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The Top Family Lawyers serving Montgomery County
Family Law Attorney in Fort Washington Pennsylvania 19034
Family disturbances can leave you feeling distraught and powerless to bring about the outcome you want. In times of uncertainty, most people just want their side of the story to be heard and considered. Fortunately, a trustworthy family law attorney in Fort Washington will know how to present the facts in the most positive light and defend your rights.
Applebaum & Associates is a family law firm in Fort Washington that has staunchly defended the rights of countless clients for more than 4 decades. Our attorneys will help you craft a strong case while sticking to the facts and prioritizing the most important outcome. When in doubt, our legal defense team has your back. We work with clients navigating the following types of cases:
Should You Hire a Fort Washington Divorce Attorney?
While most married couples are hoping for a happy ending, marriages often end unexpectedly or under disappointing circumstances. If this is the situation you are currently in, you’re not alone. In 2019, there were more than 32,000 divorces and annulments in Pennsylvania alone. While you may still be dealing with upset, anger, or anxiety surrounding your divorce, it’s important not to let these emotions create legal problems that compound the situation.
What am I entitled to in a divorce in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania operates under the Equitable Distribution clause. In contrast to states that uphold an automatic 50-50 distribution of assets clause, Equitable Distribution requires each divorce to be analyzed on a case-by-case basis. Assets are divided according to what is fair in the unique situation of your divorce. This means that two couples undergoing a divorce in Fort Washington may see highly different outcomes based on various factors like occupations, educational status, prenuptial agreements, or the mental health of each spouse.
Just as with assets, the court will divide debts between each spouse accordingly. This may include mortgage and car loans, credit card balances, and any other debts that have yet to be paid. In some instances, your credit may be impacted by debts that your spouse defaults on. For this reason, many financial experts recommend each spouse pay off as much debt as possible during the proceedings to avoid future conflicts.
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What to Expect with a Fort Washington Child Custody Lawyer
A skilled family law attorney in Fort Washington can help you traverse even the most complex child custody cases.
What are the 4 types of custody?
There are 4 main terms you’ll hear most often in regards to child custody rulings, and these are: sole, joint, legal, and physical.
Sole Custody
In cases where a parent is deemed unfit to raise their children, sole physical custody will be granted to one parent. This is common in instances where one parent has a drug or alcohol dependency. However, this does not mean that the other parent is barred from freely visiting the children, having an influence, or making decisions surrounding the children.
Joint Custody
Gaining joint legal custody in Fort Washington means that each parent plays an active role in their children’s lives. However, one parent may still be granted sole physical custody. If you are awarded joint physical custody, your children may split their time living with each parent at different intervals.
Legal Custody
Legal custody refers to the decisions that are made around your children’s upbringing. This includes things like education, medical care, religious affiliation, and other influencing factors. Sole legal custody is more rare and requires one parent to prove that any significant influence from the other parent would be seriously detrimental to the children. Simply being in a dispute with your spouse or strongly disliking their character is not enough to win sole legal custody, as the court system prefers both parents to be involved in a child’s life.
Physical Custody
This type of custody pertains to your child’s actual living arrangements. Typically, one parent will win sole physical custody, while another parent may be awarded visitation rights. However, it’s also possible for your children to split their time between each parent’s home. This is only ideal in situations in which the parents live within a reasonable distance of each other.
What to Expect with a Fort Washington Alimony Lawyer
In Pennsylvania, alimony can be awarded in two different ways. The first way is typically called spousal support. Spousal support is temporary alimony given to the financially dependent spouse until one of the parties files for divorce. The second type of alimony is alimony pendente lite, or technically “alimony pending litigation.” This type is provided to the dependent spouse after the divorce is filed up until the divorce is finalized.
The spouse who is responsible for paying alimony may raise objections in certain situations. For example, if it can be proven that the receiving spouse took harmful actions against their partner, or if the receiving spouse is purposely delaying the finalization of the divorce. A seasoned family law attorney in Fort Washington can explain the legal ins and outs of alimony and how these laws apply to your unique situation.
Many factors will determine how much alimony can be awarded to one spouse. These may include:
- Each individual’s living situation and ability to provide for their immediate needs
- Any misconduct on behalf of the spouse seeking alimony
- How much property was brought into the marriage and by who
- The total length of the marriage
- The ability of the supporting spouse to make child support payments
A Determined Family Law Attorney in Fort Washington
Whether you’re struggling to gain custody of your children or reeling from a hurtful divorce, our lawyers know what actions you can take to salvage what is most important. Applebaum & Associates serves clients in Bucks, Philadelphia, and Montgomery Counties, offering free legal consultations from our office locations. Get in touch to schedule an appointment with us today.
“My family and I contacted and consulted with Michael Applebaum and hired him. Less than one year later, we walked away with the results we wanted.”
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