Law in the Family

Psychologist Christina Carson-Sacco discusses how to manage challenging personalities in divorce cases. Dr. Carson-Sacco is a clinical psychologist with over 25 years of experience, co-founder of The Center for Neuropsychology and Counseling, a consultant to clinicians and other professionals, and a professional public speaker. Currently, she works as an individual, couples, group, and family therapist for children, adolescents and adults, as well as an educational and legal consultant. In addition, Dr. Carson-Sacco devotes time to managing and growing the private group practice she created with her business partner in 2008. Dr. Carson-Sacco has served on a number of non-profit boards that support the educational and mental health needs of children and families. In her role as a wellness consultant, she brings her decades of experience as a teacher, lecturer, and therapist to businesses with the goal of providing practical information to support employees’ well-being. http://www.thecenterinwarrington.com/contact-us/service-areas/bucks-county/chalfont/ *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

Seasoned estate attorney Mary Kay Kelm joins us to discuss the common cross-over of issues between estate litigation and family law and what concepts family law attorneys needs to be aware of for their clients. Mary Kay Kelm practices with Kilcoyne & Kelm, LLC in Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania. She concentrates her practice in civil litigation, zoning, and estate planning & administration. Ms. Kelm also forms small businesses and provides ongoing counsel in corporate matters. Ms. Kelm is a proud graduate of St. Joseph's University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is a past President of the St. Joseph’s Law Alumni. She is a graduate of the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law where she served on the Law Review and represented the school in a national moot court competition. She volunteers as an alumni judge for Villanova’s Moot Court program every year. Ms. Kelm is the current Solicitor to the Montgomery Township Zoning Hearing Board and has served as a Montgomery Township volunteer in various capacities for many years. She is a former civics instructor in the Montgomery Township schools, and a former PA Bar Association mock trial coach for Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School. Ms. Kelm considers herself fortunate to be a thirty-year member of the Montgomery Bar Association and currently serves on its Board of Directors. She also serves as a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s House of Delegates. Kilcoyne & Kelm, LLC » Mary Kay Kelm (kelmlaw.com) *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

If you’re a family law attorney, you may not realize you are applying principles of constitutional law all the time. I speak with family law attorney Elizabeth Billies and constitutional law Professor Randy Lee about just that, as they prepare for their panel at the PBA Family Law Section Meeting in Hershey over the January 13th weekend, where they will examine the recent Dobbs decision and other family law/constitutional law crossover issues. Randy Lee teaches constitutional law, professional responsibility, torts and various writing and advocacy courses. Professor Lee has taught previously at the Villanova and University of Pittsburgh Law Schools and in the Harvard University Summer Program. The moot court teams Professor Lee has co-coached with Professor Kearney have advanced to the National Appellate Advocacy Championship three times, and their 1993 team was recognized for the third best brief in the nation. Professor Lee is a frequent speaker for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and has also done programs for the Pennsylvania Office of General Counsel, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, and the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Elizabeth Billies is a Partner at Dischell, Bartle & Dooley, PC, in Lansdale, PA, and concentrates her practice in all aspects of family law. Prior to her current position, she was law clerk for the Honorable Susan Devlin Scott of the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas, the former President Judge and Administrative Judge of Family Court. She has contributed articles to the Pennsylvania Family Lawyer and has presented on various family law topics at the Pennsylvania Bar Association, PBI as well as on family law related podcasts and webinars. You can also find her writings on her blog, The Divorce Lawyer Life. Ms. Billies received her B.A. from University of Wisconsin-Madison and her J.D. from Villanova University School of Law. *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

