The Fulton v. City of Philadelphia case has been followed by many, including those with an interest in foster care, LBGT rights and religious freedoms. The decision upheld the right of Catholic Social Services (“CSS”) to refuse to certify same-sex and unmarried couples as foster parents, as certifying such couples would violate the religious beliefs of the Catholic Church. The … [Read more...] about Unanimous Supreme Court Issues Narrow Decision Regarding Government Limits on Religious Discrimination by Government Contractors
Lehigh Valley Family Law
Precedent-Setting Goodwin Opinion Holds Life Insurance Benefits Are Gifts, Not Marital Property
Pennsylvania’s Superior Court, in a precedential opinion, held life insurance death benefits are “gifts” and are therefore not marital property for purposes of equitable distribution. Equitable distribution is a process in which marital property is distributed equitably in a divorce proceeding. A court will only engage in equitable distribution if spouses are unable to agree on a property … [Read more...] about Precedent-Setting Goodwin Opinion Holds Life Insurance Benefits Are Gifts, Not Marital Property
Recent California Supreme Court Ruling May Impact Family Law Custody Evaluations
While evaluating a custody case, attorneys must decide whether to advise their clients to invest in a custody evaluation. A custody evaluation is a process in which a mental health professional, typically a psychologist, evaluates the parents, child(ren), and collateral witnesses to identify issues with the situation and, in some cases, make a recommendation to the court regarding an appropriate … [Read more...] about Recent California Supreme Court Ruling May Impact Family Law Custody Evaluations
Recent Surrogate Controversies Highlight Potential Contractual Issues to Keep in Mind
Two recent surrogacy controversies have emerged over the last couple weeks that highlight potential issues for couples looking to start a family through assisted reproductive technology (ART). New parents, Tammy and Jordan Myers, wish to adopt their twin babies after failed attempts to convince judges to name them the parents of their own biological children. While they are the biological parents … [Read more...] about Recent Surrogate Controversies Highlight Potential Contractual Issues to Keep in Mind
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Finalizes Rule, Providing Federally Funded Programs Discretion on Religious Grounds
Former President Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) approved a bill that would make it possible for foster care and adoption agencies to refuse LGBTQ families the ability to adopt children based on religious reasons. On January 7th, 2021, the final proposed rule was released, removing regulations barring discrimination on sex, religion, sexual orientation, and gender … [Read more...] about U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Finalizes Rule, Providing Federally Funded Programs Discretion on Religious Grounds
What To Expect: The Impact of COVID-19 on Assisted Reproductive Technology
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unique circumstances and dilemmas surrounding Assisted Reproductive Technology (“ART”). On March 17, 2020. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (“ASRM”) issued guidance for its members to manage patients amid COVID-19. This guidance was created by an expert Task Force made up of physicians, embryologists, and mental health professionals. The … [Read more...] about What To Expect: The Impact of COVID-19 on Assisted Reproductive Technology
