Family Law Archives

Attorney Rick Howard Discusses the Equifax Breach and Changes to Pennsylvania Family Law on WFYL’s “It’s a New Day”

October 12, 2017 By WKC Law

Attorney Rick Howard recently appeared on WFYL 1180AM to discuss the recent Equifax breach and inform their listeners about recent changes to Family Law in Pennsylvania.

Equifax Data Breach

Nearly half of the U.S. population is affected by this data breach. So, what should you do to protect yourself?

Check your credit reports for suspicious activity.
Freeze your credit. This does not prevent you from using your credit. What it does is restricts others from opening new accounts in your name.
Consult this article from Consumer Reports, which presents more ways to protect your online identity.

Equifax is not currently charging a fee to put a credit freeze in place.

Pennsylvania Family Law: New Developments

Rick also covered new updates to Family Law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:

Revised Child Support Guidelines
Updates on Grandparent Custody Rights
Changes in Divorce Law

Listen to Rick’s appearance here.

We are glad to discuss your concerns. Contact us today to see if we might be of service to you.

Richard Howard, Jr. is one of the most respected, dedicated and hard-working litigation attorneys in Bucks County. As a trusted advocate and counsel for his clients, Rick draws upon his strong judgment, undaunted work ethic, and extensive 24-year experience handling wide varieties of challenging and simple civil litigation matters, to effectively handle each client’s most difficult legal matters in today’s world. Rick prides himself on getting to the “real issue,” in truly relating to each situation, and doing what is “right” for his clients and in accordance with the Golden Rule.

This article is designed for general information only. The information presented should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.

Top 10 Tips on How to Help Your Family Lawyer Help You – Part 2

June 2, 2015 By WKCLawBlog

Today we’re continuing Abigail F. Tuttle’s blog on the Top 10 ways you, as a client, can help your family law attorney do their very best work on your behalf. If you’d like a refresher, 1-5 can be found here.

6. If this, then that
You know your spouse and/or the other party best. Prepare your attorney by explaining how you expect your opposition will react given different scenarios. You may be able to assist in gaining tactical advantages by anticipating reactions and strategizing accordingly.

7. Preparing for the stranger on the other side of the courtroom
Understand and believe that once you become involved in family law proceedings, the opposition, most likely someone you once loved, or still do, may no longer be the person you love(d). While you can still provide inside information to your attorney based on your knowledge of the other party (see #6), do not rely on that knowledge in any real way. The most common example I see of this is the naive client who believes that because his wife told him on their anniversary that if they ever got divorced he could keep his Aston Martin and then is shocked when that is the first thing his ex-wife wants. Do not assume that because you and the other party enter into family law proceedings amicably and faithfully promise each other it will remain that way, that it will. Emotions are tricky things in family law. Most importantly, do not rely on some agreement with the other party which has not been approved by a court.

8. Jerry Springer and Judge Judy battles are not helpful
Do not fight with the other party in court, in negotiations or even outside of the litigation. You will not accomplish anything and you will not even feel better. Do not engage. Being polite never hurt anyone. If you want your kids or your marital home as badly as you think you do, you can handle being on your best behavior, no matter how difficult. Of course, no one will blame you if you treat yourself to a pedicure as a reward or vent by singing loudly to angry music in your car all by yourself.

9. Follow court orders
This would seem simple, but it is not. If the court orders you to do something, do it. This includes anything from turning over records to following a no contact order with the other party. Courts do not like it when their orders are ignored. Your attorney can only do so much for you if you have ignored this rule.

10. Court appearances
Be early. That merits repeating. Be early. Do not overlook traffic, last minute wardrobe catastrophes, lack of parking, a long line at courthouse security or getting lost in the courthouse. Dress appropriately. If you do not know what that means, ask your attorney. One hint though, it does not mean pajama pants or ripped jeans. Finally, it is “Your Honor.” If you are addressed by the court, you call the judge, “Your Honor.” People constantly stumble when it comes to this one. Practice it. “Your Honor.”

Follow these ten tips and you’ll be well on your way to making a stressful time of life a little less so. If you have questions or a situation you’d like to discuss, please contact us. We’ll be glad to talk with you.

Abigail F. Tuttle is a 2007 graduate of the Temple University School of Law and specializes in Criminal Defense, Insurance Defense and Family Law at Weber Kracht and Chellew.

This blog is designed for general information only. The information presented should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.

