National Foster Care Month

May is National Foster Care month. Foster parents play an important role in providing stability for children in their transition from their natural parents to a permanent home. Bucks County Children and Youth Social Service Agency oversees the foster care program for the county. The Agency offers informational meetings throughout the county on various dates for interested volunteers. Bucks County presently has a need for additional volunteers. Approximately one-third of the children in need of foster care in Bucks County are placed out of the county due to the shortage of available foster parents.

Foster parents are given training by the county. Additional support includes financial and medical assistance for the foster child. The children benefit from having the option of residing with a foster family instead of being placed in an institution or group home. It is also beneficial to match the foster child with a family of similar cultural and/or ethnic background.
If you would like to request more information on becoming a foster parent, or if you would like to set up an in-home orientation, please email your name, address and phone number to Roxanne Watkins-Hall [email protected] or call 215-348-6997.You can also visit the website at: http://www.buckscounty.org/government/HumanServices/ChildrenandYouth/FosterParent

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Matrimonial Early Settlement Panels

Pursuant to NJ Court Rule 5:5-5, all counties in the state are required to maintain an Early Settlement Panel (ESP) program. The goal of the program is to promote resolution prior to trial. Most divorce cases will settle prior to trial either at an ESP or otherwise. The panels are usually comprised of two-three attorneys experienced in family law. Additionally, some counties offer specialized panels for complex cases wherein the panel will feature some of the most experienced attorneys practicing matrimonial law. Each party should submit a memo to the panel either prior to or at the time of the ESP. The memo should outline the issues in the case and narrow which issues need to be resolved as well as any issues that have already been settled.

Issues to be considered during an ESP include alimony, child support, college and private school costs, equitable distribution, debts, life insurance, tax issues, and counsel fees. It is important to make sure discovery is complete prior to the ESP to ensure the panelists can be effective and provide a comprehensive recommendation. Additionally, parties should be sure their Case Information Sheet is completed and up-to-date. Cases that settle at the panel can conclude that day. The terms of the agreement can be reduced to writing or put on the record and the divorce decree can be issued. It’s possible parties can be directed to an ESP more than once. If the ESP doesn’t work, the next step is likely another form of alternate dispute resolution, e.g. economic mediation or binding arbitration.

Click here to read more on NJ Family Law.

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Autism Awareness Month

April is autism awareness month. April has been set aside as the month to raise awareness for autism since the 1970’s. Autism is a group of complex disorders affecting brain development. Generally, signs of autism are most visible in toddlers and may include difficulty in social interaction, and communication. The CDC estimates that autism affects 1 in 68 children representing a significant increase over the past forty years. Early diagnosis/intervention and behavioral therapy are proven methods for helping children with autism which is why widespread awareness is key.

Dealing with children with any sort of special needs or developmental issues requires a great deal of attention, dedication, and commitment. Several of the factors to be considered in any custody award can be particularly relevant in this instance. Specifically, the following factors can be key: (3) The parental duties performed by each party on behalf of the child.(4) The need for stability and continuity in the child’s education, family life and community life.(5) The availability of extended family.(6) The child’s sibling relationships.(9) Which party is more likely to maintain a loving, stable, consistent and nurturing relationship with the child adequate for the child’s emotional needs.(10) Which party is more likely to attend to the daily physical, emotional, developmental, educational and special needs of the child.(12) Each party’s availability to care for the child or ability to make appropriate child-care arrangements.
These factors can be even more important with a child who may struggle socially and have a greater need for stability/structure as well as familiar faces and familiar environments.

Click here to read more on child custody.

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Contested Paternity Case

The current statute relating to paternity is 23 Pa.C.S. §4343. As it relates to testing to determine paternity, the statute provides: (c) Genetic Tests. (1) Upon the request of any party to an action to establish paternity, supported by a sworn statement from the party, the court or domestic relations section shall require the child and the parties to submit to genetic tests. The domestic relations section shall obtain an additional genetic test upon the request and advance payment by any party who contests the initial test. Tests results alone are not sufficient to establish paternity. Instead, the parties must stipulate in writing that the test results prove paternity or the court must make an order on paternity after reviewing the test results.

