Law in the Family

Latest Episodes:

Episode 21 - Assisted Reproductive Methods and the Law | Elizabeth Vaysman Nov 10, 2022

Show notes

In episode 21 of the Law in the Family podcast, host and family law attorney Aaron Weems talks with attorney Elizabeth Vaysman. Reproductive technologies and the law are both evolving at a rapid pace. Elizabeth helps decipher some of the concepts that make up the contracts that help people have families.

Elizabeth is an attorney in the Family Law Department of Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP and an adoption Fellow in the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA). She focuses her practice on all aspects of adoption and reproductive law matters in Southeast Pennsylvania and the Greater Philadelphia area. Elizabeth represents clients in family building needs, consulting them on the legal process to review their options, such as between private or public adoption or pursuing assisted reproduction, and provides next steps and referrals to begin. Learn more about Elizabeth and her practice: https://www.obermayer.com/our-team/elizabeth-vaysman

Five Things to Know About Embryo Adoption Article:
https://www.obermayerfamilymatters.com/2022/05/five-things-to-know-about-embryo-adoption/

Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA):
https://adoptionart.org/

Child Welfare Information Gateway on Adoption:
https://www.childwelfare.gov/catalog/topiclist/?CWIGFunctionsaction=publicationCatalog:main.dspTopicsDetail&topicID=8

American Society for Reproductive Medicine on Reproductive Resources:
https://www.reproductivefacts.org/

*audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

Episode 20 - The Secrets of Our Family Wizard: Exploring the Known and Unknown Functionality of OFW | Michelle "Elle" Barr Oct 20, 2022

Show notes

In episode 20 of the Law in the Family podcast, host and family law attorney Aaron Weems talks with Michelle “Elle” Barr. She brings her deep knowledge of the use of Our Family Wizard as both a practicing attorney and as an education director for OFW. Elle’s insight is a must-hear for attorneys and clients alike who use OFW.

Elle is an experienced court attorney with a demonstrated history of working in the legal services industry, and with a deep commitment to children and families. She also serves as a Judicial Education Coordinator for OurFamilyWizard.

OurFamilyWizard | OurFamilyWizard

*audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

Episode 19 - Protections From Abuse: When a Civil Action Results in Years in Prison | Mark Ashton Oct 06, 2022

Show notes

In episode 19 of the Law in the Family podcast, host and family law attorney Aaron Weems talks with Mark Ashton. Mark has been a presence in family law for decades. He brings his analysis to the Seagraves case, a PFA that resulted in an indirect criminal contempt sentence of over 10 years, and discusses with us the unintended consequences a PFA can create in many areas of the law.

Mark practices in the area of civil litigation with a particular emphasis on family law. He has lectured throughout the Commonwealth and has written extensively on family law. After serving as judicial clerk to the Honorable Mason Avrigian on the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, Mark was associated with Abrahams and Loewenstein, and later chaired the Domestic Relations Group at Riley, Riper, Hollin & Colagreco. A longtime officer in the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Mark served as the 2016 Family Law Section chair. He is the former president of the Doris J. Freed American Inn of Court, a group of 60 attorneys in the Philadelphia area concentrating in family law. Additionally, he served as a board member of the Montgomery Bar Association and Historic Yellow Springs, Inc. where he also was President from 2009-2012.

RECIDIVIST CONTEMPT YIELDS 10.5 YEAR SENTENCE IN NORTHAMPTON COUNTY ABUSE CASE. | Pennsylvania Family Law (foxrothschild.com)

Segreaves v. Segreaves, 1716 EDA 2021 | Casetext Search + Citator

*audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

Episode 18 - A Contested Adoption: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court Reverses a Parental Termination | Chelsey Christiansen Sep 22, 2022

Show notes

In episode 18 of the Law in the Family podcast, cohosts and family law attorneys Aaron Weems & Anthony Hoover talk with Chelsey Christiansen. She was court-appointed to a contested adoption case, and ended up arguing before the Supreme Court on her birthday. Chelsey shares with us the unusual procedural and factual background of a contested trial and the impact of a party seeking custody of a child.

