Updates, analysis, and practical guidance on Pennsylvania family law and Allegheny County court procedures — written by Scott Levine since 2012. 80 articles.
The federal tax framework — IRC § 152(e), Form 8332, and the Child Tax Credit phase-out — often argues against giving the higher earner the dependency claim. What stays with the custodial parent regardless, what the Pennsylvania court can actually order, and why the bracket-arbitrage argument is more complicated than it sounds.
Exactly how to file a custody case in Allegheny County — from jurisdiction and standing through the Generations Program, mediation, and your first court date.
Kayden's Law changed how Pennsylvania courts handle custody cases involving abuse. What it requires, what forms you must file, and how it affects your Allegheny County custody case.
One of the most consequential — and most overlooked — rules in Allegheny County custody proceedings. Here's exactly what it is and how to avoid losing your case over it.
Today, January 1, 2026, the changes to Rules 1910-16 listed below went into effect. Among the changes are revised PA Child Support Guidelines, which increased for all income…
Read More →Pennsylvania Child Support Guidelines Comparison - Charts and Graphs simple analysis Effective January 1, 2026 - Changes from Previous Schedule Key Changes Summary Income…
Read More →Effective January 1, 2026, The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts has implemented a statewide increase to the “Jen & Dave” (Act 119 of 1996) fee that is applied to…
Read More →Effective late November 2025, Pennsylvania's Uniform Deployed Parents Custody and Visitation Act provides service members with stronger protections when deployment disrupts…
Read More →Pennsylvania Streamlines Child Custody Factors: What You Need to Know for Custody in 2026 Effective August 29, 2025, Pennsylvania consolidated its child custody factors from 16…
Read More →Get Your Free Consultation - Pittsburgh Divorce and Family Law; A Trusted Leading Advocate in Allegheny County for over 20 years. Knowledge erases fear. Offering direct advice…
Read More →On August 11, 2025, the changes to Pennsylvania Child Support Rules were released. These changes take effect on January 1, 2026. They Represent Major Changes for Families in PA…
Read More →Pennsylvania Streamlines Child Custody Factors: What Pittsburgh Families Need to Know About Act 11 of 2025 Starting August 29, 2025, Pennsylvania courts will use a streamlined set…
Read More →Cost of Divorce in Pittsburgh: Complete Financial Guide 2025 Attorney Scott L. Levine | Pittsburgh Divorce & Family Law Wondering "How much does divorce cost in Pittsburgh?"…
Read More →Pittsburgh Divorce Process: Complete Guide Attorney Scott L. Levine | Pittsburgh Divorce & Family Law Are you considering filing for divorce in Pittsburgh? Understanding…
Read More →Pennsylvania Child Custody Laws 2025: Complete Guide for Pittsburgh Parents Attorney Scott L. Levine | Pittsburgh Family Law & Child Custody Navigating child custody laws in…
Read More →It has been nearly eight months since Kayden’s Law went into effect on August 14, 2024, and we are seeing how the changes are being implemented in new filings and custody…
Read More →Two weeks ago, on March 202, 2025, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued its decision in the case of Glover v. Junior; a landmark decision that adds a fifth pathway to parentage,…
Read More →As a teenager and prior to attending law school, I worked physical, outside jobs. As a landscaper, this time of year was big for spring "clean-ups" where I would rake old leaves,…
Read More →Scott L Levine, of Law Offices of Scott L. Levine, LLC, has been selected to the 2023 list as a member of the Nation’s Top One Percent by the National Association of Distinguished…
Read More →We are proud to announce that our 13+ year support for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) continues with our sponsorship of the second annual AFSP - Out of the…
Read More →Chat for free before there’s a fee™. Many years ago, when I started my own firm, I sought not the perceived prestige, but doing right by the people sitting across from me…
Read More →The Court's website was completely redesigned last week and all the old links to various resources needed to be updated too. Accordingly, for the benefit of our existing and…
Read More →Beginning January 1, 2022, the August 17, 2021, revisions to Pennsylvania Child Support Guidelines will go into effect. Notable changes include an all-new Basic Child Support…
Read More →The Family Division of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas has added newly elected Judges Judge Costa, Judge Henry-Taylor, Judge Korbel, Judge Middleman, Judge Sizemore and…
Read More →The latest Order for local courts dated May 25, 2021 “extends its April 26, 2021 temporary amendment of its August 31, 2020 Emergency Operations Order with some…
Read More →Over the past thirteen months the local courts have responded exceedingly well to altering the daily functioning of the various departments when considering the constraints…
Read More →In Allegheny County, The 5th Judicial District Emergency Operations Plan was extended and modified February 24, 2021 as set forth below. ORDER OF COURT "AND NOW, this 24th day…
Read More →We know things have been increasingly difficult for most people and their families. We know some people are scared. Some people are frustrated. There are a myriad of emotions…
