Family Law Services

For most families, the decision to divorce opens the door to several difficult issues that must be resolved. Whether through mediation, negotiation, or litigation, we will work with you and your family members to achieve fair and favorable arrangements on tough issues, while always protecting your rights, interests, and goals. Our law office guide clients to settlements in simple divorce matters, in complex property settlements, and through mutually determined agreements reached in divorce cases.

If an individual gets married as a result of fraud or duress then Pennsylvania Law allows for an annulment of the marriage which treats the marriage as if it never even happened. The grounds for an annulment are separate and distinct from a divorce and annulment is limited to a very narrow set of factors in determining if an annulment is a viable option for the party seeking one.

We will work effectively to bring your case to a resolution. Some cases are settled in 90 days, others can take longer, depending on the size of the marital estate and the desire of the parties to resolve their conflict.

Our law office handles many different types of divorce cases, from un-contested divorces involving few assets to divorces with many complex property issues such as a privately owned business by one of the parties. As a small law firm, we work with each client as an individual and flexibly tailor our services to meet your needs. We are committed to finding the best solutions for our clients.

One of the most prominent concerns for individuals facing a divorce is the protection of their assets and their future financial security. We will work to uncover any hidden assets and assist you with the complicated division of retirement accounts, employment related benefits, business valuation, stocks, and savings. We routinely work with experts including business valuation experts, pension valuators, and forensic accountants to protect your investments and assets during and after a divorce proceeding. It is our primary objective to see your interests protected and your future secured.

When spouses separate, the financial situation of the household is usually significantly affected. While child support orders can address the financial needs of the children, the predicament of a non-working spouse or a spouse with a reduced income must also be considered. At Miller Law Offices we handle all aspects of family law and work with our clients to establish fair spousal support and child support agreements.

Pennsylvania family law allows for payments to be made to a spouse upon separation, prior to the filing of a divorce complaint. This is called spousal support. Spousal support in Pennsylvania is usually not available if the two parties continue to live under the same roof. However, if one party can prove that the other is not contributing to the household expenses, spousal support may be collected. In Pennsylvania the spouse who has to pay support has the right to an entitlement defense to the payment of spousal support, if the spouse receiving support has committed one of the fault-based grounds for divorce. There is no defined length of time that spousal support must be paid. Spousal support is paid until the divorce decree is filed.

Another option in Pennsylvania, once a divorce complaint has been filed is alimony pendente lite (APL) (alimony pending the litigation). Spousal support and APL are calculated using the same formula and is determined according to the parties earnings and/or earning capacities.

The purpose for APL in Pennsylvania is to “level the playing field” financially which would permit both spouses to move forward with the divorce action without one party using his/her economic resources to the detriment of the dependent spouse.

Alimony is available to spouses who will need additional funds to meet their reasonable needs; to get them back on their feet financially, to the point that they can financially provide for themselves. In determining the amount of alimony and the length of time alimony will be paid, the courts will evaluate 17 factors when deciding if alimony should be awarded, how much and for how long.

At Miller Law Offices we have prepared many prenuptial agreements which protect assets/property which one party brings into the marriage. Prenuptial agreements can be simple or complex depending what the needs of our clients are. Especially for individuals entering into a marriage for a second or subsequent time prenuptial agreements are an effective method of ensuring that the assets/property of a client remain their property which they than can chose to distribute to their heirs as they deem appropriate.

When dealing with child custody or visitation, our clients appreciate the caring and supportive atmosphere that we provide to families along with our legal ability and experience. When deciding issues regarding child custody, the courts in Pennsylvania need to determine what’s in the “best interests of the child”. Courts will consider many factors including the age of the children; whether one parent was the “nurturing parent”; the mental and physical health of the parents, the relationship between the child and their parents, the relationship between the parents and their ability to communicate effectively on behalf of the children.

The parental rights to a child can be voluntarily terminated by agreement of the parents, or, can be involuntarily terminated if a parent meets the statutory criteria to be considered to have abandoned their parental duties or have abused their children. The parent seeking involuntary termination of parental rights of the other parent has a heavy burden to prove that the other parent has abandoned or abused their children. At Miller Law Offices we have successfully litigated involuntary termination of parental right’s and are prepared to pursue this option for you should the facts of your case meet the statutory criteria. Contact our firm for more information on prenuptial agreements.