Gettysburg Pennsylvania Family Law Blog

Some Pennsylvania parents who are getting a divorce might want to consider an arrangement called "nesting" or "birdnesting" for a few months. This allows children to remain in the home while parents take turns living with them there. However, most experts caution that only three to six months is the ideal amount of time for this arrangement.

The advantage of nesting is that it provides stability for children in a time of upheaval. For example, a child might have the opportunity to finish out the year at the same school. However, it can create a strain for parents. While an effective nesting arrangement requires parents to get along very well, even individuals who have a good relationship may find it strained by having to share living quarters. Usually, in addition to the family home, parents also take turns living in a small apartment. Another disadvantage of nesting is that it may encourage children to think their parents will get back together.

Some Pennsylvania fathers may struggle within the court system after divorce. From expensive support payments and civil protection orders to being left off the child's birth certificate, there are many common issues that fathers may face. However, there are ways to navigate the waters of being a single dad.

Many fathers struggle with child support obligations. Experts suggest that fathers who fall behind on child support should still try to pay something to show they are making a good faith effort. They may want to consider hiring a lawyer to help them request a modification in support. While courts expect biological parents to support their children, they also recognize that sometimes there are extenuating circumstances such as job loss. While a modification will not wipe away past child support debt, it may lower payments going forward.

Pennsylvania couples who choose to live together before marriage could be at a higher risk for divorce according to a recent study. Over the years, statistical analysis has indicated that people who live together before marriage may be more likely to struggle with conflicts during the marriage. Other researchers have argued that this effect can derive from multiple factors, including social disapproval of premarital cohabitation. As of 2018, a strong majority of Americans approve of living together before marriage.

However, this study says that changing attitudes about living together before marriage have not affected the overall likelihood of divorce. The researchers argue that couples who do not live together before marriage are more likely to divorce in their first year together because they have a difficult time adjusting to sharing a home. However, people who shared a home before marriage become more likely to divorce in later years together. The study examined data from U.S. women who married for the first time between 1970 and 2015 at the age of 44 or younger.

When people in Pennsylvania hear the term, "prenuptial agreement," they may have a lot of preconceived ideas. In many cases, public perception of prenups is shaped by news coverage of celebrity divorces and the associated legal battles. However, this document can often be a responsible choice for many types of couples. A lot of people steer clear of prenups because they fear that these agreements equal them beginning to plan for divorce before the wedding has even happened. However, prenups can also be mutual documents that respect each other and provide common-sense protections.

While many people think prenups are only for the super-rich, celebrities or people with significant family wealth, they can be useful for individuals of varying financial means. This document can be used to decide on future spousal support payments, the division of real estate or even how debts should be apportioned. Even more, they're not only for planning for a future divorce. Prenups can include provisions that set up a framework for estate planning. This can be particularly important when both parties are entering the marriage with existing children.