Chelsey A. Christiansen focuses her practice on family and juvenile law, litigation, child custody, divorce, child support, and child advocacy. Ms. Christiansen has experience representing clients in family law matters at the mediation, arbitration, trial, and appellate level. She also has experience providing litigation support to commercial clients, including drafting pleadings and representing the interests of commercial clients in small claims court.

Christiansen Prevails Before PA Supreme Court | High Swartz

https://highswartz.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/supreme-court-pa.pdf

*audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

Episode 17 - Meet Incoming Family Law Section Chair Darren Holst | Darren Holst Aug 11, 2022

Show notes

In episode 17 of the Law in the Family podcast, cohosts and family law attorneys Aaron Weems & Anthony Hoover talk with incoming chair of the PBA Family Law Section, Darren Holst. They discuss his goals and plans for his year as section chair, and ways attorneys across the state can benefit from being involved in the section.

Darren Holst is a partner with the Pennsylvania family law firm of Howett, Kissinger & Holst PC. He focuses his practice on matrimonial law. Darren handles cases including complex divorce, child custody, and child support. He frequently finds himself in trial and appellate courts protecting the rights of his clients. Previously, Darren served as the clerk to Judge Samuel A. Kline of the Lebanon County Court of Common Pleas. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Harrisburg Area Community College, where he instructs paralegals on areas including legal research, writing, ethics and core substantive law such as contracts, torts, criminal law, real property, business law and family law.

Darren Holst - Howett, Kissinger & Holst PC (hkhlaw.net)

*audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

Episode 16 - Family Law Section Unveils Co-Parenting Video | Helen Casale Jul 06, 2022

Show notes

In episode 16 of the Law in the Family podcast, cohosts and family law attorneys Aaron Weems & Anthony Hoover talk with Section Chair Helen Casale. They discuss the release of a co-parenting video created and produced by the Section, as a resource for parents and attorneys to help develop better co-parenting relationships and better outcomes for children.

Helen Casale is the 2021-22 chair of the PBA Family Law Section and a shareholder at Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller in Norristown. She concentrates her practice on all aspects of family law, often taking on the most complicated cases. Helen is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. She has ranked as one of the top 50 female attorneys in Pennsylvania every year since 2011 by Pennsylvania Super Lawyermagazine, received the Philadelphia Busines Journal’s 40 Under 40 award and was named a Lawyer on the Fast Track by The Legal Intelligencer and Philadelphia Law Weekly.

*audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

Episode 15 - Dealing with Grandparents and Third Party Custody Rights | Janine Dunlap Kiah Jun 22, 2022

Show notes

In episode 15 of the Law in the Family podcast, cohosts and family law attorneys Aaron Weems & Anthony Hoover talk with Janine Dunlap Kiah from the SeniorLAW Center. The SeniorLAW Center is the only pro bono organization specializing in grandparent custody cases. Volunteer opportunities exist across the state from in-person pro bono representation to serving on the Center’s hotline to advise and assist parties in need.

Anyone interested in volunteering should contact the SeniorLAW Center’s Legal Director, Dana Goldberg:
dgoldberg@SeniorLAWCenter.org

Janine Dunlap Kiah is the director for the Pursuing Justice for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in Pennsylvania projectat SeniorLAW Center, based in Philadelphia, PA. In this role, she manages a federally funded statewide initiative poised to increase access to legal representation, education, and resources to older adults caring for children when the biological parents are absent. Prior to joining SeniorLAW Center, Janine practiced family law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey since 1997. She earned her J.D. from Villanova University School of Law and a B.A. in Vocal Music from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. Janine resides in Philadelphia with her wife, two boisterous boys, and their black cat, Shadow.

SeniorLAW Center – Protecting the Rights of Older Pennsylvanians
PA Custody Statute on Standing: 23 Pa.C.S.A. 5324
Chapter 53. - Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS (state.pa.us)

*audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

Episode 14 - Dealing with Repeat Custody Filings and Frivolous Petitions | Skip Persick May 25, 2022

Show notes

In episode 14 of the Law in the Family podcast, cohosts and family law attorneys Aaron Weems & Anthony Hoover talk with Skip Persick about steps that family law attorneys can take in dealing with repetitive custody litigants.

