Family is the most fundamental and essential part of any society. Today, families come in all forms. Some can consist of step-parents and siblings, adopted children, non-custodial parents, and domestic partners. No matter the makeup of a family, it is the most important aspect in one’s life and is worth fighting for.

Any legal matter concerning loved ones can be a very emotional time. This is especially true when children are involved, but it is never wise to make important decisions, especially those which will have a profound effect on others, based on one’s emotions. Instead, it is best to seek legal counseling from an attorney who will understand your needs and protect your interests.

As an experienced Pittsburgh Family Law Attorney, I can assist in all legal matters concerning family law, including adoption, divorce, premarital agreements, and visitation rights.

Laws concerning family matters differ from state to state and can be overwhelming to the average person. That is why it is important for anyone who is seeking to get a divorce, a premarital agreement, visitation rights, an adopted child, or any other legal matter pertaining to these issues, to talk to a lawyer who is qualified and knows the laws in your state.

I am knowledgeable of the laws in Pennsylvania and can provide you with the legal representation you deserve in the following practice areas:

• Family Law
• Divorce
• Child Custody
• Child Support
• Divorce
• Adoption
• Father’s Rights
• Spousal Support (Alimony)
• Property Division
• Exclusive Possession
• Dealing with Creditors
• Child-rearing Issues
• Premarital Agreements

The practice of law is a privilege. I respect the law in this fashion. When you combine this respect with my genuine desire to help individuals, the outcome is a hard-working and caring attorney.

Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I have 35 years of experience. I provide excellent legal work to my clients in a courteous, ethical and timely manner. I deliver this service at a reasonable fee, while keeping expenses under control. I take a personal interest in my clients and give them the service, value and attention I seek in my own relationships. Many clients, family, and friends of clients have sought my legal services.

Regardless of the County in Pennsylvania, I can assist you. If your case is in a different state, then I will conduct research to locate an inexpensive competent lawyer in your area, and I will work with this attorney for no additional fee. His or her regular fees will be your fee.

I offer free appointments or telephone advice. A client will not be charged excessive fees. My depth of experience as a skilled Pittsburgh Family Law Attorney is available twenty-four hours every day. If necessary, another attorney or I will visit a client at his or her home. Since my practice covers a broad range of legal areas, I am able to handle divorces in an efficient fashion. All issues will be understood by me.

Estate Planning Services
My experience with estate planning law can also benefit your family law case. Proper estate planning is important to ensure that your invaluable legacy is not wasted, and that loved ones are cared for according to your wishes. Avoiding probate costs, expensive court proceedings and unnecessary taxes are important elements in preserving the integrity of your estate. My estate planning expertise includes:

• Estate Planning/ Wills
• Guardianships/ Powers of Attorney
• Living Wills/ Medical Directives
• Probate/ Estate Administration
• Testamentary Trusts
• Will Contest Litigation
• Estate Litigation
• Conservatorships
• Guardianships
• Estate Tax Returns
• Private Annuities and Charitable Trusts
  

If you or someone you know in Pennsylvania needs the assistance of an experienced Pittsburgh Family Law Attorney, call Paul Goltz today at 866-284-9197, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your free consultation.

Practice Areas and Legal Definitions

Divorce:
A court of law is the only way one can obtain a divorce decree, dissolution, legal separation, nullity or other form of terminating a marriage.  Other than the termination of the marital estate, the court also has jurisdiction to resolve other issues that are intertwined in the existing marriage which include, but are not limited to: custody and visitation rights, division of property of the marital estate, spousal support, child support, restraining orders, etc.

Property and Debt Division:
Marital property attained during marriage, regardless of whose name it is under, can be divided.  Marital property can include real estate (including a home bought in contemplation of marriage), pension plans, vehicles, bank accounts, income tax refunds and/or household furnishings.  However, property that is inherited by one spouse is not considered marital property, i.e. a family business or estate.  If you are contractually bound with your ex-spouse on a debt, the creditor can require the entire payment of that debt from your share of the community property even though the divorce decree assigns the debt to your ex-spouse.  Depending on the terms of your divorce decree, you may be able to have certain support obligations under the divorce decree determined to be non-dischargeable by the bankruptcy court or in state court.

Prenuptial Agreements:
A prenuptial, or premarital agreement (often referred to as a "pre-nup") is a written contract created by two individuals who plan to be married.  This agreement lists all individually owned property, such as homes and businesses, family assets, stocks and bonds, savings accounts as well as debts, and specifies what will and will not remain individually owned property after the legalization of marriage.  Prenuptial agreements also specify whether spousal support will be paid in the event of a divorce, and the intentions regarding distribution of individually owned property upon death.

A factor that cannot be stipulated in a prenuptial agreement is child support.  A couple cannot lawfully agree in a prenuptial agreement that either part will in no way be responsible for child support.  Also, a few states do not allow prenuptial agreements to modify or eliminate the right of a spouse to receive court-ordered alimony at divorce, although a prenuptial agreement can facilitate in the degree of compensation.

Child Custody:
Custody is the charge and control of a child, including the right to make all major decisions such as education, religious upbringing, training, health and welfare.  Custody usually refers to a combination of physical custody and legal custody.  Many factors influence an award of custody and the way a case is presented in court can have a large impact on the result for you and your children.  If you are awarded the children as a primary custodial parent, it has far reaching consequences both to you and to their well-being and development.

