by Karen UlmerTo file a landlord/tenant eviction, you must pay the court’s filing fees. The fees are based on several factors: the number of defendants, amount seeking in damages (i.e. unpaid rent, destruction of property, legal fees), where you are filing (i.e. Bucks County vs. Philadelphia county). Many leases provide for the landlord to receive legal fees […]
Divorce and Deferred CompensationApril 29, 2026 - 12:41 pm
Rental Properties and DivorceApril 17, 2026 - 9:37 am
Pets in DivorceApril 8, 2026 - 11:23 am
Tips for Keeping Divorce Costs Down
1. Understand that family lawyers charge based on their time. This includes time reading emails, talking to you and anything else related to your case. Sending daily emails or calling constantly to talk about your case is a surefire way to escalate your bill. Instead, keep a journal of your thoughts and schedule one block […]
Five Mistakes to Avoid in a Child Custody Case
1. Allowing your new spouse to act as the go-between with other the other parent. In a custody situation is it important that the parents communicate with each other. Your new spouse or significant other should not be the one to handle all the affairs of your child. It is important as a parent to […]
Changing the Locks during a divorce
Sometimes the first action in a separation or divorce is when a spouse moves out. When a spouse moves out of the house, oftentimes the spouse who remains changes the locks. This is something that you can do, however, it is not always assurance that they will not get back into the home unless their […]
Remedies for the landlord
The most important thing that a landlord can get after an eviction hearing is the property itself. After a hearing, the tenant has 10 days to appeal, or else the landlord may request (and pay for) an Order for Possession. 10 days after that, the sheriff/constable will come and evict the tenant. In addition to […]
Typical landlord/tenant fees
To file a landlord/tenant eviction, you must pay the court’s filing fees. The fees are based on several factors: the number of defendants, amount seeking in damages (i.e. unpaid rent, destruction of property, legal fees), where you are filing (i.e. Bucks County vs. Philadelphia county). Many leases provide for the landlord to receive legal fees […]
Should you have a will?
Many people ask me if a will is necessary for them. They believe that they’re too young, or they don’t have enough assets, or they can’t decide who gets their estate when they pass away. A will is important for anyone. I recommend setting up a will as early as possible. A will is always […]
Theories on Property Division
There are two different theories on how title to property may affect the division of the property at the time of divorce. The title theory looks at which spouse holds title to each asset. There are multiple forms of title. Sole title grants the unilateral power to control. Examples of assets that may be relevant […]
My spouse left me, why do I now have to pay the mortgage?
If you are getting a divorce in Pennsylvania, oftentimes the court will require the occupant of the marital home to pay the mortgage. It does not matter whose name is on the mortgage. The theory behind requiring the occupant to pay the mortgage is that only that person is receiving a benefit for use of […]
Things to consider when selling your house during a divorce
When you sell your house during a divorce there are certain things that you should consider regarding equitable distribution: 1. Make sure that the house does not appear empty by removing the furniture. If buyers are aware you are going through a divorce, they may try to offer you less than your house is really […]
Divorcing and Preserving the Proceeds from the House Sale
If you are getting divorced and need to sell your house as part of the divorce process, it is important to keep your attorney informed. Oftentimes when you go to settlement, if you do not have an agreement in place, the proceeds will be split equally. As part of the divorce process, you can obtain […]