Family Law
The Delaware County family law attorneys of Raffaele Puppio know that when we provide legal counsel in matters of family law, we are assisting our clients with life-changing decisions. Being accessible and responsive is not enough; family law litigation can be time-consuming and emotionally draining. We service our clients with a great degree of sensitivity and emotional intelligence.
We counsel clients in matters of divorce, equitable distribution of property, alimony and spousal support, child support; child custody; domestic violence; prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, adoption, and more. We supplement our own experience with outside expertise to help you achieve the best possible outcome for you and your children. Our attorneys collaborate often with the region’s top specialists in fields such as forensic accounting, business and professional practice evaluation, custody evaluation, psychiatry and psychology.
Our clients further benefit from the fact that their divorce attorney will be backed by the resources of the entire firm, which is well-respected in Delaware County and known to the judges and administrators of the court system. We consult often with our colleagues in other practice groups within the firm in order to develop problem-solving strategies. Our team approach provides a competitive advantage to our clients.
Our attorneys have held positions in the court system and offices in the Family Law Section of the local Bar Association. We are committed to continuing legal education to remain current in an ever-changing area of the law.
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Recent News
Raffaele Puppio Welcomes New Delaware County Family Attorney
Delaware County full-service law firm Raffaele Puppio is pleased to welcome family law attorney Alexandra H. Junkin, Esq. to the firm. Read More...
Pennsylvania Family Law Attorney to Speak at National Business Institute Seminar
Delaware County family lawyer to present CLE on complex family law issues Read More...
Raffaele Puppio Partners Named Among 2016 PA Super Lawyers
Delaware County full-service law firm Raffaele Puppio is pleased to announce that partners Michael A. Raffaele and Gabrielle Goham have been named 2016 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers. Read More...
Getting Divorced: What to Expect
Common questions about divorce are answered in this article from Family Advocate. Read More...
From The Blog
Know Thy Trust: A Plain English Guide to Orchestrating Assets in Divorce Cases
March 13, 2019Living trusts and testamentary trusts are an essential part of a complete estate plan, but they can be challenging to set up and difficult to understand how they work. Trusts in divorce cases must be especially scrutinized, along with other estate documents, to help avoid any bad situations. Published by the American Bar Association, “Know... Read More...
Protection from Abuse…and Harassment
March 7, 2019It is the day before Thanksgiving, November 22, 2017. You are standing in open court seeking a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order against the shackled person in an orange jumpsuit accused of physically abusing you for years and charged with simple assault, intimidation of a witness, stalking, and harassment. The judge presiding over your case... Read More...
Truth or Consequences: Why Honesty is the Best Policy When Dealing With Your Lawyer
February 28, 2019In a divorce, all parties want to be treated fairly. It’s important to choose an attorney that you are comfortable with and feel that you can share personal information freely and honestly. When first meeting with a new attorney, be organized and know your goals, assets and debts, finances and marital themes of conflict. At... Read More...
Pennsylvania Alimony and Equitable Reimbursement
February 21, 2019In Pennsylvania, marital assets and debts are divided in a process called “Equitable Distribution.” During this process, the courts also decide whether alimony will be awarded to the dependent spouse. The “dependent spouse” is a term that may be used to describe the spouse with the lower income during the marriage or a spouse who... Read More...
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Affected by the Opioid Epidemic in Pennsylvania
December 13, 2018Approximately 2.6 million children are being raised by grandparents in the United States and that number continues to rise. In Pennsylvania, more than 100,000 children are being raised by grandparents or other relatives. Pennsylvania has been hit hard by the opioid epidemic. As of the publishing of this blog, thousands of residents have died from... Read More...
Federal Tax Reform Effect on Alimony Deductions in 2019
November 29, 2018When parties file for divorce there are usually two main issues that need to be addressed before the parties will receive a decree in divorce: How the marital property is distributed between them – think: houses, bank accounts, investments, retirement accounts, etc. If one party must pay the other alimony. Alimony is not always awarded,... Read More...
Three Types of Spousal Support in Pennsylvania: How Are They Awarded?
October 3, 2018Three different types of spousal support exist in Pennsylvania: spousal support, alimony pendente lite, and alimony. When examining these types of support, the spouse with a lower income is often referred to as the “dependent” spouse. Spousal support is available only for parties who are separated but have not yet filed for divorce. After a... Read More...
Protecting Your Children Before, During, and After Your Divorce
August 29, 2018When going through a divorce, your children need special attention before, during and after your divorce to help them get through this very difficult time. Published by the American Bar Association, “Protecting Your Children Before, During, and After Your Divorce” outlines ways of helping your children get through the struggle of divorce. The recommendations start... Read More...
Educational Decisions for Children After Divorce in Pennsylvania
July 31, 2018When creating a custody order a court must make decisions regarding both physical custody and legal custody of children. Physical custody dictates who a child lives with and when. The State of Pennsylvania defines legal custody as, “The right to make major decisions on behalf of the child, including, but not limited to, medical, religious and... Read More...
Exclusive Possession of the Family Home in Delaware County, PA
May 30, 2018During a pending divorce matter, the court has the power to award to a party the right to exclusively reside in the marital residence, otherwise known as “exclusive possession.” To be awarded exclusive possession of a residence the party must file a Petition for Exclusive Possession with the court. Unless both parties agree that that... Read More...