Family Law

Experienced Philadelphia Divorce Attorneys

Offering Personal Service and Solid Representation

Practical, Realistic, Long-Term Solutions in Family Law

Family law governs how people live and interact in primary relationships. As a legal practice area, family law encompasses a full range of domestic relations and related issues governing rights and responsibilities primarily involving property and children. To schedule a consultation on any aspect of family law with an experienced Philadelphia attorney, contact the Law Office of Elaine Smith and Adam M. Horwitz.

Marriage is a serious commitment which creates certain rights and responsibilities. Through the marriage contract, spouses become each other's next of kin and take on a wide array of rights and responsibilities for each other. Divorce is the means by which two spouses terminate these rights and responsibilities. An equitable distribution of assets of the marriage requires a detailed inventorying of property and debts and a settlement agreement or decree.

When children are present in a marriage or are born of an unmarried couple, divorce or separation means that court orders will determine which spouse or spouses must bear financial responsibility (child support), and who will children will live with and when (child custody). In some instances, grandparents or other third parties may assume partial or full custody of children.

When one spouse has been dependent on the other, courts sometimes order that the supporting spouse continue to provide financial support for the other by way of spousal support during the divorce, and / or alimony post-divorce.

In today's society, many people live together in marriage-like relationships although they have not formalized a marriage contract. Despite the omission of a wedding, unmarried heterosexual or same-sex cohabitants often seek legal advice regarding property rights in anticipation of a purchase of real estate, or in the event of separation of the partners.

Adoption and surrogate parenthood facilitated by modern reproductive technology are additional areas of family law that often require consultations with an experienced attorney. Rights of birth, gestational, intended, and adoptive parents are sometimes called into question in cases of conflicts regarding custody of a child conceived in a surrogate arrangement.

To schedule a consultation regarding marriage (prenuptial or postnuptial agreements), divorce (equitable distribution of property), parenting, domestic violence, or property rights of unmarried cohabitants, contact the Law Office of Elaine Smith and Adam M. Horwitz.