Category Archives: Family


Take Home DNA tests – Fun or Folly – Part 2

DNA take home test kits can be used to receive information about “disease risk” and/or to learn about ancestral background.  Whatever the purpose, users must remember that DNA is an extremely complicated set of genes that cannot be simplified into [...Read More]

How to Ease the Holiday Stress

Holidays can be a difficult and stressful time when they have to be shared between two households, but they don’t have to be.  There are many things a divorced or separated parent can do to ease the stress of the [...Read More]

Do You See What I See?

Have you looked at your family members with open eyes to see what has changed in the past year?  Holidays are a great opportunity to evaluate aging family members.  Often we don’t get to see our parents, grandparents, aunts, and [...Read More]

Can I Get a PFA for Mental Abuse?

The Protection From Abuse Act (hereinafter the Act) 23 Pa.C.S.A. Sections 6101-6117, defines “abuse” as an attempt to cause or intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causing bodily injury, serious bodily injury, rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, statutory sexual assault, [...Read More]

Back to School

It is that wonderful time of year when our high school graduate children are packing their rooms to go off to college and/or trade school.  Some are choosing to move out on their own and immediately join the workforce! What [...Read More]

Providing for Our Pets – In Sickness and in Health

On February 20th, pet lovers everywhere will observe National Love Your Pet Day.  This day is set aside to give extra attention to and pamper your pets.  It is also a good day to focus on the special relationship that [...Read More]

Who Can Claim Head of Household on Taxes?

What is a Qualifying Person for Head of Household? It is that time of year, again.  April is fast approaching and parties who have separated during the prior tax year will be confronted with a number of decisions regarding their [...Read More]

Protection From Sexual Violence or Intimidation Act

Protection From Sexual Violence and Intimidation is Expanded in Pennsylvania Effective July 1, 2015, the Protection from Sexual Violence or Intimidation Act  (PSVI) will become effective in Pennsylvania.  The Act is designed to afford protection similar to the protection afforded [...Read More]

What if Charlotte Elizabeth Diana Wanted to Change her Name in PA?

A rose by any other name…but just try to change it! With all of the public fascination surrounding the naming of the new royal princess, one might question just who has the right to select a child’s name and how [...Read More]

Dauphin County’s New Divorce Master & Seminar

Educational Seminar & Permanent Master Implemented by Dauphin County Court In my previous post, I discussed the implementation by Dauphin County of a Family Court system.  In addition to the establishment of the Family Court, two other changes were instituted [...Read More]