PA: Family Law

• GEN: Establish econ rights in the event the marriage is unsuccessful.
• REQ: To be valid, must show
• (1) K in writing (SoF);
• (2) Parties actually married; AND
• (3) Spouses made full disclosure of assets.
• NOTE: A problem with any of these can result in an invalidation.
• ALSO: Duress (actual, phys threats) or unconscionability (more than fairness challenger) can invalidate.

KIDS: Agreements re: kids are always subject to modification.

• REQS: Celebrant, witness, exchange of promises (vows).
• LICENSE: Prereq to ceremonial marriages.
• AGE: Under 16 -- court and parental approval. Under 18 -- parental approval.

• CL MARRIAGE: Nothing after 2005.
• >> Pre-2005: Must have been able to apply for a license, and in lieu of the ceremony, exchange of promises -- in present tense.
• >>>> Where trouble showing verbal promise: cohabitation and reputation (holding out) create a rebuttable presumption of marriage.

• Annulment: Looks backwards to a date predating the marriage. Acts to dissolve it.
• >> KEY: Look for a capacity problem.

• VOID: Insanity (or severe mental disorder), bigamy, incest.
• >> If void relationship, not maried. Don't need an annulment, but provides clarity of record.
• >>>> BUT: Judge may STILL need to decide a collateral issue, such as kids or property.
• >> Can be attacked by third parties with standing (think inheritance issue).
• >> WAIVER: Impediment making a marriage void NEVER waived.

• VOIDABLE: Too young, intox. at ceremony, duress (phys force), fraud.
• >> If voidable, married until you get an annulment.
• >> Can only be attacked by one of the parties.
• >> WAIVER: Impediment making a marriage voidable can be waived IF stay in marriage after impediment removed.
• >> FRAUD: Misrepresentation or concealment of info that does to an essential aspect of the marriage:
• >>>> (1) Lies/secrets re: religion (relig, observation, kids religion)
• >>>> (2) Lies about procreation/sex (incapable of having kids, carry illness likely to cause a birth defect, lie about paternity, lie about sex (former prostitute)).
• >>>> (3) Incurable impotenct (when license issued) -- only sex, NOT procreation. Permanent and irrevocable.
• >>>> NOTE: Lying about money, wealth, social standing, ect. = INSUFF.

Divorce: Problem arisen subsequently -- after the marriage.

• STANDING: One party must be domiciled in PA and have six months' residence in PA before filing for divorce.
• >> NOTE: In order to get collateral remedies (money, property, kids, alimony), need personal jdx in the court sued.

• CONSEQUENCE: Spouse NOT entitled to alimony support if s/he is guilty of conduct that would constitute a ground for divorce.
• BUT: Alimony pendente lite ISN'T affected by marital misconduct.

• GROUNDS (FAULT-DIVORCES):
• (1) Desertion: willful and malicious absence from the marital home w/o reasonable cause for at least one continuous year.
• >> Excape from home to avoid violence is a reasonable cause.
• (2) Adultery: Voluntary sex with someon other than a spouse.
• >> Circumstantial evidence: opportunity and inclination (gifts, love letters, ect.)
• (3) Cruel and Barbarous Treatment: compromise life/health. Single episode sufficient if serious.
• (4) Bigamy: Second in time can annual, first in time can divorce.
• (5) Imprisonment: two or more yrs imprisonment.
• (6) Indignities: Mental cruelty -- continued course of conduct resulting in a burdensome and intolerable life.
• >> Includes cruel/aloof behavior as well as an unwillingness to engage in sex.
• (7) Insanity: Mentally ill spouse institutionalized for at least 18 months.
• >> Also need: medical testimony that there's no likelihood or cure for next 18 months.

KEY: Look for stipulation re: fault.

• DEFENSES
• (1) Condonation: Tolerance. Essentially waiver. Three requirements --
• >> Knowledge of misconduct;
• >> Forgiveness; AND
• >> Resumption of marital relationship.
• >> NOTE: Not a defense to a continuous course of conduct. Must cease behavior and resume obligations.
• (2) Connivance: tricking one's spouse into the subject of a divorce complaint.
• (3) Collusion: Agreement by parties to manufacture grounds for divorce.
• (4) Recrimination (RARE!): guilty party ≠ get relief from a court.
• >> Usually conduct of the same type.
• (5) Provocation: Expanded S-D provoked by spouse.
• (6) Insanity: Reason for desertion/cruelty = mental illness.

• GEN: No fault DOESN'T MEAN no grounds for divorce.
• >> Parties must prove a ground, BUT WITHOUT pointing a finger.
• >> GROUND: Irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.

• BILATERAL: If both parties agree.
• >> Both parties must acknowledge by affidavit, wait 90 days, then dissolve marriage.