NIL deals are still making waves in high school sports, but a Philadelphia councilmember is already looking to support high school students who have NIL opportunities, to help them avoid pitfalls and predatory financial behavior. Councilmemeber Isaiah Thomas speaks about his efforts and why attorneys should be paying attention to this issue. Councilmember Isaiah Thomas has put the success of young people at the forefront of his work. Whether in the classroom, on the basketball court, or in City Hall - he believes that education, opportunity and coalition building is the way to make a Philadelphia that works for all of us. Councilmember Thomas has non-profit, government and private sector experience which allows him to hear multiple sides of an issue and receive input from a variety of stakeholders. He has helped young people get the best possible education, provided out-of-school time (OST) programming, strengthened communities of color and worked to improve civic education across the city. In his freshman year on Council, Councilmember Thomas was named Chair of the Streets Committee and Vice Chair of the Children and Youth Committee. He also sits on the Appropriations, Disabled and Persons with Special Needs, Education, Creative Economy, Legislative Oversight, Parks and Recreation, Public Health, Public Safety, and Technology Committees. A proud graduate of Philadelphia public schools, Councilmember Thomas has a Bachelor of Arts from Penn State and a Master of Education from Lincoln University, the oldest degree-granting historically Black college in the nation. He still actively coaches basketball at Sankofa Freedom Academy and is President of the Coaches Association. Thomas lives in Oak Lane with his wife Klissa and their sons, Isaiah Jr. and Isaac. *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

Katherine Norton and Morgan Grey of Duquesne University’s School of Law are leveraging their experience in the law and artificial intelligence/machine learning to create a program that allows pro se custody litigants to bring better crafted custody appeals to the Superior Court. This program hopes to be an example of how technology can serve the dual purpose of giving access to justice for pro se litigants, while also providing pro bono counsel an effective intake and preparation program that will allow them to maximize their time and expertise when accepting a custody appeal. Katherine L.W. Norton, is an assistant professor and director of clinical and international programs at the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University. Within the clinical legal education program, she teaches and acts as the supervising attorney for the Family Law Clinic. The Family Law Clinic provides limited legal services to low-income individuals needing assistance in the areas of child custody, divorce, family support, and domestic violence. Norton focuses her research on issues relating to access to justice and the role that technology and artificial intelligence have in this arena. Most recently Norton received an American Bar Endowment Grant for the project, Utilizing Technology to Enhance Access to Custody Appeals. This research will result in the development of an online tool to assist low-income individuals access the custody appellate process. Morgan A. Gray is an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University, where he teaches programming for lawyers. He is also a Doctorate Student in the University of Pittsburgh’s Intelligent Systems Program.  His main area of research is Legal Text Analytics, which focuses on using Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing to analyze and learn information from legal text.  Aside from this, his research interests include access to justice.  In this vein, he is currently researching the development of a tool to increase access justice for low-income individuals with respect to custody appeals. This research has been enabled by the American Bar Endowment Grant for Utilizing Technology to Enhance Access to Custody Appeals. *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

Reproductive technologies and the law are both evolving at a rapid pace. Elizabeth Vaysman joins us to help decipher some of the concepts that make up the contracts that help people have families. Elizabeth is an attorney in the Family Law Department of Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP and an adoption Fellow in the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA). She focuses her practice on all aspects of adoption and reproductive law matters in Southeast Pennsylvania and the Greater Philadelphia area. Elizabeth represents clients in family building needs, consulting them on the legal process to review their options, such as between private or public adoption or pursuing assisted reproduction, and provides next steps and referrals to begin. Learn more about Elizabeth and her practice: https://www.obermayer.com/our-team/elizabeth-vaysman Five Things to Know About Embryo Adoption Article: https://www.obermayerfamilymatters.com/2022/05/five-things-to-know-about-embryo-adoption/ Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA): https://adoptionart.org/ Child Welfare Information Gateway on Adoption: https://www.childwelfare.gov/catalog/topiclist/?CWIGFunctionsaction=publicationCatalog:main.dspTopicsDetail&topicID=8 American Society for Reproductive Medicine on Reproductive Resources: https://www.reproductivefacts.org/ *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

Michelle “Elle” Barr brings her deep knowledge of the use of Our Family Wizard as both a practicing attorney and as an education director for OFW. Elle’s insight is a must-hear for attorneys and clients alike who use OFW. Elle is an experienced court attorney with a demonstrated history of working in the legal services industry, and with a deep commitment to children and families. She also serves as a Judicial Education Coordinator for OurFamilyWizard. OurFamilyWizard | OurFamilyWizard *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

