Mercer Family Law Lawyer, Pennsylvania
Includes: Collaborative Law, Domestic Violence & Neglect, Paternity, Prenuptial Agreements
SPONSORED LAWYERS
1-1 of 1 matches. Page 1 of 1
Deborah L. Smith
Family Law, Business, Estate Planning, Federal Appellate Practice
Status: In Good Standing Licensed: 29 Years
109 North Diamond Street, Mercer, PA 16137
Profile LAWPOINTS™24/100
LAWPOINTS™ measure the overall completeness of a Lawyer's profile. More complete profiles are ranked higher and help visitors select the right lawyer faster.
We help paid Members build more complete and informative profiles.
LAWPOINTS™ do not measure a Lawyer's reputation.
More Info for Lawyers
We help paid Members build more complete and informative profiles.
LAWPOINTS™ do not measure a Lawyer's reputation.
More Info for Lawyers
TIPS
Easily find Mercer Family Law Lawyers and Mercer Family Law Firms. For more attorneys, search all Divorce & Family Law areas including Adoption, Child Custody, Child Support and Divorce attorneys.
LEGAL TERMS
POT TRUST
A trust for children in which the trustee decides how to spend money on each child, taking money out of the trust to meet each child's specific needs. One impor... (more...)
A trust for children in which the trustee decides how to spend money on each child, taking money out of the trust to meet each child's specific needs. One important advantage of a pot trust over separate trusts is that it allows the trustee to provide for one child's unforeseen need, such as a medical emergency. But a pot trust can also make the trustee's life difficult by requiring choices about disbursing funds to the various children. A pot trust ends when the youngest child reaches a certain age, usually 18 or 21.
BEST INTERESTS (OF THE CHILD)
The test that courts use when deciding who will take care of a child. For instance, an adoption is allowed only when a court declares it to be in the best inter... (more...)
The test that courts use when deciding who will take care of a child. For instance, an adoption is allowed only when a court declares it to be in the best interests of the child. Similarly, when asked to decide on custody issues in a divorce case, the judge will base his or her decision on the child's best interests. And the same test is used when judges decide whether a child should be removed from a parent's home because of neglect or abuse. Factors considered by the court in deciding the best interests of a child include: age and sex of the child mental and physical health of the child mental and physical health of the parents lifestyle and other social factors of the parents emotional ties between the parents and the child ability of the parents to provide the child with food, shelter, clothing and medical care established living pattern for the child concerning school, home, community and religious institution quality of schooling, and the child's preference.
DEFAULT DIVORCE
See uncontested divorce.
SPLIT CUSTODY
A custody arrangement in the case of multiple children, awarding sole custody of one child to one parent and sole custody of another child to the other parent. ... (more...)
A custody arrangement in the case of multiple children, awarding sole custody of one child to one parent and sole custody of another child to the other parent. This arrangement is generally disfavored by judges because they are reluctant to split up siblings.
CUSTODY (OF A CHILD)
The legal authority to make decisions affecting a child's interests (legal custody) and the responsibility of taking care of the child (physical custody). When ... (more...)
The legal authority to make decisions affecting a child's interests (legal custody) and the responsibility of taking care of the child (physical custody). When parents separate or divorce, one of the hardest decisions they have to make is which parent will have custody. The most common arrangement is for one parent to have custody (both physical and legal) while the other parent has a right of visitation. But it is not uncommon for the parents to share legal custody, even though one parent has physical custody. The most uncommon arrangement is for the parents to share both legal and physical custody.
ACKNOWLEDGED FATHER
The biological father of a child born to an unmarried couple who has been established as the father either by his admission or by an agreement between him and t... (more...)
The biological father of a child born to an unmarried couple who has been established as the father either by his admission or by an agreement between him and the child's mother. An acknowledged father must pay child support.
IN CAMERA
Latin for 'in chambers.' A legal proceeding is 'in camera' when a hearing is held before the judge in her private chambers or when the public is excluded from t... (more...)
Latin for 'in chambers.' A legal proceeding is 'in camera' when a hearing is held before the judge in her private chambers or when the public is excluded from the courtroom. Proceedings are often held in camera to protect victims and witnesses from public exposure, especially if the victim or witness is a child. There is still, however, a record made of the proceeding, typically by a court stenographer. The judge may decide to seal this record if the material is extremely sensitive or likely to prejudice one side or the other.
FAMILY COURT
A separate court, or more likely a separate division of the regular state trial court, that considers only cases involving divorce (dissolution of marriage), ch... (more...)
A separate court, or more likely a separate division of the regular state trial court, that considers only cases involving divorce (dissolution of marriage), child custody and support, guardianship, adoption, and other cases having to do with family-related issues, including the issuance of restraining orders in domestic violence cases.
SEPARATION
A situation in which the partners in a married couple live apart. Spouses are said to be living apart if they no longer reside in the same dwelling, even though... (more...)
A situation in which the partners in a married couple live apart. Spouses are said to be living apart if they no longer reside in the same dwelling, even though they may continue their relationship. A legal separation results when the parties separate and a court rules on the division of property, such as alimony or child support -- but does not grant a divorce.
SAMPLE LEGAL CASES
Procito v. Unemployment Comp. Bd. of Review
... [10] The majority fails to consider the "best interests of the child" doctrine, which
motivates and controls family law. If Claimant were to prove that she has provided
care, shelter, nurture and affection to the children of her domestic ...
Staub v. Staub
... Father, as the "breadwinner" of the family, has been relatively uninvolved in the home school
program by his choice, according to his testimony. ... Historically, we note that in 1682, the "Great
Law" passed by the First General Assembly of Pennsylvania "included a provision for the ...
Yates v. Yates
... Id. ¶ 19 In appointing Attorney Famous, the trial court observed that Attorney Famous is "a highly
respected Bucks County attorney whose practice is focused solely on Family law[.]" Trial Court
Opinion, 3/7/08, at 9 n. 5. The trial court presided 542 over this custody dispute since ...
FILTER BY:
- Free Consultation
- Male
- Female
- Suspended
PRACTICE AREAS 30
- Accident & Injury
- Bankruptcy & Debt
- Business
- Civil & Human Rights
- Consumer Rights
- Criminal
- Divorce & Family Law
- -Adoption
- -Child Custody
- -Guardianships & Conservatorships
- -Custody & Visitation
- -Child Support
- -Divorce
- -Alimony & Spousal Support
- Family Law
- -Collaborative Law
- -Domestic Violence & Neglect
- -Paternity
- -Prenuptial Agreements
- Employment
- Environmental Law
- Estate
- Government
- Health Care
- Immigration
- Industry Specialties
- Intellectual Property
- International
- Lawsuit & Dispute
- Mass Torts
- Motor Vehicle
- Real Estate
- Tax
- Other