On June 7, 2018, Senate Bill 5598 took effect. The bill is officially called “An act relating to granting relatives, including but not limited to grandparents, the right to seek visitation with a child through the courts.” These are the criteria that must be met in order to apply for grandparents’ rights under this new…
On June 7, 2018, Senate Bill 5598 took effect. The bill is officially called “An act relating to granting relatives, including but not limited to grandparents, the right to seek visitation with a child through the courts.” We’ll explained the criteria that must be met in order to apply for grandparents’ rights under this new…
You say you can’t make your child support payments. The first question is – why? The next step is to take action in the form of notification. Child support payments can be modified but only in certain circumstances. It is crucial to follow the proper procedures in a timely fashion because the reality is that…
Even when a marriage is on the rocks, many people still do not want to get divorced. If you are ready to move on from your marriage, but your spouse won’t sign the paperwork, what are your options? The Initial Petition When a person refuses to sign the initial petition asking for a divorce, his…
Sometimes a couple realizes that their marriage is not working and decides to file a joint petition for divorce. In other cases, one spouse may be unaware that the other is filing for divorce until he or she is served with the paperwork. But what happens if each spouse files his or her own petition…
One of the best things about divorce is the opportunity for a new, fresh start in life. For many women (and some men), this means using their former, or maiden name. Changing your name during the divorce process is relatively easy and can be accomplished in several ways. Additionally, parents can petition the court to…
To paraphrase T.S. Eliot, sometimes marriages end not with a bang, but with a whimper. When your former spouse simply disappears rather than stays around to face a divorce, you will not be stuck in a one-sided marriage forever. Even if no one in the world can find your spouse, you still have the ability…
Getting served with legal papers is never pleasant and can be a nerve-wracking experience even if you knew your spouse was planning on filing for divorce. When your soon-to-be-former spouse has you served with papers, you need to take certain steps to protect your rights before it is too late. Read the Papers The initial…
Supporting a child is a shared responsibility between two parents. When a family court orders your former partner to pay child support, it can be a great relief to know that someone else has a legal responsibility to help you support your child. Unfortunately, some parents do not feel obligated to support their children and…