Read More →Pittsburgh, PA - Pursuant to the updated Covid-19 Emergency Operations plan, the Court is using the below Intention to Defend to alleviate the number of people inside the Family…
Read More →By Order dated today, May 28, 2020, the Judicial Emergency for the Fifth Judicial District of Pennsylvania has been extended through August 31, 2020. There have been many updates…
Read More →On May 27, 2020, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the statewide judicial emergency shall end as of June 1, 2020 and that their previous Orders shall expire according to…
Read More →By Order of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the Judicial Emergency in the Fifth Judicial District (Allegheny County) has been extended through June 1, 2020. A summary of the…
Read More →Today, April 28, 2020, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania entered an Order extending its March 16, 2020 Order with regard to the statewide judicial emergency through June 1,…
Read More →The following guidelines and electronic petition submission tool are provided to assist pro se litigants (not represented by counsel) who are experiencing a custody related…
Read More →From Congressman Mike Doyle: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (H.R. 748), “The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act will provide relief…
Read More →March 25, 2020 Covid-19 Updates for Allegheny County Family Law Issues - Divorce, Child Support & Custody "Complaints for Divorce and Related Documents Per Michael McGeever,…
Read More →Pay your Child Support Online – Make an Online Payment If your employer is not withholding your newly court ordered child support through a wage attachment, or you have been…
Read More →UPDATED Emergency Order for Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas - Effective April 1, 2020 - May, 8, 2020 Declaration of Judicial Emergency - COVID-19 Updated Emergency…
Read More →The below links are a collection of resources that may be helpful to you and your family during these uncertain and challenging times. These links contain LOTS of information and…
Read More →Family Division Child Support, Divorce, Alimony, & Equitable Distribution of Property -Scheduled conferences and hearings in support, custody, equitable distribution, and…
Read More →Questions about how the latest coronavirus closures and social distancing rules in Pennsylvania apply to your existing Pittsburgh, PA or Allegheny County family law case? Call…
Read More →We strive to bring you the most up to date information about court issues as they unfold during this trying time. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court updated statewide court…
Read More →"Pursuant to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's Order dated March 16, 2020, President Judge Clark has declared a judicial emergency in the Fifth Judicial District from March 16,…
Read More →We've been a paperless office with full remote working capabilities, redundant systems and phone meetings for over a decade for your PGH Family Law needs. Law Offices of Scott L.…
Read More →Pennsylvania law for Protection from Abuse Actions has been updated as of April 10, 2019. The changes to the law are found at Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure 1905.…
Read More →On December 28, 2018, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, upon recommendation of the Domestic Relation Procedural Rules Committee, amended the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure…
Read More →After five years, the Parent Coordinator program, which was ended in May 2013 by the PA Supreme Court is being reinstated in a heavily revised version. The new rule which will…
Read More →The Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently handed down a decision in the Hanrahan v. Bakker case, which set forth major changes to how high income child support cases are to be…
Read More →On June 28, 2018, The Pennsylvania Collaborative Law Act was signed by Governor Wolf after passing the PA Senate on 47-2 and the PA House of Representatives 193-0 on June 22,…
Read More →On June 19, 2018 the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued a Decision in a case involving high income child-support, which is interesting and also relevant to a certain segment of the…
Read More →For many people, the news this week of celebrity suicides has brought this issue to the forefront. For me, I’ve been working on suicide prevention for almost 10 years. On the one…
Read More →As recently noted here on the Family Law Blog at pghdivorce.com, SB 844 passed the Pennsylvania Senate and Pennsylvania House earlier this spring and was awaiting signature by the…
Read More →On April 10, 2018 Senate Bill 844 has passed both the PA House and Senate and will become law once signed by the governor. The changes are in part, in response to the opioid…
Read More →Noticed.co has recognized Mr. Levine as a Distinguished Professional and has written the following: https://noticed.co/members/scott-l-levine/223ca42b350cf136 which is also copied…
Read More →The PA Child Support Guidelines were revised on February 10, 2017 and went into effect on May 1, 2017. Prior to May 1, 2017, the last changes to the guidelines were back in…
Read More →"The American Institute of Family Law Attorneys has recognized the exceptional performance of Pennsylvania’s Family Law Attorney Scott L. Levine as Three Years 10 Best Family Law…