Top 10 Tips on How to Help Your Family Lawyer Help You – Part 1

May 19, 2015 By WKCLawBlog

There’s this great scene in the movie Jerry Maguire (back in the good ol’ days when Tom Cruise was still good) in which Jerry begs his client, Rod Tidwell (played by Cuba Gooding, Jr.), “Help me help you!!!” Although Rod’s response is a comical, mocking rendition of Jerry’s plea for help, the theory behind “Help me help you!” is a very real and valuable asset in getting the best results possible, whatever your situation.

So here are the first five of my top ten tips on how you can help me, as your family lawyer (in no particular order):

1. The good, the bad and the ugly
You need to tell your lawyer everything. You are seeking professional guidance for a reason. Do not assume you know what does and does not matter to your case. Most importantly, do not let your attorney get blindsided by some negative fact or behavior. It does not matter if it’s embarrassing or you are ashamed of something. It will be much more embarrassing and shameful in open court if your attorney is unprepared to deal with it.

2. Social Media
It still surprises me how much useful information I can locate for my clients’ matters by researching via Facebook and other social media. Reassess your privacy settings. Be vigilant about what you post AND what your friends and family post. Think not just about what you are posting, but what it could be made to look like by someone who wants to twist the post and paint you in a certain way.

3. Keep evidence
Texts, voicemails, social media posts (see above), copies of cancelled checks, journals and many other things are valuable evidence, especially in family law cases. So much of the evidence in family law is testimony, which is almost assumed biased because of the high stakes and raw emotions. The more evidence you can provide your attorney, the better off you’ll be to base your case on more than “he said, she said.”

4. Documentation
Similar to tip #3, create documentation as evidence. I do NOT mean fabricate evidence. What I do mean is create a custody calendar documenting which party had the children at which times. You could go further and add notes about how the kids behaved when they returned to your home or what they said about their visit. Also, keep a binder with copies of all of your financial information. If you are planning to leave a relationship, you may want to copy your financial documents before have the “it’s over” conversation.

5. “Must-haves”
I learned this phrase from a co-worker and it is a great tool. When you meet with your attorney provide a prioritized list of your “must-haves.” What are the most important things for you to obtain from whatever proceedings in which you are involved? For example, you may want to stay in the marital home. You may want to keep an item purchased during the marriage. Maybe it is highly important to you that you have your children on New Year’s Day because of some special tradition. Whatever these things are, think about them, prioritize them and give your lawyer a list. Understand you will most likely not succeed in all of your desired “must-haves,” but your attorney will know where to focus to meet your top goals.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this blog, coming soon.

Abigail Fillman is a 2007 graduate of the Temple University School of Law and specializes in Criminal Defense, Insurance Defense and Family Law at Weber Kracht and Chellew.

This blog is designed for general information only. The information presented should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.

Meet the Attorneys: Abigail Fillman

September 24, 2014 By WKCLawBlog

Abigail Fillman is one of the hardest working and enthusiastic lawyers in Bucks County. Clients find her to be an excellent listener who is incredibly easy to talk to and who simplifies their legal matters so they understand exactly what they are facing. Abigail truly enjoys helping each of her clients who have ranged in age from 21 years to 85 years old. Her practice includes representing men and women in insurance defense matters which run the gamut from auto accidents and injuries to injuries or property damage from falling trees or branches. She also represents clients in family law and criminal matters. A member of the Pennsylvania Bar and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Abigail enjoys being in court and vigorously defending the rights of clients. At the heart of everything she does is her sincere desire to help people.

A self-described “people person”, Abigail was an Assistant Branch Manager at National Penn Bank when she decided to go to law school. She received a Presidential Scholarship and recognition for distinguished trial advocacy while at Temple University School of Law. While at Temple, Abigail interned for a year at the Chester County District Attorney’s Office. Following graduation, she joined the Bucks County District Attorney’s office becoming a Deputy District Attorney. Long involved in the rights and welfare of children, Abigail volunteers her time to assist in the growth of the Bucks County Children’s Advocacy Center, an organization dedicated to the protection and well-being of the youth of Bucks County with which Abigail worked closely during her time as a Deputy District Attorney.

Abigail received her undergraduate degree in Acting from Emerson College in 2000.

Practice Areas:

· Insurance Defense
· Family Law
. Criminal Defense

Admissions:
· Pennsylvania
· United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Professional Affiliations:
· Member of the Friends of the CAC Committee, Bucks County Children’s Advocacy Center
· Member, Bucks County Bar Association

Public Offices:
· