- Divorce
- Child SupportIn Pennsylvania, child support is determined by the Pennsylvania Support Guidelines which is a formula that considers both parents’ incomes, the number of children at issue, multi-family support considerations, expenses, and other factors. Once a complaint for support is filed with the Office of Domestic Relations in the appropriate county, the court schedules a support conference in order to calculate the appropriate amount of support. I utilize a software program that recreates the calculations used by the Office of Domestic Relations. While it may not be necessary that you have an attorney attend the initial support conference with you, I always recommend that clients meet with me first in order to educate themselves about what to expect at the conference and know in advance the likely outcome.
- Child Custody and VisitationI encourage clients to work custody issues out with the other parent if at all possible, especially at the time of initial separation. This should be the first step towards an effective long term co-parenting arrangement and it minimizes costs, time, and most importantly additional stress on the children. It also allows the parents and not the court system to determine the best arrangement for their family, instead of having one imposed upon them. However, I understand that there will be times when parents cannot work together, especially when there are allegations of neglect or substance abuse. If an agreement cannot be reached, I zealously advocate for my client through the conciliation process and in court if necessary. Contact my Harrisburg office today for more information on how I can help you with your child custody issues.
- Adoption
- Premarital Agreement
- GuardianshipA power of attorney is a document that allows one person, known as the principal, to delegate to an agent the right to perform legal acts on his or her behalf. Such acts might include signing contracts, paying bills, filing taxes or consenting to admission into a nursing home or other long term care facility. A power of attorney is especially important in the event an individual becomes mentally incapacitated due to an accident, disease or the aging process. If the unforeseen occurs and an individual becomes incapacitated without a power of attorney in place then the family will need to petition the court for guardianship, a lengthy and costly
- Spousal SupportDivorce can be financially unsettling for an individual who was financially dependent upon his or her spouse. Spousal support, also known as alimony pendente lite (APL), is a predetermined amount of money paid from one spouse to the other while the divorce action is pending. Alimony is an amount paid to the dependent spouse after the divorce is finalized. The goal of both spousal support/APL and alimony is to provide the receiving spouse with enough income to maintain a lifestyle similar to that established in marriage.
- Estate PlanningWhether you’re planning distribution of your assets upon your passing, seeking a power of attorney or want to establish parameters for your future medical care Diane S. Baker, Esquire, can help with all aspects estate planning, including...
- WillsYou work hard for your family, so knowing that you have planned for their long-term wellbeing and financial security can bring you comfort. Your last will and testament provides the opportunity for you to distribute your property, establish care for your minor children and otherwise express your wishes upon your death. If you die without a will, the court determines which of your family members receive your property, who cares for your children and even what happens to your pet. These might not be decisions that reflect your
- Power of AttorneyProcess. Contact Diane S. Baker if you would like a power of attorney that assures that your chosen family member(s) can act on your behalf if necessary.
- Probate