Divorce Complaints come in a variety of ways. Most lawsuits require delivery by people in patrol cars and uniforms. In the divorce world, things are a bit more “loose.” Your complaint can come by sheriff, or a constable without uniform, or by another adult. It can be sent by mail if a return receipt is
Take “CARES” When Reviewing 2020 Business Returns
It has been a very long, if not a very good year. We noted in an earlier post that one of the challenges reserved for 2021 would be to see how the IRS would address the dischargeable loans granted to hundreds of thousands of businesses under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Recall that those who
A Mortgage Foreclosure Primer
We have recently had inquiries about foreclosures. Given the current economic climate, this is probably going to become more common. The good news is that home prices are up, particularly in the Philadelphia suburbs. But for those who have a house that’s underwater (debt exceeds sales price less commission/transfer taxes) there are things worth knowing.
SO, WHERE DID YOU GET THAT LAWYER?
This afternoon brought me an email from a fellow from West Virginia. The caption indicated it might involve a new divorce matter. I opened it to read:
“I found your name online and I wanted to send you a quick email before I called your office. If you are interested in taking on new clients
SUPERIOR COURT WIDENS THE DURESS DOOR
In a reported three judge panel decision issued on June 12, 2020, the Superior Court appears to have made it easier for parties to avoid a contractual agreement on the basis of duress. The case, Lewis v. Lewis is reported as 2020 Pa. Super. 140.
The Pennsylvania standard for duress as a basis for voiding
COLLEGE DEBT & EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION
When couples decide to end a marriage, the process involves division of the good (the assets) the bad (the liabilities) and the ugly (liabilities that exceed assets). Hearing officers whom we have spoken with report that they are seeing more cases where the controversies are ugly. A decade ago, the battles were typically about overleveraged
Coronavirus & “The King’s Frustration”
Experienced family lawyers know that they often become a kind of general counsel to their clients. Family law is in no small measure closely related to contract law. In a state that has seen a shut down order issued for all but essential services, there are many contracts, which have been rendered impractical or frustrated
IS IT TIME TO PLAY THE BOUNCE?
Attorneys are not stock pickers and personal and anecdotal experience informs me that attorneys are not a reliable source of any investment advice. Nevertheless, we have many clients who have much of their wealth concentrated in just a few stocks and in a highly volatile market that can be a very dangerous thing. Truth is,
Superior Court Weighs In On Uniform Gifts v. 529 Plans
In a precedential decision issued on March 16, a panel of the Superior Court offered a helpful analysis of how plans established under the Pennsylvania Uniform Transfer to Minors Act, (PaUTMA, formerly PaUGMA) differs from accounts established under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. This is an area of importance because we are seeing
GRANT OF THIRD PARTY STANDING IS NOT APPEALABLE AS A COLLATERAL ORDER.
It comes in a non-precedential decision but the ruling is important nonetheless. In a panel opinion authored by Judge Daniel McCaffery and published on March 2, 2020, the Superior Court held that a decision of a Crawford County judge to allow a paternal grandmother to intervene in a child custody proceeding was not appealable as