Read More →On October 3, 2016, Governor Wolf signed House Bill 380, which reduces the waiting period for no-fault, contested divorce cases in Pennsylvania to ONE-YEAR. The change will…
Read More →HB 380 was signed by the PA House and Senate on September 27, 2016 and was sent to the Governor for his signature, which is expected soon. This will change the Waiting Period for…
Read More →On September 9, 2016 the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued an opinion in D.P. and B.P. v. G.J.P and A.P., which greatly impacts grandparent standing in Custody matters in…
Read More →For years, couples in Pennsylvania seeking a "no-fault" divorce have had to deal with a 2-year waiting period from the date of separation if one party would not provide their…
Read More →Mr. Levine is proud to announce that he has completed the Civil Collaborative Law training and will be able to integrate Collaborative Law into his practice. This addition will…
Read More →Mr. Levine was honored by another organization, this time, the Global Who's Who in their Top Lawyer category "In recognition of hard work, dedication and contributions to the…
Read More →The Law Offices of Scott L. Levine, LLC is proud to announce that Attorney Levine has been selected to the 2016 American Society of Legal Advocates Top 40 Under 40 Family Lawyers…
Read More →The American Institute of Family Law Attorneys has recognized the exceptional performance of Pennsylvania’s Family Law Attorney Scott L. Levine as 2015 10 Best Family Law Attorney…
Read More →Mr. Levine was recently selected by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys as a 10 Best Under 40 for 2015 for the State of Pennsylvania. In addition, for the second year…
Read More →We are pleased to announce that for the second year in a row, Mr. Levine has been selected by The National Trial Lawyers to its "Top 40 Under 40" for the state of Pennsylvania.
Read More →The Law Offices of Scott L. Levine, LLC is proud to announce that Attorney Levine has been selected to the 2015 American Society of Legal Advocates Top 40 Under 40 Family Lawyers…
Read More →Allegheny County custody cases require the parties attendance at a "Generations" Education at the outset of a new case. For many years, the Education Seminars were conducted at…
Read More →The Allegheny County - Department of Court Records has just announced New Filing Fee Increases for Civil Division and Family Division filings. The changes which will take effect…
Read More →Attorney Scott L. Levine has been selected by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys as a "Top 10 Attorney Under the Age of 40." The National Academy of Family Law…
Read More →Circle Camps for Grieving Children has announced a new addition to their existing program for girls ages 9 - 14 who have lost a parent. The latest camp is "Circle of EKC", held at…
Read More →Until recently most people had never heard the term "conscious uncoupling" which describes a particular way of dissolving a marriage. The term was coined by an L.A. based…
Read More →Starting Monday, March 31, 2014 the filing fees for Custody related filings in Allegheny County are being increased. The new increases include fees for: Initial Custody Complaint…
Read More →On January 6, 2014, the Allegheny County - Family Division Self-Help Center opened in the Family Law Facility in Downtown Pittsburgh at 440 Ross Street. The Self-Help Center is…
Read More →March 2014, the new Penn Hills satellite office is expected to be open and will handle support conferences and hearings for persons residing in the East Suburbs. The office is…
Read More →On January 2, 2014 the filing fees for the Allegheny County Court of Common pleas -Civil and Family Divisions will increase as a result of an Administrative Order. For the Family…
Read More →The Law Offices of Scott L. Levine, LLC is proud to announce that Attorney Levine has been selected to the 2014 American Society of Legal Advocates Top 40 Under 40 Family Lawyers…
Read More →Beginning in October 2013, the Family Division of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas began utilizing a series of updated and new forms. Changes were made to Complaints for…
Read More →It has now been three months since the revised Pennsylvania Child Support Guidelines took effect on August 9, 2013. These changes included raising the self support reserve (SSR)…
Read More →DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS Domestic Violence affects women and men from all walks of life and all backgrounds. Knowledge about patterns of abuse may prove helpful to remove…
Read More →Choosing the right lawyer to handle your family law matter is an enormously important decision, and one that should be made carefully after fully reviewing your needs and matching…
Read More →Technology use has risen exponentially over the past few years, and for the most part it has been good. We can now stay in touch with distant family and old friends. Technology…
Read More →Our Pittsburgh lawyers have been advised that the filing fees for various family law matters will increase on Tuesday, March 6, 2012. This fee increase raises the cost for certain…
Read More →We have moved our "Pittsburgh Divorce & Family Law Blog" directly to our website to provide the user with the maximum amount of relevant content and topi-specific information and…
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