Montgomery County Family Law Blog

When a marriage in Pennsylvania begins to hit rocky waters, financial secrets can begin to grow. Some of these hidden finances can be especially troubling during a divorce, where they may originate as an attempt to deny a spouse his or her fair share of marital property. While many people are able to end their marriages without recriminations or schemes, it is important for individuals going through a more high-conflict divorce to be aware of red flags that could point to hidden funds or other financial secrets.

When one spouse's spending habits suddenly change, this could point to someone squirreling money away in a hidden account. It could simply point to new hobbies, but it can also be an indication of an extramarital relationship. Affairs can be costly, involving dinners out, hotel rooms or gifts. Some people may rent a second apartment or otherwise take on large expenses when conducting a secondary relationship. These kinds of financial changes can indicate a number of troubling problems that could indicate the end of a marriage.

It’s not uncommon for men to feel like the courts favor women in custody battles. This bias stems from our culture’s roots — when women were not able to work, but instead cared for the children and the home.

Today, however, these ideas are recognized as dated and sexist. If you believe the courts may hold a bias against you for being a man, following these tips can help you prove your dedication as a father.

As anyone in Pennsylvania who's had their marriage dissolved knows, divorce can be an arduous process for the parents and even more for the children. It involves breaking up a family and permanently changing a living situation that the children had grown accustomed to.

Given how unsettling the whole divorce process may be for the young ones, parents should do everything in their power to make the transition as smooth as possible. For starters, parents would do well to put themselves in their kids' shoes and ask themselves how each decision they make during the divorce affects their children. Additionally, when setting a parenting schedule, parents ought to take into account the children's school schedule as well as any other activities the children may be involved in; at the end of the day, what matters most is to minimize the disruption felt by the kids. In the same vein of minimizing disruption, it behooves parents to think about the logistics of their children's lives, especially if both parents will live far apart from each other.

Divorced parents are encouraged to cooperate with each other in the interest of their child’s development and overall happiness. If you are working toward a positive co-parent relationship with your ex, or have already established one, you may worry that “stirring the pot” could mess everything up.

On the other hand, if you’re unable to make ends meet with the current child support amount, you may not have a choice but to seek a modification.