending your marriage. After consulting with a divorce attorney, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you explored all of the options and made the best possible decision for your future. For more information about the differences between an annulment and a divorce, contact the Law Office of Joanne Kleiner at 215-886-1266, or fill out our online form today.

Dec 14

Fault and No-Fault Divorce in Pennsylvania

Understanding Types of Divorce in Pennsylvania

When married couples decide to separate in Pennsylvania, there are several different grounds for divorce they could consider. While more people used to file suits for divorce against their spouses, it’s now more common to opt for a no-fault divorce or a divorce by agreement. Since there are many different reasons for choosing a specific type of divorce, it’s important for a soon-to-be ex to partner with a divorce lawyer.

Fault and No-Fault Pennsylvania Divorce

The broadest types of divorce available in the commonwealth are fault and no-fault divorces. Each type of divorce available in Pennsylvania is processed differently, depending on the grounds for the separation. A Pennsylvania family law attorney can explain each option based on your unique situation and make recommendations about which grounds may be most appropriate for your case. The main differences are as follows:

  • In a divorce based on fault, one spouse sues the other for divorce and must prove the grounds claimed as the cause of the action in court.
  • In a no-fault divorce, one or both spouses may file the divorce action, but the case is not based on specific grounds.

Understanding Fault Divorce Options

Pennsylvania’s divorce code allows for divorce on the basis of certain grounds and generally recognized problems for which one spouse bears the burden of responsibility. These are the oldest types of divorce available in the laws of the commonwealth and have been adopted from classic English common law. Modern grounds for a fault divorce are available to either spouse in a marriage regardless of gender. The six grounds for a fault divorce in Pennsylvania are the following:

 

 

  • Willful and malicious desertion: Under these grounds, one spouse has left the other for at least one year.
  • Adultery: In this case, one spouse cheated on the other.
  • Cruel and barbarous treatment: This refers to one spouse endangering the other’s life or other types of serious abuse.
  • Bigamy: Under this ground for divorce, one spouse was already married when he or she married the other.
  • Imprisonment: This ground applies when one spouse has been sentenced to a prison term of at least two years.
  • Indignities: This ground for divorce usually refers to emotional, verbal or other types of nonphysical abusive behavior.

When only one party wants to get a divorce, he or she can sue for divorce on the basis of one or more of these grounds. The spouse seeking the divorce will need to be able to prove it in court, so it is important to save evidence. Evidence can include electronic proof of an affair or testimony about abuse from bystanders. However, the other spouse can attempt to challenge this evidence and work to have the divorce denied on that basis.

Pennsylvania No-Fault Divorce Options

Before the advent of no-fault divorce, even couples who mutually agreed to separate found themselves pursuing fault claims in order to end an unhappy marriage. However, the commonwealth’s law now allows people to pursue a divorce without showing that the other party is at fault. There are two major types of no-fault divorce, and both are based on the grounds that the relationship is “irretrievably broken.” However, it does not lay responsibility for that with one spouse over the other. The types of no-fault divorce are:

  • Mutual consent divorce: Under this category, both spouses file statements with the court agreeing for the divorce. There is a 90-day waiting period after filing before a mutual consent divorce is finalized.
  • Irretrievable breakdown divorce: This type of divorce is still a no-fault divorce, but one spouse files for divorce. If the other does not deny the case, it will move forward. However, if the other spouse does deny that the marriage is “irretrievably broken,” the spouse seeking the divorce will need to show that the couple has been separated for at least one year. This does not mean just physical separation but an awareness that the relationship has come to an end.

People considering divorce in Pennsylvania have several options to help them pursue a new, independent future. A divorce lawyer can provide advice, representation and guidance to help a client protect assets and reach an agreement on key matters including property division and spousal support. Call the offices of Joanne Kleiner & Associates at (215) 886-1266 in Jenkintown to set up a consultation.