Author Archives: Jay Butchko
How Pennsylvania Courts Resolve Contested Alimony Disputes
One of the most disputed and contentious issues in a divorce action is alimony. Alimony is unlike child support, which is mandatory. In a divorce action, alimony is discretionary. Therefore, the trial courts have considerable discretion when awarding alimony to one party. When a litigant appeals a decision on alimony, it is carefully scrutinized… Read More »
When an Uneven Division of Marital Property Is Upheld in Philadelphia Divorce Court
In Pennsylvania, the distribution of marital property is subject to an “equitable distribution” standard, which means that the division of the marital estate will not necessarily be even. Many people assume that unless the distribution is equal, the decision can be appealed. However, the discretion of the trial court can be very wide, meaning… Read More »