“Family Law.” “Custody.” “Support.” These words usually bring to mind unpleasant images; images that are tied to sad scenes of spouses fighting and children crying.
The Domestic Relations / Family Law Group at Willig, Williams, & Davidson is committed to helping our clients get through these trying times as comfortably as possible. No client is just a fee or just a file to us. We understand that we are dealing with your life and your family. These simple facts affect everything we do for you; from the initial consultation to the final settlement of your assets.
Our Pennsylvania attorneys provide quality, professional legal representation to thousands of union members, their families and dependents. They also regularly handle cases for private clients. Our individual clients and union members receive advice and consultation, document preparation, and representation in and out of court in all of the following areas:
Adoption (for both individuals and couples)
Child custody and visitation
Child support, spousal support & alimony
Civil union contracts and dissolutions
Co-habitation agreements
Divorce
Equitable Distribution of Marital Assets
Name changes (for adults and children)
Paternity
Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
Protection from Abuse
Same-sex marriage
The domestic relations / family law attorneys at Willig, Williams, & Davidson come from many different backgrounds, but are all committed to the same thing - providing clients the best possible representation during the worst of times. Our attorneys in PA are skilled negotiators and do everything in their power to resolve your situation in a fair and amicable way. We are in court every day. We know the courts - both the personnel and the procedures, and we use this knowledge to get the best possible results for our clients. We often deal with the hard cases - the abused spouse who needs a protection order or the grandparents who need an emergency custody order can count on our zealous representation. We also represent clients in non-contested matters and can facilitate the dissolution of a marriage as expeditiously as possible.
In addition, family law issues often overlap with other areas of the law, such as bankruptcy, criminal defense, real estate, and wills, trusts and estates. Our lawyers in Philadelphia are able to assist you in all of these areas.
Our attorneys are with you every step of the way - from consultation and negotiation, to preparing you for everything from entering into an agreement to a hearing in court. Every matter is important to us and our family law attorneys never lose sight of the fact that at the heart of every case are people at their most vulnerable.
Domestic Relations in the New Era of Marriage Equality March 3, 2015 In May 2014, U.S. District Court Judge John E. Jones, III, issued a decision in the case of Whitewood v. Wolf, striking down as unconstitutional Pennsylvania's Defense of Marriage Act.
Child Custody and Relocation - Don't Move Until You Read This February 27, 2015 People choose to relocate for a variety of reasons. However, when a parent involved in a child custody matter wishes to relocate with their children they may be required to receive permission from the other parent and/or the Family Court.
Grandparents Are People, Too: Custody Rights of Grandparents in Pennsylvania December 26, 2014 In recent years, many states have enacted laws to protect the rights of grandparents. It is important for grandparents to know that they may file for any type of physical and legal custody when specific criteria is met.
Same-Sex Marriage in Pennsylvania: An Employee Benefits Perspective June 25, 2014 The landmark Windsor decision means that same-sex marriages performed in a state that recognizes same-sex marriage must be treated the same as opposite-sex marriages for purposes of federal law.
How Social Security Benefits Affect Pennsylvania Child Support June 25, 2014 When a parent involved in a child support matter receives Social Security Disability payments, the normal child support calculation guidelines are replaced with a supplemental and more complex analysis.
U.S. Supreme Court Strikes DOMA Down - What Does It Mean? July 12, 2013 On June 26, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the 1996 federal statute that denied federal recognition of same-sex marriages. In a 5-4 decision, the Court found that DOMA violated the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. The decision will have significant impacts for married same-sex couples regarding federal benefits and protections previously available only to opposite-sex married couples. Currently, 1138 federal laws confer benefits to married couples including Social Security, tax, and Veterans’ benefits, just to name a few.
How to Hurt and Help Yourself in a Custody Case April 19, 2013 For a parent or guardian, one of the worst situations imaginable is to be involved in a contested custody case regarding your child. Unfortunately, for many families, going to court for custody is unavoidable. If that happens, the first issue for many parents and guardians is what, if anything, to say to the child about the case. Here are some suggestions to keep in mind.
Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorney Kathleen Tana Successfully Represents Pro Bono Client May 25, 2010 Philadelphia lawyer Kathleen M. Tana represented a SeniorLAW Center elderly client in a protracted custody matter and appeal to Superior Court to obtain permanency for a 10-year-old child who had been abandoned by his mother. She spent in excess of 100 hours in successfully asserting the client's right for custody.
Expungement of a Protection from Abuse (PFA) Record By Aneesah El-Amin-Jaamia The Pennsylvania Protection from Abuse Act provides a remedy for a victim of abuse to seek protection from their abuser. A protection from abuse petition and temporary order prohibiting abuse can be obtained if there is a familial or household relationship between the victim and abuser or if they were intimate partners....
Unmarried Men: Request Genetic Testing Before Acknowledging Paternity By Scott M. Orloff On November 20, 2017, in a case that significantly affects paternity rights, Pennsylvania Superior Court reversed an order issued in a Philadelphia paternity action. The Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas issued an order after the trial court received results from a court ordered genetic test. The results of the test determined...
Can a Will Require Pets to be Euthanized After the Owner Dies? Estate Law in PA By Kathleen M. Tana Recently, a young lawyer was contacted by a client with a question. The client was a newly graduated veterinarian who had been approached with a request to euthanize two healthy dogs. The request was pursuant to a provision in the deceased owner’s will. The owner had just died and his will...
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