On September 29, 2009, Matt Grosh and I served as faculty members at a training session for Certified New Home Sales Professionals, which was held at the Lancaster County Association of Realtors. The three-day training was focused on marketing and selling new construction and offered continuing education credits to real estate agents with varied
Thoughts on Seminar – Landlord & Tenant Law: Beyond the Basics
On Tuesday, June 2, 2009, I served as a faculty member for "Landlord & Tenant Law: Beyond the Basics". The seminar was offered by Sterling Education Services, Inc., and approximately twenty-five people from varying backgrounds attended. Although there were lawyers in attendance, the majority of the participants were property managers and landlords who deal with
East Lampeter Township Agricultural Land Use Issue Decided by Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court
East Lampeter Township lost its appeal to the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court in the case of In Re: Agricultural Security Area in East Lampeter Township. The case is an ongoing battle between the township and a group of Amish farmers who wish to create an Agricultural Security Area (ASA) for their properties in East Lampeter
Child Labor Laws and Jon & Kate Plus 8
Lately, everywhere you look you can find news about “Jon and Kate Plus 8” from Berks County. It is one of the top stories on WGAL’s website today and the Sunday News featured a story on the front page about their former home in Lancaster County. While I tend to tire of the inundation of celebrity news
Willow Valley Resort could have Liquor License by Fall 2009
In his post on May 20, Matthew Grosh addressed the effect of the referendum lifting the alcohol sales ban in West Lampeter Township. Yesterday morning an article in the Intelligencer Journal addressed some of the same issues. As there is a significant amount of local interest in this issue, I would like to provide some additional
Managing Your Support Order in the Face of Decreased Earnings
No one is immune from the realties of today’s economy. Since the economic downturn I have had a number of inquiries from clients regarding their Child Support Order if they are laid off or are receiving support payments from a payor who has been laid off.
First, if you pay support and you experience a decrease in your income due to a layoff, a decrease in the number of hours you are able to work, or a reduction in your salary and/or bonuses, your monthly child support obligation could be reduced. Under the Pennsylvania Support Guidelines, a payor’s support obligation is based on the parties’ combined monthly net incomes. If your monthly net income decreases, it is likely that your support obligation will decrease as well, provided that the payee has not had a decrease in his/her income and child care expenses have not changed. It’s advisable to contact an attorney to assist and advise you about recalculating your support obligation using your most recent paystubs, unemployment statements or 2008 W-2’s.
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Consider a Prenuptial Agreement to Protect Your Assets
Traditionally, you may have thought that a prenuptial agreement is common only among the rich and famous. However, a prenuptial agreement can be beneficial to any person considering marriage, regardless of the size of your personal wealth. Here are some reasons why you should consider having a prenuptial agreement in place prior to tying the
Lancaster County Domestic Relations Office Moves
There is an adage that "change does not necessarily assure progress but progress requires change". In the case of the Lancaster County Domestic Relations Office, the change in office location assures progress. The office recently moved from its previous location on East King Street to a new location on the second floor of 150 North Queen Street, Lancaster, the former Armstrong building. Parking on that block of Queen Street is prohibited so be sure to park in either the Prince Street or Duke Street garage.
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New Child Support Guidelines Proposed
Pursuant to federal law, the statewide support guidelines must be reviewed at least once every four (4) years. The support guidelines currently in place were adopted in September 2005 and became effective in January 2006. Recently, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Domestic Relations Procedural Rules Committee published for comment new child support guidelines. The public comment