A mother who intended for her long-time partner to adopt a child she had with another man must first show cause as to why she and her partner can’t marry, and then establish why a requirement mandating that both biological parents relinquish their parental rights before an adoption should be excused in her case. The court’s scrutiny of the adoption process in the case –In re Adoption of M.E.L., … [Read more...] about Mother Must Show Cause Before Partner Can Adopt Child, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Says
Lehigh Valley Family Law
My Two Dads: Why Court Says Paternity Test Was Warranted in Recent Pennsylvania Case
Recently, the court evaluated Pennsylvania’s legal doctrines of presumption of paternity and the doctrine of paternity estoppel in B.D. v. C.P. and D. In Pennsylvania, a child conceived or born during an intact marriage is presumed to be the husband’s child, or a child of the marriage (presumption of paternity) even if the husband is not the biological father. That presumption led to another … [Read more...] about My Two Dads: Why Court Says Paternity Test Was Warranted in Recent Pennsylvania Case
New Pennsylvania Law Addresses Beneficiary Designations During Divorce Decree
Married individuals are typically the beneficiaries of their spouse’s life insurance policies/retirement accounts. Following a divorce or an annulment, most individuals will update their beneficiary designations on their life insurance policies/retirement accounts to remove their former spouse. There are situations, however, where one spouse will leave the other as a beneficiary following the … [Read more...] about New Pennsylvania Law Addresses Beneficiary Designations During Divorce Decree
The Dog Days of Divorce: Who Gets Rover When It’s All Over?
These days, many people treat their pets like they are children. Hence the term "furbabies." As a result, pet custody is becoming a frequent issue in divorce cases. It is not unusual for couples to fight over who gets to keep the family dog or cat after they go their separate ways. Pennsylvania Pets Are Personal Property In Pennsylvania and most other states, pets are treated as personal property … [Read more...] about The Dog Days of Divorce: Who Gets Rover When It’s All Over?
What the Dobbs Decision Means for Family Law in Pennsylvania
On June 24, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark cases Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which have guaranteed the right to abortion for nearly five decades. In a 6-3 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the court found that the U.S. Constitution does not protect abortion rights and that states have the authority to … [Read more...] about What the Dobbs Decision Means for Family Law in Pennsylvania
A Proposed Amendment to Pennsylvania’s Constitution Could Have Huge Impact on Assisted Reproduction if Passed
An Amendment to Pennsylvania’s Constitution regarding elective abortions is under second consideration in the Senate and advancing toward passage. Although the Bill is aimed at attacking abortion rights, a significant impact on assisted reproduction is likely. In response to a lawsuit by an abortion industry seeking the requirement of public funding through Medicaid for abortions of low-income … [Read more...] about A Proposed Amendment to Pennsylvania’s Constitution Could Have Huge Impact on Assisted Reproduction if Passed
