laws

Alimony in Pennsylvania: Will I Have To Pay?

By Anna Ciardi Cordell & Cordell Pennsylvania Divorce Lawyer Alimony in Pennsylvania refers to payments that one spouse periodically makes to the other after a divorce. It is important to note that under Pennsylvania divorce law, alimony is a distinct concept from spousal support and from alimony pendente lite. These two latter terms refer to payments made to the lower earning spouse prior to and during the litigation of the divorce, respectively.

Pennsylvania Child Custody Factors

By Anna Ciardi Cordell & Cordell Pennsylvania Divorce Lawyer Pennsylvania’s child custody laws were overhauled in 2011, though a custody decision is still generally based upon the best interests of the child. However, the new law lays out 15 factors to be considered when awarding custody, in addition to any other relevant factor, for a total of 16 factors that must be considered by the courts when awarding custody. Clearly, this Pennsylvania custody statute is open to a broad interpretation, and for this reason, nearly anything and everything can be relevant in a custody litigation.