As a matter of science, it is not necessary to have both parents of the child tested. Either parent can be simply tested against the child at issue to establish clear results as to whether they are a biological parent. However, the courts should make a practice of routinely testing both parents as indicated by the statute. In a recent paternity case, the Father filed a Complaint for Paternity after he separated from his girlfriend who had become pregnant. He never had an opportunity to see the child after birth. Following a hearing, genetic testing was ordered. Father and child were tested but Mother refused to be tested. The results excluded Father as a biological parent. Father, believing there may have been foul play, insisted on Mother being tested. Following a second hearing, Mother was ordered to be tested as well to prove she was in fact the biological parent of the child she brought in for testing. The results from her test excluded her as a biological parent as well. This means Mother brought a child in for testing that she knew was not her child, likely in an attempt to thwart Father’s claim of paternity. Currently, a third hearing is being requested to ensure the correct child is presented for testing. This case should be a lesson to the court to enforce the provision of the statute requiring both parties submit to genetic tests in any action for paternity.

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Wills for Heroes

Bucks County has several upcoming “Wills for Heroes” events. This is a program in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Bar Association that provides free wills, living wills, and powers of attorney to first responders and their spouses/significant others. Appointments are required and can be made on the Pennsylvania Bar Association website. Each appointment is for one hour. At the conclusion of the appointment, each participant will have their final, notarized documents to take home with them. If a spouse or significant other is also participating, their appointment will be immediately following that of the first responder. The program is made possible through the time of volunteers including attorneys, reviewers and witnesses.

Upcoming dates and locations for events in our area are as follows:

Saturday, April 5, 2014 – Bucks County Public Safety/Emergency Services Training Center in Doylestown, PA

Saturday, April 12, 2014 – Northeast Regional Campus of the Community College of Philadelphia

Saturday, April 26, 2014 – Community Fire Company #1 in Riegelsville, PA

Saturday, May 17, 2014 – Richlandtown Fire Company in Bucks County, PA

Click here for more information on Wills for Heroes.

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Defenses to Support Registration

An out of state order may be enforced in Pennsylvania following registration of the order here pursuant to 23 Pa. C.S. 7605. Notice will be given to all interested parties regarding the proposed registration. If there is no response, the order will be registered. If a party contests the registration, a hearing will be scheduled. There are several defenses available to a party contesting registration of a support order under 23 Pa. C.S. 7607. First, the party can assert that the court that initially entered the order lacked personal jurisdiction. Second, the party can assert the order was obtained by fraud. Next, the party can establish the order has been vacated, suspended or subsequently modified by another order.

The fourth defense is that the order has been stayed pending appeal by the issuing court. Fifth, a defense under Pennsylvania law can be raised. Sixth, the party can establish full or partial payment has already been made. Finally, the party can assert the statute of limitations has already run barring enforcement on past due support amounts. If a party successfully proves one of the above-listed defenses, the court can decline to register the order. Additional options available to the court include continuing the matter for additional evidence and/or registration of the uncontested portion of the order. Once an order is registered, the court does not allow any further argument or defense so all defenses must be raised at the initial notice of registration.

Click here to read more about support.

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Alternative Methods of Service for NJ Divorce

The New Jersey Divorce Statutes provide for alternate ways to notify the opposing party of a divorce action if you do not have any contact information for the opposing party. One method is by substitute service on a special agent. This method involves serving the complaint on a person who is likely to be able to get it to the Defendant; typically, a close friend or relative. The other method involves publication of the complaint in the county where the Defendant was last known to reside. For either of the above methods, you must get approval by the court first. The court must be satisfied that every effort has been made to locate the Defendant including but not limited to inquiries of the Defendant’s friends, family, employer as well as inquiries through the post office, department of motor vehicles, voter registration, and the military.