Mark Ashton has been a presence in the family law for decades and brings his analysis to the Seagraves case: a PFA that resulted in an indirect criminal contempt sentence of over 10 years. Mark discusses with us the unintended consequences a PFA can create in many areas of the law. Mark practices in the area of civil litigation with a particular emphasis on family law. He has lectured throughout the Commonwealth and has written extensively on family law. After serving as judicial clerk to the Honorable Mason Avrigian on the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, Mark was associated with Abrahams and Loewenstein, and later chaired the Domestic Relations Group at Riley, Riper, Hollin & Colagreco. A longtime officer in the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Mark served as the 2016 Family Law Section chair. He is the former president of the Doris J. Freed American Inn of Court, a group of 60 attorneys in the Philadelphia area concentrating in family law. Additionally, he served as a board member of the Montgomery Bar Association and Historic Yellow Springs, Inc. where he also was President from 2009-2012. RECIDIVIST CONTEMPT YIELDS 10.5 YEAR SENTENCE IN NORTHAMPTON COUNTY ABUSE CASE. | Pennsylvania Family Law (foxrothschild.com) Segreaves v. Segreaves, 1716 EDA 2021 | Casetext Search + Citator *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

Chelsey Christiansen was court-appointed to a contested adoption case and ended up arguing before the Supreme Court on her birthday. Chelsey shares with us the unusual procedural and factual background of a contested trial and the impact of a party seeking custody of a child. Chelsey A. Christiansen focuses her practice on family and juvenile law, litigation, child custody, divorce, child support, and child advocacy. Ms. Christiansen has experience representing clients in family law matters at the mediation, arbitration, trial, and appellate level. She also has experience providing litigation support to commercial clients, including drafting pleadings and representing the interests of commercial clients in small claims court. Christiansen Prevails Before PA Supreme Court | High Swartz https://highswartz.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/supreme-court-pa.pdf *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

Incoming chair of the PBA Family Law Section, Darren Holst, joins us to discuss his goals and plans for his year as section chair and ways for attorneys across the state can benefit from being involved in the section. Darren Holst is a partner with the Pennsylvania family law firm of Howett, Kissinger & Holst PC. He focuses his practice on matrimonial law. Darren handles cases including complex divorce, child custody, and child support. He frequently finds himself in trial and appellate courts protecting the rights of his clients. Previously, Darren served as the clerk to Judge Samuel A. Kline of the Lebanon County Court of Common Pleas. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Harrisburg Area Community College, where he instructs paralegals on areas including legal research, writing, ethics and core substantive law such as contracts, torts, criminal law, real property, business law and family law. Darren Holst - Howett, Kissinger & Holst PC (hkhlaw.net) *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

Section Chair Helen Casale discusses the release of a co-parenting video created and produced by the Section as a resource for parents and attorneys to help develop better co-parenting relationships and better outcomes for children. Helen Casale is the 2021-22 chair of the PBA Family Law Section and a shareholder at Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller in Norristown. She concentrates her practice on all aspects of family law, often taking on the most complicated cases. Helen is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. She has ranked as one of the top 50 female attorneys in Pennsylvania every year since 2011 by Pennsylvania Super Lawyermagazine, received the Philadelphia Busines Journal’s 40 Under 40 award and was named a Lawyer on the Fast Track by The Legal Intelligencer and Philadelphia Law Weekly. *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

We speak with Janine Dunlap Kiah from the SeniorLAW Center. The SeniorLAW Center is the only pro bono organization specializing in grandparent custody cases. Volunteer opportunities exist across the state from in-person pro bono representation to serving on the Center’s hotline to advise and assist parties in need. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact the SeniorLAW Center’s Legal Director, Dana Goldberg: dgoldberg@SeniorLAWCenter.org Janine Dunlap Kiah is the director for the Pursuing Justice for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in Pennsylvania project at SeniorLAW Center, based in Philadelphia, PA. In this role, she manages a federally funded statewide initiative poised to increase access to legal representation, education, and resources to older adults caring for children when the biological parents are absent. Prior to joining SeniorLAW Center, Janine practiced family law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey since 1997. She earned her J.D. from Villanova University School of Law and a B.A. in Vocal Music from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. Janine resides in Philadelphia with her wife, two boisterous boys, and their black cat, Shadow. SeniorLAW Center – Protecting the Rights of Older Pennsylvanians PA Custody Statute on Standing: 23 Pa.C.S.A. 5324 Chapter 53. - Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS (state.pa.us) *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

