Michael E. Bertin

December 13, 2019 | The Legal Intelligencer

A number of issues and doctrines in the area of family law appear to be debated more than others. One hotly debated doctrine is the paternity by estoppel doctrine related to child support. Under the doctrine, a person can be ordered to pay child support for a child that is not his biological child.

By Michael E. Bertin

7 minute read

October 21, 2019 | The Legal Intelligencer

The interplay between motions for reconsideration and timely appeals is one that can cause trouble if the litigant and attorneys are not careful.

By Michael E. Bertin

6 minute read

June 24, 2019 | The Legal Intelligencer

The interplay between the statute of limitations for contracts and property settlement agreements has been debated and appeared in numerous appellate opinions over the years.

By Michael E. Bertin

8 minute read

April 15, 2019 | The Legal Intelligencer

The greatest number of cases in Family Court that are filed and litigated throughout the commonwealth, whether in heavily populated cities and counties or rural counties, are protection from abuse cases under the Protection From Abuse Act.

By Michael E. Bertin

6 minute read

February 13, 2019 | The Legal Intelligencer

Effective Jan. 1, 2019, Section 11051 of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 amended the Internal Revenue Code by repealing the alimony deduction from the payor's gross income and the inclusion of alimony in the payee's gross income when filing federal income tax returns.

By Michael E. Bertin

7 minute read

December 14, 2018 | The Legal Intelligencer

With the age of baby boomers continuing to increase, the issue of incompetency and the abatement of divorce or litigation of equitable distribution post the death of a divorced litigant is gaining more attention by family law practitioners.

By Michael E. Bertin

6 minute read

October 22, 2018 | The Legal Intelligencer

The seminal cases regarding the awarding of shared custody are the cases of In Re: Wesley JK, 445 A.2d 1243 (Pa. Super. 1982) and Wiseman v. Wall, 718 A.2d 844 (Pa. Super. 1998). Under these cases, trial courts are to consider four factors when awarding shared custody.

By Michael E. Bertin

7 minute read

August 20, 2018 | The Legal Intelligencer

The recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court case of Hanrahan v. Bakker, 186 A.3d 958 (Pa. 2018), a unanimous decision, and a case of first impression, changes the application of the high-income child support guidelines in Pennsylvania.

By Michael E. Bertin

8 minute read

June 26, 2018 | The Legal Intelligencer

On July 4, a change to the child custody laws in Pennsylvania will impact standing for grandparents and third parties. Historically, grandparents have been given an elevated status with regard to child custody matters.

By Michael E. Bertin

1 minute read

April 16, 2018 | The Legal Intelligencer

Alimony is a post-divorce remedy that consists of a monthly payment from one spouse to the other that begins upon the entry of a divorce decree.

By Michael E. Bertin

6 minute read