Yesterday, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed House Bill 12 into law which eases the requirements for the victims of domestic abuse to secure a divorce. Currently, the Divorce Code gives a non-consenting spouse a two-year waiting period to withhold their consent. The Code also permits either party in a divorce action to require the other one to attend counseling sessions. A party to a divorce … [Read more...] about Victims of Domestic Abuse Will More Easily Be Able to Secure Divorce in Pennsylvania Thanks to HB 12
Lehigh Valley Family Law
Federal Court Rules in Favor of Transgender Student Regarding Bathroom Access
This past week, the Fourth Circuit reversed the decision of a Virginia Federal District Court in G.G. v. Gloucester County School Board. G.G. sued the Gloucester County School Board because it adopted a bathroom policy which required transgender students to use separate unisex bathrooms. G.G. argued that the policy violated Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Fourth Circuit found that … [Read more...] about Federal Court Rules in Favor of Transgender Student Regarding Bathroom Access
Join KingSpry in Marking Child Abuse Prevention Month This April
This month you will see blue ribbons and pinwheels to raise awareness for child abuse prevention. This is much more than a feel-good event. The effects of child abuse are long lasting and pervasive. Four children die every day from abuse or neglect. Those who survive are at heightened risk for chronic health problems, mental illness, and incarceration. Those who survive child abuse and … [Read more...] about Join KingSpry in Marking Child Abuse Prevention Month This April
United States Supreme Court Holds States Must Give Full Faith and Credit To Adoption Decrees From Other States
Yesterday, March 7, 2016, the United States Supreme Court held that states must give full faith and credit to adoption decrees issued in other states. The case, V.L. v. E.L., arose from an Alabama state Supreme Court decision that refused to acknowledge an adoption decree issued by a Georgia court. The Georgia decree was a second parent order, granting parental rights to V.L., the female partner … [Read more...] about United States Supreme Court Holds States Must Give Full Faith and Credit To Adoption Decrees From Other States
Why is Estate Planning Important When Using Assisted Reproductive Technology?
Many families often get so caught up in the process of starting their families by whatever means possible that they may forget an essential piece of the process -- estate planning. Estate planning is not only vital in many stages of the Assisted Reproductive Technology process, but also after a child is born. Such necessary planning may include Wills, Trusts for children, Guardianships and Powers … [Read more...] about Why is Estate Planning Important When Using Assisted Reproductive Technology?
What Happens to Stored Genetic Material? Part Two
In Part One, we discussed what happens to Stored Genetic Material if a couple should someday divorce or a partner passes away. In Part Two, let’s discuss Stored Genetic Material in the context of divorce. In Pennsylvania, this particular question has had an impact on the disposition of cryopreserved pre-embryos. In Reber v. Reiss, the Superior Court granted pre-embryos to a divorced spouse to … [Read more...] about What Happens to Stored Genetic Material? Part Two
