State College Family Law Blog

Divorce can be expensive, but do you know what's more expensive? Divorcing badly. There are so many financial mistakes that spouses make when bringing their marriages to a close that several books could be written on the topic. Fortunately, that's why we have financial advisers, accountants and lawyers to guide us through our divorce proceedings. These professionals will help steer you on the right track to prevent a costly financial mistake.

There's plenty you can do to prevent financial catastrophe during your divorce process too. Here are three of them:

• Make sure both you and your spouse are financially settled until the end of your marriage: Some spouses -- especially those in control of the money supply -- will try to cut off the other spouse until an official court order requires them to pay. This is a bad idea and it will only end in the money spouse losing credibility in court.
• Beware of bad advice from friends and family: Maybe your friend or cousin has been divorced 10 times, but he or she will never have had a relationship exactly like yours. Every divorce is different and needs to be handled in its own special way. Don't take advice from your friends unless they are your attorneys and have an actual attorney-client relationship with you.
• Keep your privacy secure: Your divorce details are private and talking about them with others could hurt you during your case. Close down your social media accounts, only trust your most trusted people and keep your privacy secure.

You probably have a firm idea of what your child's best interests are. Your ex probably has his or her ideas about your child's best interests too. A Pennsylvania family law court will also have a perspective on the matter. Ultimately, if you're in the throes of a child custody disagreement that goes to court, you'll need to align your perspective with the viewpoint of the court if you want to succeed in your case.

When determining the best interests of a particular child, Pennsylvania family law courts will review the following factors:

The average Pennsylvania divorce will require various stages before the spouses can call themselves 'divorced.' The number of these steps, or stages, will depend on whether you and your spouse can reach an out-of-court settlement.

With this in mind, here are the steps and stages you can expect if you're initiating the divorce process:

• Drafting and filing the divorce petition: This document explains why one of the spouses wants to divorce and how he or she proposes to settle matters pertaining to child custody, spousal and child support and financial concerns. This petition is then served upon the other spouse.
• The other spouse answers the divorce petition: The other spouse will answer the divorce petition with his or her preferences regarding settlement.
• Discovery proceedings ensue: These involve the sharing of information that will be used to reach a fair settlement and/or divorce ruling on the case.
• Settlement and approval by the family court judge: If the couple can settle their case -- perhaps through private negotiations or mediation proceedings -- they will sign a settlement agreement, which a family court judge will review and approve.
• The couple goes to court: If the couple can't reach a divorce agreement, then they will go to court and try their case before a judge.
• The judge issues a divorce decree: Whether the case is settled or decided by trial, a judge will issue a divorce decree that governs the terms of the breakup.

Playing football puts athletes at risk of suffering from long-term brain damage. The more repeated concussions the football player suffers, the more likely he or she will suffer from such brain damage -- and the symptoms can be catastrophic. However, if the football player wants to play and put him or herself at risk in this regard, shouldn't it be his choice? The answer to this question is "yes," unless he or she is a minor. Then it's up to the parents to decide.

Recently, two Pennsylvania parents decided to go to court over such an issue because the mother and father disagree about whether or not they should permit their teenage son to play high school football. The mother of the boy says that it's her son's choice, and he fully understands the risks involved. The father says that the boy should not be allowed to play football because he has suffered repeated concussions in the past and he is at risk of having severe brain injury if he keeps playing.