Child Support:
Child support is a periodic payment made to a custodial parent from a non-custodial parent to help compensate a child's living expenses, i.e. food, clothes, etc., and any other related debts.  When one parent is awarded sole custody, as in the event of a divorce, the non-custodial parent is required to fulfill his or her child support obligation by making set payments, whereas the custodial parent meets his or her support obligation through the custody itself.  When parents are awarded joint custody in a divorce, however, the support obligation is shared and is based on a ratio of each parent's income and the amount of time the child spends with each parent.

The obligation to support minor children cannot be waived by either parent and is a right enjoyed by the child, not the parent.  Each state has guidelines that factor the amount of child support, such as the amount of time spent with the child, the income of both parents and the standard of living the child is accustomed to.  The court may allow deductions for items such as catastrophic medical expenses and travel expenses for visitation.

Jurisdictional Issues:
When faced with a relocating custodial parent, the court will general require that parent to give the other parent a minimum amount of notice prior to the anticipated move.  This notice gives the non-custodial parent an opportunity to go to court and seek orders restraining the relocation of the child. 

These so-called move away cases have gone back and forth on allowing and disallowing a move by the custodial parent with the minor children for over 20 years.  While the best interests of the child have always been central to the decision, the uncertainty has made this area murky.  Prior to the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, when parents sought an advantage in a custody tug-of-war, they would move to a "friendly" jurisdiction (that is, a region with a history of rulings favorable to their position). However, after the UCCJA was adopted by all 50 states, family law courts were forced to defer jurisdiction to the home state, and this custody battle tactic lost favor.

Spousal Support (Alimony):
Alimony is temporary or permanent financial support paid from one separated spouse to the other, either in one lump sum or in installments.  Alimony is designed to provide the lower-income spouse with money for living expenses over and above the money provided by child support.  Alimony differs from child support because it is at the discretion of the judge.  Child support is usually determined by state-sanctioned guidelines.

There are several factors a judge considers when deciding whether to grant alimony. These differ from state to state, of course, but they usually involve things like the parties' relative ability to earn money, both now and in the future; their respective age and health; the length of the marriage; the kind of property involved, and the conduct of the parties. In general, about the only time a judge will award alimony in most states is where one spouse has been economically dependent on the other spouse for most of a lengthy marriage.

Adoption:
Adoption is the legal process by which a person becomes a lawful member of a family different from their birth family.  Once a final order of adoption has been ruled by a court of law, the adoptive parents gain the same rights and responsibilities as parents whose children are born to them; subsequently, an adopted child gains the same rights as birth children in regard to inheritance, child support and other legal matters.  In most U.S. jurisdictions, at the time the adoption is finalized, the adopted child's name is legally changed and the court orders the issuance of a new, amended birth certificate.

Divorce Mediation:
The basic attitude marking divorce mediation is a focus on solving problems, not fighting the fight. Family mediation is a voluntary process which gives a divorcing or separating couple the opportunity to make their own arrangements for their financial and personal future, while protecting themselves and their children from distress and the needless expense of litigation.  The strength of a mediated agreement is that it is built by both parties together in an open process that requires all participants to recognize and make accommodation for the needs of the other participants, often without having to compromise one’s own.

While no two situations are alike, the emphasis in a mediated approach is to achieve a satisfactory settlement in an efficient, cooperative manner.  This might include "four-way" settlement conferences where the parties meet along with their divorce mediation lawyers to work on a settlement.  The philosophy of Divorce Mediation is that as much effort should be exerted toward settlement as is traditionally spent in preparation for and conducting a trial.

Paternity:
Paternity covers all the matters related to proving the parentage of a child or children. For married couples, paternity of a child is assumed to be the spouse, unless there is a court order or judgment stating otherwise. For unwed parents, paternity can be established by signing an Affidavit of Parentage or by filing a paternity action with the court.

Legally establishing paternity or determining that someone is not the parent of child can have a significant impact on divorce settlements, property division, child custody, child support and the ability to move out of state.  Determinations of paternity can also have a significant impact on interstate conflict between unwed parents.

If you or someone you know in Pennsylvania needs the assistance of an experienced Pittsburgh Family Law Attorney, call Paul Goltz today at 866-284-9197, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your free consultation.

If you or someone you know in Pennsylvania needs the assistance of an experienced Pittsburgh Family Law Attorney, call Paul Goltz today at 866-284-9197, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your free consultation.

ADDRESS OF THE FIRM:
Law Office of Paul M. Goltz
810 Allegheny Building
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Telephone: 866-284-9197
Fax: 412-281-3132

MEMBERS OF THE FIRM:

Paul M. Goltz
Paul Goltz  is a 1973 graduate of the Duquesne University School of Law. He is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association. His practice concentrates in all aspects of litigation for plaintiffs and defendants, including but not limited to, personal injury, criminal law, divorce, debt relief, civil litigation, collection law, commercial law, construction law, corporate and LLC start-up, wills, estates, employment law, landlord/tenant, social security, workers compensation, business matters, adoption, real estate, elder law, tax issues, school problems, professional state board licenses and immigration. He is admitted in all state and federal courts in Pennsylvania. Mr. Goltz is married with three children and resides in Wexford, Pennsylvania.