• UNILATERAL: One spouse, complete cesation of cohabitation (no sex) for two full years.
• >> KEY: Can't have sex with spouse -- OR ANYONE ELSE!
• >> RESULT: Court infers an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.

KEY: In advising a client regarding a fault-divorce situation, should also explain the option of a no-fault divorce. Latter is faster, less costly, less burdensome on the family.

GEN: If spouse missing 7 years or more, presumed dead. If you want to marry earlier, must get a certificate of presumed death.

• GEN: Mutual agreement in no-fault divorce case.
• >> Oversight by the court to make sure there is no overreaching by one party.

• MODIFICATIONS: Terms are NOT modifiable unless the agreement provides otherwise.
• >> EXCEPTION:
• >>>> (1) Agmt re: KIDS -- always modifiable.
• >>>> (2) Concealment, fraud, duress or lying can give rise to court modifications.

• GEN: PA is an equitable division state with a two-step process.
• NOTE: In division, CANNOT consider marital misconduct.

• STEPS:
• (1) Categorize assets into three piles:
• >> Husband's assets
• >> Wife's assets
• >> Marital assets
• (2) Divide Marital property equitably by partitioning or distributing.
• >> Partition: Sell property and divide proceeds accordingly.
• >> Distribute: Split assets on a certain percentage ratio and then divy out property.
• In Both Cases, Consider:
• >> Age and health of parties
• >> Current income, education and employability
• >> Deparate property assets
• >> Custodian of minors (custodian might need house or SUV)
• >> Tax ramifications
• >>>> When dividing property, there are no immediate tax repercussions. The new owner takes a carryover basis.

• INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY
• Anything before marriage belongs to each of the individuals. Individual property also includes --
• (a) Gifts/Inheritance received after marriage (by a non-spouse) to one party.
• (b) Any property acquired after the date of formal separation in advance of the divorce.
• (c) Any agreement to treat particular property as separate property.
• (d) Federal disability benefits from military service are individual property.

• MARITAL PROPERTY
• Includes:
• (1) Vested items, including intangible items of value.
• (b) Items purchased by one party in the course of marriage, even if only in one spouse's name.
• (c) Gambling/lottery winnings.
• (d) Appreciation in value of separate property assets furing the course of marriage -- must be attributable to the marriage time period (includes stock appreciation).
• (d) Gifts between spouses during the marriage.

• GEN: Payments to one spouse during the course of (APL) and/or after the divorce.
• NOTE: In deciding post-divorce alimony, court CAN consider marital misconduct.
• >> BUT: Alimony can be awarded even if one side accuses the other of adultery. One factor to consider.
• TYPES:
• (1) Temporary: while lawsuit is pending (pendente lite) -- terminates when case ends.
• >> Designed to make sure a spouse can support him or herself during the pendency of the case.
• >> Cohabitation by recipient spouse DOESN'T terminate APL.
• (2) Permanent: post-adjudication award to ex-spouse at specific intervals (can last a set period, or be indefinite).

NOTE: Judge has discretion over the amount of the award, taking into consideration a variety of factors.

• MODIFICATION: Payor becomes diabled, promoted, or wins lottery -- modification permitted.
• >> Modification has a prospective effect only. Back-due alimony (arears) cannot be changed.
• TERMINATION: Death of either party, remarriage of recipient, or recipient engages in cohabitation.
• >> Cohabitation: includes financial, social and sexual interdependence, in addition to sharing same resid.

ENFORCEMENT: Cease and sell assets, attach wages, suspend license, hold in contempt of court (jail).

• TAXES: Deductible by payor, income to recipient.
• >> Note: no tax deductions in division of property.

• STEPS:
• (1) Identify parents (to determine who owes child support):
• >> If woman is married: the presumption is that he's the father of the children.
• >>>> If living together as H+W, nearly irrebuttable (need clear and convincing evidence)
• >>>>>> Poss evidence; complete lack of sexual access OR physical impossibility.
• >>>>>> AND: even if rebutted, there's Paternity by Estoppel: if accept role of father, hold child out at son, can't evade paternity.
• >> If woman unmarried: paternity suit.
• >> Court can order a blood test or a party can request one through the court.
• >> Once adjudicated, final. Res judicata.

• (2) Child Support:
• >> Each parent much provide for the child up to age 18 or emancipation (completes high school, married, ect.).
• >>>> May extend beyond 18 IF: child has a phys/mental disability, existing when he reaches 18, that prevents him from being self-supporting. Also may endure if kid has a drug addiction such that he's not able ro secure employment and is dependent on his parents.
• >> If non-custody parent, only need to provide if there is a court order requiring provision.
• >>>> KEY: Parties are not living together. If live together, obligation satisfied with rents checks, groceries, ect.
• >> ALGORITHM: Discretion of the court, but it has to set out its rationale on the record.
• >> HEALTH CARE: Court order must also include a prevision re: health care for the child if it is not an unreasonable burden on the non-custodial parent (less than 5% monthly income).
• >> DURATION: Continues until the child reaches the age of maturity (18).

