The impact of realistic estrangement on child custody matters
Let's Talk Child Custody
Summer break is often a joyful time for many children but can be a common point of conflict for divorced or separated parents. With the family’s typical school routine derailed, parents may need to revisit parenting schedules...more
Individuals who are engaged in protracted custody litigation in Pennsylvania may come across the concept of a parenting coordinator during the duration of their custody matter. The below covers the basics of a parenting...more
We have done a lot of complaining lately about some pretty bizarre cases. Then, along comes Schultz v. Schultz and Passetti; an important case that merits being published because it makes important law and is a credit to the...more
Lauren Stone and Joey Worner gave birth to G.W. late in 2018. The couple separated in 2021 and it appears dad moved back with his parents, Ted and Adelina at about that time. These grandparents and mom’s mother provided...more
Grandparents can play an important role in the lives of their grandchildren. Undoubtedly, many children have deep and inseparable bonds with their grandparents. When parents are married, or together, many grandparents can get...more
One of the important areas of child custody law as it has evolved in the past decade relates to when a grandparent has the legal right (or standing) to pursue claims for partial custody of a grandchild. This is a place where...more
The concept of child custody has evolved over the years. In the past, having sole legal custody was relatively common, but as family dynamics have shifted, with both stay-at-home and working parents playing essential roles in...more
Pennsylvania codified its custody laws in 1985 and at that time it drew a statutory distinction between decision making power (legal custody) and actual possession of the child (physical custody). In the 1980s there was a...more
In recognition of Father’s Day this past weekend, a change in the law may be of particular importance to fathers. Effective July 1, 2023, a new law signed by Governor DeSantis now acknowledges rights of “unwed fathers.”...more
There’s a new Superior Court case in Pennsylvania that has the potential to make it harder for grandparents who would like partial physical custody of their grandchildren to get a foot in the door and have the ability...more
North Carolina treats grandparents seeking custody like any other third-party or non-parent. If a grandparent is seeking custody of a child, he or she may file an action for custody or seek to intervene in a pending...more
I recently participated with a client in an uncontested divorce hearing where the Probate and Family Court Judge presiding over the matter said something I have not heard many judges say at an uncontested divorce hearing. ...more
A May 8, 2020 New York Times headline proclaimed, “The Pandemic has Slowed the Divorce Process. Here’s What to Expect.” A litany of nightmares follows -- inability to commence the process, ongoing cases at a standstill,...more
Family Law Attorney John Zurzola discusses all the steps involved in a child custody case in family court. He starts off explaining child custody and the definitions of what physical, primary, shared, sole and partial custody...more
In June 2015, the Pennsylvania Superior Court, in K.T. v. L.S., provided partial child custody to the children's paternal grandparents over mother's objection....more