If you are still unable to get contact information for the Defendant despite the inquiries as listed above, you can file a petition with the court for substitute service or service by publication. Where service by publication is granted, you will be responsible to publish notice of the divorce in the paper specified by the court and provide proof to the court that it was in fact published. If the Defendant does not respond in the time frame allotted, the divorce can then move forward. The next step is likely requesting a default judgment for Defendant’s failure to answer or respond.

Click here to read more on NJ Family Law.

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NJ Grounds for Divorce

Section 2A:34-2 of the New Jersey Divorce Statutes outlines the different causes of action available for a divorce. The fault grounds include adultery, desertion, extreme cruelty, voluntary addiction or habituation, institutionalization, imprisonment and deviant sexual conduct. Desertion must be willful and continued for a period of 12 months or more. Extreme cruelty can be mental or physical but must be to the extent that it makes it unreasonable to expect the parties to continue to reside together. The fault ground for voluntary addiction refers to addiction to any narcotic drug and/or habitual drunkenness for 12 months or more. Institutionalization for a mental illness must be of a period greater than 24 consecutive months. Finally, deviant sexual conduct is that which is voluntarily performed by the defendant against plaintiff’s will.

New Jersey also recognizes no-fault grounds for divorce on the basis of separation or irreconcilable differences. The parties must live separately for at least 18 consecutive months with no prospect of reconciliation to succeed on the no-fault ground for separation. The parties may have experience irreconcilable differences for six months or more to succeed on that ground. All grounds for divorce require NJ residency for a period of at least one year with the exception of adultery. An adultery claim requires the third party who participated in the adultery be named as a co-defendant.

Click here to read more on NJ Family Law.

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Laws Affecting Un-Married Couples

Many courts will recognize legal property and/or support rights arising from cohabitation of non-married parties. Palimony refers to the support obligation that may arise following the end of the relationship. NJ previously recognized palimony claims however a recent change to the law has made it more difficult to obtain by requiring a written agreement on support between the parties. This new statute did not result in the end of all palimony type claims however. Just a few months ago, in Joiner-Orman v. Orman, the court allowed a palimony award for Wife. The relationship lasted 39 years and Wife stayed home to raise the parties’ 4 children. The court relied on the doctrine of full performance to justify the palimony award in that Wife had fulfilled her end of the bargain as a homemaker and full-time Mom and so allowing Husband to leave the relationship without paying support would be unfair. The Orman case is not precedential as it is only a trial court decision and unreported.

Pennsylvania may also recognize some rights between unmarried couples as a matter of equity. Generally title controls ownership in the case of unmarried couples however there are exceptions to the general rule including unjust enrichment and quantum meruit. Unjust enrichment is the theory that it is unfair to allow the person that does not have title to be excluded from wealth they helped create. Quantum meruit is a Latin phrase meaning what one has earned. In this context, the court must consider whether the conduct of the parties evidences an agreement and/or expectation of some form of compensation for performance. Quantum meruit requires a contract or agreement, tacit or otherwise, whereas unjust enrichment does not and is just about the courts doing what is fair. The best way to avoid a legal battle if things go awry in any relationship is to have all agreements clearly stated and reduced to writing.

Click here to review all of our areas of practice.

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Possibility Coaches – April 9, 2014

The Possibility Coaches are hosting another free lecture titled “How to Emotionally Thrive During & After Divorce!” at our Doylestown office on April 9, 2014. Jon Satin and Chris Pattay are the partners behind the Possibility Coaches and focus on empowering men and women alike to lead meaningful lives and engage in healthy, successful relationships. Satin and Pattay started coaching together in 2002 and have labeled themselves as relationship, divorce, and life coaches. As it relates to relationships or divorce, their goal is to help in navigating through the emotional aspects as well as provide a framework for rebuilding to achieve a happier, healthier life. Please contact our office for additional information and to reserve your spot for this free event! Our Doylestown office is located on the 2nd floor at 44 East Court Street.

Click here to read more about the Possibility Coaches.

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