MODIFICATION: If payor gets hurt, suffers an injury, the amount of the child support can be reduced. However, if payor has good fortune, ie. wins the lottery, can be raised.

TERMINATION: Automatically terminations on the death of the parent or child.

• IF PARENT MOVES OUT OF STATE: The uniform support statute provides for the direct enforcement of court orders across state lines -- an order from one state can be mailed to an employer in another state and wages, as a result, can be garnished. The court that issued the original order maintains exclusive jdx SO LONG AS one parent remains in that state -- continuous and exclusive jdx prevents inconsistent orders.
• >> Key: Either send to his employer in another state, or to a court.
• >> Can also file a claim and intercept tax refunds. And if a parent wins the lottery, can claim a percentage.

TAX: Child support payments NEITHER deductible as alimony NOR includible as income to the custodial parent.

• GEN: Two custody types --
• (1) Legal Custody: Which parent makes legal decisions affecting the best interests of a minor child.
• (2) Physical Custody: Actual physical possession and control.
• >> Court may award shared legal custody, shared physical custody or both to assure that a child will have frequent and continuing contact and physical access to both parents.

• EFFECT: When custody order is issued, valid under the child reaches the age of majority (18).
• MODIF: Can modify as a result of changed circumstances, but must show (1) a changed circumstance affecting the best interest of the child.
• >> NOTE: If change filed when one parent is away on duty (military), then the court can only make a temp change.
• STANDARD: Best interests of the child.
• >> Interests and wishes of the parties, and if the child is over 12, the child's interest.
• >> Physical and mental conditions of the parents (emotional circumstances, abuse?)
• >> Whether a parent is living w/ another person
• >> Domestic violence?
• >> No child should be given to a parent conficted of killing the other.

• JOINT CUSTODY: Parents get along with each other? Live near each other?
• EXCLUSIVE CUSTODY: Visitation almost always permitted.
• >> Contempt of court to deny or interfere with visitation.

• JDX: HOME STATE RULE (GEN) -- home state of the child in the present or recent past (6 months) where a parent continues to live in that state. Child must have lived in the state for at least six consecutive months immediately before commencement of the proceedings.
• >> If no hom state, can use courts in the state where a parent has a signif. connection and there's sub evidence re: child in that state.
• >> Note: state has temporary emergency jdx in situations of abuse/abandonment.

STANDARD: Best interests of the child.

• GEN: If non-parent wants custody, first must show standing --
• (1) Statute proving standing; OR
• >> GPARENTS: One parent of the child is deceased, the parents have commenced divorce proceeding or been separated for 6 months, or the child lived w/ them for a year or longer.
• >> NOTE: Parents interest should be given special weight.
• (2) With no statute, show in LOCO PARENTIS -- acted as a parent with consent of a biological parent.
• >> Note: good for same sex couples -- provides standing for non-bio partners.

• PRESUMPTION: Live with the biological parent.
• >> Even if a kid moved from good circumstances, courts are inclined to side with biological parents.

• GEN: Standing requires standing grant through a statute or a showing of in LOCO PARENTIS.
• KEY: Must show stong need to visit child -- trumping due process right by requiring state to encroach on parents' rights.
• NOTE: If all non-parents show is a desire to visit, they fail.

NOTE: Uphill battle.

NOTE: Spousal support may be awarded to a spouse at any time during the course of the marriage, even when no divorce proceedings have been or will be initiated.

BUT: NO support if guilty of conduct that would be grounds for divorce.

• BIO PARENTS CONSENT (AND VETO POWER)
• CHILD LESS THAN 12: Biological parents' consent needed if child is less than 12.
• CHILD OLDER THAN 12: need child's consent AND bio parents.
• CHILD INCAPACITATED: Need consent of guardian if not parents.
• WHERE ADOPTER MARRIED: If married and wish to adopt, need the consent of your spouse.
• WHERE OTHERS HAVE CUSTODY: Need consent of current custodian as well as bio parents.

• WHERE SIGNS OF ABANDONMENT/NEGLECT:
• GEN: Adopting party may seek to terminate bio parents' rights without consent if
• (1) Abandonment: not performing parent responsibilities for at least six months.
• (2) Abuse
• (3) Neglect: failure to provide food, clothing ,ect.

NEXT STEP: Following consent or demand if not needed, investigate prospective adopters.

HEARING: Best interests of the child. If adopted, same relationship as biological parents.