We speak with Skip Persick about steps that Family Law attorneys can take in dealing with repetitive custody litigants. Lawrence J. “Skip” Persick focuses his practice on adoption, divorce, custody, support, dependency, and guardianship. Skip's experience also includes cases dealing with school discipline and the termination of parental rights. He has represented the prevailing party in many notable cases, including a Berks County decision granting compensatory and punitive damages on tort claims raised in the context of a divorce action. A former assistant public defender for Chester County, Skip has remained active within the county and also delivers annual talks on young people and the law to various secondary schools. Skip was selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2022 edition of Best Lawyers in America for Family Law. He was also recognized among Suburban Life magazine’s 2022 Five-Star Attorneys for Divorce/Family Law. Lawrence J. "Skip" Persick - Weber Gallagher Simpson Stapleton Fires & Newby, LLP (wglaw.com) Some Help in Defending Repeat Custody Filings | The Legal Intelligencer (law.com) Cited Cases and Rules from Article: · Pa. R.C.P. 233.1 · Pa. R.C.P. 1023.1 – 1023.4 · 23 Pa. C.S.A. §5339 · 42 Pa. C.S.A. §2503 · 42 Pa. C.S.A. §2503 · Moyer v. Leone, 260 A.3d 245 (Pa. Superior 2021) · Dong Yuan Chen v. Saidi, 100 A.3d 587 (Pa. Superior 2014). · Avetyan v. Sternberg, 216 Pa. Dist.& Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 30 (Bucks Co. 2016), · Lowery-Shannon v. Shannon, 2014 Pa. Dist.& Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 3506 (Lawrence Co. 2014) a · Morgans v. Morgans, 2012 Pa.Dist.& Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 100 (Allegheny Co. 2012) · Lowe v. Lowe, 110 A.3d 211 (Pa. Superior 2015) · Coulter v. Ramsden, 94 A.3d 1080 (Pa. Superior 2014) · Coulter v. Lindsay, 159 A.3d 947 (Pa. Superior 2017) · Pa. R. Prof. Conduct 3.1 *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

We discuss the Uniform Family Law Arbitration Act: HB 1366. The bill was unanimously passed by the state House last year and is currently awaiting action by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Shelly Grossman is a partner with Potts, Shoemaker, & Grossman in West Chester, PA. She has dedicated her time and efforts to improving the practice of family law by authoring articles for the American Bar Association’s Family Advocate and Pennsylvania Family Lawyer. She, along with Alita Rovito, Esquire, co-authored the chapter on the Equitable Distribution Trial in Slicing Up the Pie, published by the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. Shelly is a frequent lecturer on divorce, equitable distribution, and other family law issues. Carolyn Zack is a partner with Momjian Anderer in Philadelphia, PA. She serves regularly as a mediator and binding arbitrator for divorce matters, as well as a parenting coordinator for high-conflict custody matters. Ms. Zack works to improve the practice of family law by writing and teaching, as well as by actively participating in the state and local professional associations. HB 1366: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2021&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1366 Rochelle B. Grossman, Esquire - Potts, Shoemaker & Grossman (pottsshoemaker.com) Carolyn Moran Zack — Momjian Anderer *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

Michael Chilcot speaks with us about the new Pennsylvania Support Guidelines that went into effect this year. He discusses some of the important changes to the guidelines and some changes that might not be immediately obvious, but may have serious impacts on cases. Michael R. Chilcot, Jr. is an associate with Leech Tishman and a member of the Litigation Practice Group, where he focuses on family law. Michael is based in the State College office where he regularly advises clients on family and collaborative law and real estate law. Michael R. Chilcot, Jr. - Leech Tishman: Legal Services LexisNexis Practice Guide: Pennsylvania Family Law | LexisNexis Store 2022 Update to Pennsylvania Support Rules - Leech Tishman: Legal Services *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

