Berks County Family Law Blog

When a family court decides who is going to get custody of a child, they consider a variety of factors. The first is parenting ability, meaning how well each parent is able to satisfy the physical and emotional needs of their children. Next, courts try to maintain as consistent of an environment routine for the child as possible. They also factor in safety and the child's age. Accounting for these factors is commonly known in courts in Pennsylvania and the rest of the country as the child's best interest standard.

Parents can demonstrate to the court that they have the best interests of their children in mind by providing attentive and loving care on a consistent basis. Enrolling kids in school and other activities, helping with homework and making a variety of parenting decisions can all help demonstrate this. Family court judges do not like situations where the child is unable to visit or live part-time with one of the parents.

Around one in 14 workers throughout Pennsylvania and the rest of the nation have their paychecks garnished, according to a recent study by the ADP Research Institute. However, the study finds that some demographics are hit with more wage garnishments than others.

The study analyzed pay data and wage garnishments on 12 million American workers. The types of wage garnishments included in the study were child support, bankruptcy, tax levies and general garnishments like consumer debt and student loans. The study found that 7 percent of American workers are subject to wage garnishment, but these garnishments are not equally proportioned across all workers. For example, 26 percent of men between the ages of 35 and 55 employed in large Midwestern manufacturing jobs have their wages garnished. These workers earn an average of $44,000 per year.

Most people don't derive pleasure from their divorces. Especially at first, it can be painful on a lot of fronts -- emotionally trying, socially straining and financially taxing -- but there are ways to control the damage and begin to create the life you want.

If you are a parent in the middle of a divorce, it is important to protect yourself and your money starting NOW, particularly when it comes to child support. Whether you expect to pay or receive support, it is crucial to have proper guidance when making legal agreements about payments; these decisions can affect you for MANY years and have a direct impact on your quality of life.

While many people in Pennsylvania expect to consider child custody only in the case of divorce, emergency situations could bring custody matters to the surface in unrelated cases. The escalated immigration enforcement actions against undocumented people -- and alsome documented immigrants -- have led to children being left in the hands of grandparents and other family members if their parents are deported. Since the children in question are often U.S. citizens, their parents may want them to remain behind.

Of course, extended family situations are not limited to immigrants facing detention or deportation. Around 20 percent of all kids being raised by grandparents, cousins, uncles, aunts or other extended family members come from immigrant backgrounds. These number more than 500,000 children across the country. Researchers have noted that if the harsh immigration policies continue, this number can also be expected to rise. When the new carers are also vulnerable to attention from immigration authorities, they may be hesitant to make their child custody arrangements known or seek assistance from social services.