Introduction to Family Law in York
Family law in York encompasses the legal issues related to family relationships, such as divorce, adoption, child custody and guardianship. It includes procedures to govern the family courts, as well as the rights of individuals to manage their property during their lifetime and upon their death. Recent legislative changes have added to the complexity of the subject of marriage, with new laws recognizing same-sex marriage at both the state and federal level.
Divorce: is the termination of the marital status of two persons who are validly married. The law permits the filing of a divorce complaint under circumstance which may include irretrievable breakdown of the marriage and/or fault grounds such as adultery, desertion, cruel and barbarous treatment, indignities of treatment, bigamy and more. Most divorces filed in York County are filed on the basis of irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, and are titled as No Fault Divorce Actions, which require the couple to be separated for about one year, although those cases may be shortened through agreement.
Named parties: no person may appear as a party in a civil action, including a divorce action, except as a representative of the party’s interest, or as an attorney for the party, or as a guardian ad litem or custodian ad litem .
Guidelines and spousal support: the local rules of York County provides for the use of the Guidelines in the determination of any spousal support award.
Support Joint: The court may combine the two cases as a Joint Support Action. After the two cases are combined, the court may order support against the higher income party.
Child custody: are resolved in the best interest of the child, considering the individual circumstances of the child, and taking into account sixteen facets, including the parental capacity to care, the interaction of the child with parents and siblings, and the availability of extended family, school, home, community and culture.
Adoption: a procedure by which a child’s residence is established with persons other than the child’s birth parents having the full care, custody and control over the child. It is generally governed by a statute known as the Adoption Act and any other applicable statute.
Guardianship: the court appoints a guardian over the person of an incapacitated person or his estate, or both. The statutes that govern these actions are the Probate, Estates and Fiduciaries Code, and the Mental Health Procedures Act.