Jill Scheidt, a veteran family law attorney, recently experienced one of the starkest examples of parental alienation. She takes us through the trial as we discuss the concept of parental alienation and how it can be approached in a custody case. Since 1992, Jill has practiced in Berks County with current concentrations in family law including custody, support and divorce. Over the past 26 years, Jill has litigated a variety of cases to verdict, including premises liability, medical malpractice, motor vehicle negligence, assault, DUI and three murder cases, including one capital case. She has also taught courses in the paralegal program at the Pennsylvania State University in legal research, legal writing, civil procedure, criminal law and torts. She taught Introduction to Business as an adjunct instructor at Reading Area Community College. CITATION: A.L.B. v. M.D.L. :: 2020 :: Pennsylvania Superior Court Decisions :: Pennsylvania Case Law :: Pennsylvania Law :: US Law :: Justia *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

Christina DeMatteo’s career as a family law attorney has afforded her the opportunity to practice law in a range of law firms, from large firms to her current role as a solo/small firm. Christina shares with us her experience in building a thriving practice from scratch and tips that are helpful to attorneys no matter how or where they practice. Christina has been focused solely on family law since 1999. She is experienced in all areas of family law, including equitable distribution, alimony, alimony pendente lite, spousal support, child support, custody and abuse matters. Welcome - Law Office of Christina M. DeMatteo LLC (dematteolawoffice.com) *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

We speak with Tracy Updike, Esquire, who specializes in commercial and consumer bankruptcy as we explore the financial and legal issues family law attorneys need to be aware of should their clients or their clients’ former spouses seek personal or business protections through bankruptcy. Tracy L. Updike, Esq., is Of Counsel at Mette, Evans & Woodside in Harrisburg. She focuses her practice in the field of consumer and commercial bankruptcy and creditors’ rights. She is a frequent lecturer on bankruptcy topics at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and for the Middle District Bankruptcy Bar Association. She is an adjunct professor for Bankruptcy Law at Widener Law Commonwealth in Harrisburg. CITATIONS In re Gianakas, 917 F.2d 759 (3d Cir. 1990) - whether obligation is in nature of support so as to be nondischargeable depends on intent of parties at time of settlement agreement, which can be found by examining three indicators: first, language and substance of agreement in context of surrounding circumstances; second, parties' financial circumstances at time of agreement; third, function served by obligation at time of divorce or settlement. Farelli v. Farelli (In re Farelli), 347 B.R. 501 (Bankr. W.D. Pa. 2006)- state court characterization of debtor's obligation as distribution of property was not dispositive; disparity in financial circumstances showed award of 65 percent of marital property was to provide spouse with means to support and maintain herself In re Tyndall, 360 B.R. 68 (Bankr. D. Del. 2007) - obligation to pay $500 weekly pursuant to separation agreement, despite express language in agreement that payments were not intended as alimony, were domestic support obligation Hanrahan v. Ketch, 243 A3d 219 (Pa Superior Ct. 2020) – state court had concurrent jurisdiction (born out of  a bankruptcy law change) with bankruptcy court to acknowledge and enforce former wife's debt to former husband under property settlement agreement *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

We speak with Alex Langan, an attorney, financial advisor, and professor. Alex helps us better understand the impact cryptocurrency can have as an asset and ways family law attorneys can approach obtaining discovery, valuing, and generally what to look for if cryptocurrency is an issue – or a suspected issue – in a case. Alex Langan is the Chief Investment Officer at Langan Financial Group.  As Chief Investment Officer, Alex oversees the management of investment portfolios, acts as a fiduciary over group retirement plans, and interacts with clients regarding their risk tolerance, asset allocation, financial goals and planning. *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

We speak with Missy Boyd, a family law partner with High Swartz in Norristown, Montgomery County, about discovery tools not often utilized by family law attorneys, including the use of Request for Admissions and the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act. Links: Rule 4014 - Request for Admission, 231 Pa. Code § 4014 | Casetext Search + Citator Pennsylvania Bulletin (pacodeandbulletin.gov) Family Law Attorney | Melissa (Missy) M. Boyd | Montgomery County (highswartz.com) Melissa (Missy) Boyd is the head of High Swartz Domestic Relations Practice and concentrates on all aspects of family law. Among her other leadership roles, Missy is the chairperson for the Family Justice Advisory Board of Montgomery County. The FJAB works to examine and recommend ways the courts and its partners can effectively improve the County’s overall Family Court system. Missy is the past Chair of the Montgomery County Bar Association Family Law Section and is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers where she serves on the board of governors for the Pennsylvania Chapter. *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

