In a 50-0 vote, the Pennsylvania Senate passed Senate Bill No. 55 on December 13, 2023. Upon passage in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Senate Bill No. 55 will enact Kayden’s Law, which develops a procedure for custody proceedings that ensures greater protection of children. KingSpry’s Managing Partner and Family Law Attorney, Jessica F. Moyer, details the proposed legislation and … [Read more...] about Pennsylvania Senate Takes Action to Prevent Abuse in Child Custody Proceedings with Unanimous Support of Kayden’s Law
Lehigh Valley Family Law
Unanimous Passage of Act 48 Gives Kinship Providers New Voice in Child Custody Proceedings
On December 14, 2023, Governor Shapiro approved House Bill No. 1058, which gives kinship care providers a voice in child dependency proceedings. Enacted as Act 48 of 2023, the law expands who is able to advocate for children in these proceedings. Now, those who engage in family finding and kinship care will have the opportunity to share their opinion on what is best for children during these … [Read more...] about Unanimous Passage of Act 48 Gives Kinship Providers New Voice in Child Custody Proceedings
Mother Must Show Cause Before Partner Can Adopt Child, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Says
A mother who intended for her long-time partner to adopt a child she had with another man must first show cause as to why she and her partner can’t marry, and then establish why a requirement mandating that both biological parents relinquish their parental rights before an adoption should be excused in her case. The court’s scrutiny of the adoption process in the case –In re Adoption of M.E.L., … [Read more...] about Mother Must Show Cause Before Partner Can Adopt Child, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Says
My Two Dads: Why Court Says Paternity Test Was Warranted in Recent Pennsylvania Case
Recently, the court evaluated Pennsylvania’s legal doctrines of presumption of paternity and the doctrine of paternity estoppel in B.D. v. C.P. and D. In Pennsylvania, a child conceived or born during an intact marriage is presumed to be the husband’s child, or a child of the marriage (presumption of paternity) even if the husband is not the biological father. That presumption led to another … [Read more...] about My Two Dads: Why Court Says Paternity Test Was Warranted in Recent Pennsylvania Case
New Pennsylvania Law Addresses Beneficiary Designations During Divorce Decree
Married individuals are typically the beneficiaries of their spouse’s life insurance policies/retirement accounts. Following a divorce or an annulment, most individuals will update their beneficiary designations on their life insurance policies/retirement accounts to remove their former spouse. There are situations, however, where one spouse will leave the other as a beneficiary following the … [Read more...] about New Pennsylvania Law Addresses Beneficiary Designations During Divorce Decree
The Dog Days of Divorce: Who Gets Rover When It’s All Over?
These days, many people treat their pets like they are children. Hence the term "furbabies." As a result, pet custody is becoming a frequent issue in divorce cases. It is not unusual for couples to fight over who gets to keep the family dog or cat after they go their separate ways. Pennsylvania Pets Are Personal Property In Pennsylvania and most other states, pets are treated as personal property … [Read more...] about The Dog Days of Divorce: Who Gets Rover When It’s All Over?