Penglase & Benson Named a 2020 Law Firm 500 Honoree
Penglase & Benson has been recognized as one of the Fastest Growing Law Firms in the U.S.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives seemingly overnight. We should not expect it stop short of effecting child custody disputes and possibly send them into a tailspin.
Scenario 1: I received the inevitable call from a client who was supposed to receive her children for a scheduled weekend visit but the custody exchange never took place. Her ex-husband demanded that she answer a set of questions regarding her compliance with social distancing practices on the pretense of making sure she was taking adequate coronavirus precautions. She responded to some of his questions, but he proceeded to unilaterally cancel the court ordered visit anyway.
Scenario 2: I received the inevitable call from a client who was supposed to bring her daughter to her ex-husband for a weekend visit. My client has concerns about her daughter who suffers from respiratory
ailments, including uncontrolled asthma. My client, herself, suffers from several ailments that place her
at high risk regarding COVID-19. She and her daughter are practicing 100% social isolation and have not
left the house for two weeks. Her question to me: do I break isolation by bringing my child to see her
father as is court ordered?
Because, although both scenarios are opposite in nature, parents who are subject to custody orders issued prior to the coronavirus pandemic may find that the current court orders seemingly run afoul of the CDC’s guidelines as well as local, State and Federal authorities’ orders to stay home and maintain isolation.
Judge Jordan B. Yeager of the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County developed the following language that may by written into custody orders:
“Mother and Father shall agree to adhere to CDC recommended protocols for COVID-19 (wash your hands before touching the child, clean surfaces with Lysol or other appropriate disinfectant, social distancing), to practice social isolation in their homes, and to not take the child out to public places. All these provisions will be followed until advised that it is safe to revert back to normal practices.”
Coronavirus emergency notwithstanding, parents still have a right to see their children and custody orders must still be followed. However, if your custody order is at odds with what you are hearing from the Governor of your State or from the President, or the CDC, or your doctor, etc. or if you are being denied custody time with your children on the pretext of the coronavirus emergency, then it’s time to call a skilled and experienced family law attorney.
Amir M. Stark, Esquire of the law firm of Penglase & Benson, Inc. practices family law in Bucks and all surrounding counties. He is available for telephone consultations during and throughout the coronavirus emergency and may be reached on his personal cell phone during this time at (215) 275-2919.
Penglase & Benson has been recognized as one of the Fastest Growing Law Firms in the U.S.
Families with Children Subject to Custody Orders Take Heed - On April 8, 2020, President Judge Wallace H. Bateman, Jr., of the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County issued Emergency Order No. 2020-11,
But how is alimony determined? There’s no simple formula. Courts in Pennsylvania will typically have an ex-spouse pay three types of support during a divorce.
Divorce can be a frightening experience, partly because there is so much uncertainty involved.
You’ve probably heard the term “amicable divorce” more than a few times throughout your life. “Amicable” is a word that often appears in news stories when celebrity couples decide to break up. But th
In a perfect world, child custody negotiations would run smoothly every time. There’d be no need for us to write this blog post, let alone focus on this practice area. But we live in an imperfect wor
When Jim and Alice met during their first year in college they never would have thought the words “contested divorce” were anywhere in their future. They began dating at the end of sophomore year, go
You’ve just gotten married. Your new spouse has kids from a previous marriage, but at this point, you think of them as your kids too. Unfortunately, the law has other ideas, at least when it comes to
Whenever we talk about divorce on this blog, we try to acknowledge that it’s rarely an easy thing. But while going through a divorce isn’t pleasant, the process should at least be fair. Fair for you.
Pennsylvania courts can order an ex-spouse to pay three types of financial support during a divorce case: spousal support, alimony pendente lite and alimony.
© Penglase & Benson, Inc.