Lawrence J. “Skip” Persick focuses his practice on adoption, divorce, custody, support, dependency, and guardianship. Skip's experience also includes cases dealing with school discipline and the termination of parental rights. He has represented the prevailing party in many notable cases, including a Berks County decision granting compensatory and punitive damages on tort claims raised in the context of a divorce action. A former assistant public defender for Chester County, Skip has remained active within the county and also delivers annual talks on young people and the law to various secondary schools. Skip was selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2022 edition of Best Lawyers in America for Family Law. He was also recognized among Suburban Life magazine’s 2022 Five-Star Attorneys for Divorce/Family Law.

Lawrence J. "Skip" Persick - Weber Gallagher Simpson Stapleton Fires & Newby, LLP (wglaw.com)

Some Help in Defending Repeat Custody Filings | The Legal Intelligencer (law.com)

Cited Cases and Rules from Article:
· Pa. R.C.P. 233.1
· Pa. R.C.P. 1023.1 – 1023.4
· 23 Pa. C.S.A. §5339
· 42 Pa. C.S.A. §2503
· 42 Pa. C.S.A. §2503
· Moyer v. Leone, 260 A.3d 245 (Pa. Superior 2021)
· Dong Yuan Chen v. Saidi, 100 A.3d 587 (Pa. Superior 2014).
· Avetyan v. Sternberg, 216 Pa. Dist.& Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 30 (Bucks Co. 2016),
· Lowery-Shannon v. Shannon, 2014 Pa. Dist.& Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 3506 (Lawrence Co. 2014) a
· Morgans v. Morgans, 2012 Pa.Dist.& Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 100 (Allegheny Co. 2012)
· Lowe v. Lowe, 110 A.3d 211 (Pa. Superior 2015)
· Coulter v. Ramsden, 94 A.3d 1080 (Pa. Superior 2014)
· Coulter v. Lindsay, 159 A.3d 947 (Pa. Superior 2017)
· Pa. R. Prof. Conduct 3.1

*audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

Episode 13 - Arbitration in Family Law Cases | Shelly Grossman & Carolyn Zack May 25, 2022

Show notes

In episode 13 of the Law in the Family podcast, cohosts and family law attorneys Aaron Weems & Anthony Hoover talk with Shelly Grossman & Carolyn Zack, about the Uniform Family Law Arbitration Act: HB 1366. The bill was unanimously passed by the state House last year and is currently awaiting action by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Shelly Grossman is a partner with Potts, Shoemaker, & Grossman in West Chester, PA. She has dedicated her time and efforts to improving the practice of family law by authoring articles for the American Bar Association’s Family Advocate and Pennsylvania Family Lawyer. She, along with Alita Rovito, Esquire, co-authored the chapter on the Equitable Distribution Trial in Slicing Up the Pie, published by the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. Shelly is a frequent lecturer on divorce, equitable distribution, and other family law issues.

Carolyn Zack is a partner with Momjian Anderer in Philadelphia, PA. She serves regularly as a mediator and binding arbitrator for divorce matters, as well as a parenting coordinator for high-conflict custody matters. Ms. Zack works to improve the practice of family law by writing and teaching, as well as by actively participating in the state and local professional associations.

HB 1366: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2021&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1366

Rochelle B. Grossman, Esquire - Potts, Shoemaker & Grossman (pottsshoemaker.com)

Carolyn Moran Zack — Momjian Anderer

*audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

Episode 12 - What to Know about the New Support Guidelines | Michael Chilcot Mar 04, 2022

Show notes

In episode 12 of the Law in the Family podcast, cohosts and family law attorneys Aaron Weems & Anthony Hoover talk with Michael Chilcot, about the new Pennsylvania Support Guidelines that went into effect this year. They discuss some of the important changes to the guidelines, and some changes that might not be immediately obvious, but may have serious impacts on cases.

Michael R. Chilcot, Jr. is an associate with Leech Tishman and a member of the Litigation Practice Group, where he focuses on family law. Michael is based in the State College office where he regularly advises clients on family and collaborative law and real estate law.

Michael R. Chilcot, Jr. - Leech Tishman: Legal Services

LexisNexis Practice Guide: Pennsylvania Family Law | LexisNexis Store

2022 Update to Pennsylvania Support Rules - Leech Tishman: Legal Services

*audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

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