We speak with Mark McCreary, a data and privacy attorney with Fox Rothschild. Mark is an expert in this field and gives us insight into the world of data privacy, hacker attacks, and ransomware, as well as practical ideas and considerations to help secure our practices and client data. Join us for a frank conversation about the risks lawyers run with client data and steps that can be taken so your firm and your clients aren’t victims of data breaches. Co-Chair of the Privacy & Data Security Practice, Mark focuses on helping clients to comply with privacy-related laws, rules and regulations and respond effectively in the event of a data breach. He is CIPP/US and CIPT certified by the International Association of Privacy Professionals and is the founder of the firm’s 45+ attorney Privacy & Data Security group. Mark writes for numerous legal and technology publications and is a frequent media source on data privacy and cybersecurity issues. https://www.foxrothschild.com/mark-g-mccreary-cipp-us *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

Last summer Dori Green wrote an article about the intersection of COVID vaccines and legal custody rights of parents. In a short period of time, much has evolved including preliminary approval of children under 12 years of age being vaccinated and interesting Orphans Court opinion out of Chester County addressing vaccinations in an incapacitate adult child. Dori joins us to discuss the Chester County decision, pre-COVID vaccination laws and holdings, and what we may see in the courts going forward on this issue. Dori F. Green, an associate in the Family Law practice, represents individuals in matters involving divorce, custody, relocation, petitions for return pursuant to the Hague Convention, support, alimony, equitable distribution, name-change petitions, marital settlement agreements, and premarital agreements. Who Gets to Decide if a Child Can be Vaccinated? | The Legal Intelligencer (law.com) Dori F. Green | Family Law Attorney | Norristown | Philadelphia (hangley.com) *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

We speak with forensic account Mitchell Benson of Savran Benson about the Biden Tax Plan and infrastructure bill and the impact of issues like the advanced child tax credit, PPP loans and tax enforcement, the potential impact on changes to the corporate tax and capital gains rates, as well as possible changes to the estate tax law. Mitchell Benson specializes in matrimonial litigation support, real estate tax planning and compliance, and tax and consulting for individuals and closely held businesses. He has been a partner with Savran Benson LLP for over 30 years. He is a member of the American Institute and Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, having served on various committees and in leadership positions. Savran Benson LLP | Certified Public Accountants and Consultants *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

Attorneys deal with an incredible amount of mental health stress and family law attorneys are no exception. In fact, family law attorneys often endue secondary trauma — trauma that is “passed” from the client to the attorney — more than almost any other practice. Brian Quinn talks about secondary or transferred trauma, the mental health challenges facing attorneys and ways to cope. Brian S. Quinn is the education and outreach coordinator for Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania Inc., a lawyers assistance program established in 1988 for the purpose of helping lawyers, judges and law students recover from alcoholism, drug addiction and mental health disorders. Brian is also a licensed attorney having practiced law for over 40 years handling a variety of civil and criminal matters, including family law. *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

The chair of the PB Family Law Section, Helen Casale, discusses her initiatives to reduce conflict between separated parents, improve the practice of family law and improve the physical health and mental health of family law attorneys in Pennsylvania. Helen Casale is the 2021-22 chair of the PBA Family Law Section and a shareholder at Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller in Norristown. She concentrates her practice on all aspects of family law, often taking on the most complicated cases. Helen is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. She has ranked as one of the top 50 female attorneys in Pennsylvania every year since 2011 by Pennsylvania Super Lawyer magazine, received the Philadelphia Busines Journal’s 40 Under 40 award and was named a Lawyer on the Fast Track by The Legal Intelligencer and Philadelphia Law Weekly. *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

Divorcing spouses do not like paying alimony. Even for a spouse who may be entitled to alimony, there are incentives to request financial consideration other than monthly alimony payments, which are often subject to termination or modification. This episode discusses how alimony has evolved in recent years and how attorneys and the courts are utilizing it in resolving cases. Catherine M. McFadden, a partner at Momjian Anderer LLC, Philadelphia, has nearly 40 years of experience in family law, including divorce, equitable distribution of marital property, alimony, child support and child custody. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer and is rated AV-Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell. *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo