Lancaster Law Blog : Lancaster PA Lawyer & Attorney : Russell Krafft & Gruber Law Firm : Pennsylvania : Lancaster's Legal Link

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Do-it-yourself projects, like remodeling your bathroom or building a deck, can save money and provide a sense of accomplishment by doing something on your own that you would ordinarily hire another person to do. With any do-it-yourself project there are risks involved, such as increased cost if you have to hire a professional in the end or if your inexperience causes other damage. 

The internet has allowed individuals to perform some legal functions on their own. Many government websites, for example, offer forms with detailed instructions that can be very helpful for people seeking to help themselves with certain issues. There are also websites that offer forms and additional services for a fee. These websites are required to stop short of offering legal advice because they are not law firms, which is made very clear on LegalZoom's website: "LegalZoom is not a law firm, and the employees of LegalZoom are not acting as your attorney….if you need legal advice for your specific problem, or if your specific problem is too complex to be addressed by our tools, you should consult a licensed attorney in your area." Because these sites are not law firms, they are also not subject to the rules that govern lawyers. This is why they are able to do things lawyers can't do, such as use celebrity endorsements. 

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Some significant changes and additions to the custody statute in Pennsylvania went into effect recently. The majority of the changes or additions to the custody statute are an attempt to take the factors, standards and practices which have been carved out over the years through Court cases and appellate decisions and consolidate them within the statute. While these may not make a significant substantive change to the custody law, they still have the potential to affect many custody cases filed after the law goes into effect this week. 

One of the most significant additions to the statute is the inclusion of sixteen specific factors which, if applicable, the Court must consider. The overall goal is still to determine what is in the best interest of the child but these specific factors that are now set out in the statute provide some guidance and uniformity for judges, attorneys and parents to specifically consider in evaluating cases and concerns in custody matters. A few examples of these factors are:

• Which party will encourage and permit continuing contact with the other party
• Parental duties performed by the parties on behalf of the child
• Sibling relationships
• The well-reasoned preference of the child based on the child's age and maturity
• Proximity of residences of the parties
• Attempt of one party to turn the child against the other party

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The news each day seems to be filled with headlines about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. With the withdrawal of U.S. combat forces in Iraq and the return of many of them to the United States, a recent Amendment to the Pennsylvania Divorce Code is likely to be put into use more frequently. 

At the end of 2008, the Divorce Code was amended to prevent the Court from changing a custody order where a parent is a servicemember and has been deployed, except on a temporary basis. The Court may make a temporary change to the order if it would serve the best interests of the child to do so while the servicemember is deployed. This part of the new law is not that different from all other custody procedures, which look to the best interests of the child as a guide. 

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One of the most hotly-contested issues facing Judges in custody cases is whether to allow a custodial parent to relocate to another state with the children. This has become quite common, particularly as people have made and developed relationships through the internet. Relocation cases are difficult for all parties involved: the non-custodial parent is shocked and horrified at the prospect of losing regular contact with his or her children and the prospect of not being able to move to a perceived better opportunity is equally difficult for the custodial parent. Often, these cases are not able to be resolved through the custody conciliation process and they end up at a hearing before a Judge.

My practice is to remind clients involved in all custody litigation, including relocation cases, that the Judge deciding the case is a stranger making decisions about what is in the best interest of your family. He or she has no prior knowledge of your family, you and your ex-partner's history, your children's behaviors, likes and dislikes. Depending on your case, it can be helpful or can add to your burden.