Category Archives: Family Law

Paternity Cases in Pennsylvania
When a child is born, there is no doubt as to who the mother is. However, things are different for fathers. In many cases, there is a dispute about paternity, and either a man or woman must use the legal process to establish parental rights and responsibilities. At Barbara Flum Stein & Associates, we… Read More »

Strategies for Blocking Parental Relocation
Under Pennsylvania law, a custodial parent who wishes to locate must provide written notice to all others who have partial custody rights. Typically, this plays out when a couple divorces and the parent with primary physical custody wants to move the children far away, often out of state. Fortunately, parents with partial physical custody… Read More »

Reasons for Grandparent Estrangement
In the ideal world, grandparents would have close and continuing contact with their grandchildren. Unfortunately, this is not the reality for many grandparents. Sometimes there are legitimate reasons why a parent will cut off contact, whereas other disputes can be resolved if both sides are committed. Under Pennsylvania law, grandparents have a right to… Read More »

Coparenting Through Religious Differences
The number of interfaith marriages continues to rise. According to Pew Research, almost 40% of marriages between 2010 and 2014 were interfaith, a dramatic increase from decades prior. At the same time, many Americans no longer profess any religious faith though they might marry someone who is devout. Given these circumstances, it is not… Read More »

A Child’s Cancer Diagnosis Does Not Increase Risk of Divorce
Many people assume that having a sick child increases the risk of parents going through divorce. The theory seems to be that the added stress of the illness eventually breaks down the marital bond, possibly at least for those couples who were struggling in their relationship before their child’s diagnosis. An interesting study out… Read More »

Key Considerations when One Spouse Already Has Children
Increasingly, people are forming blended families, where at least one partner already has children. If this describes your situation, then there are several considerations you must keep in mind before heading down the aisle to say “I do.” At our law firm, we do more than represent men and women in divorce and separation… Read More »

Alcoholism and Divorce
The statistics regarding alcoholism are startling. According to the National Institute of Health, almost 6% of all adults had alcohol use disorder, which worked out to roughly 9.2 million men and 5.3 million women. In other words, almost 15 million adults in this country are struggling with alcohol addiction. Alcoholism claims many lives, but… Read More »

What Is an Annulment? Should You Seek One?
Like divorce, an annulment legally ends a marriage. However, an annulment actually renders the marriage invalid or void, depending on the circumstances. There are many reasons why some couples prefer to seek an annulment. You should consult a Media family attorney to review whether an annulment is right for you. Grounds for an Annulment… Read More »

Using a Prenuptial Agreement to Protect Your Children’s Inheritance
Many Americans remarry later in life, and a prenuptial agreement can be a critical tool for protecting the inheritance of any children you have from a first marriage. Many people think of prenuptial agreements as affecting only how property is divided upon divorce, and it’s true that most agreements are focused on what happens… Read More »

Practical Tips for Dividing Marital Debt
During a Pennsylvania divorce, a couple needs to do more than divide their marital property. They also need to divide their debts. Dividing debt is often harder than it looks. For one thing, no one wants debt, so spouses often play “hot potato” when it comes to divvying up the credit cards and home… Read More »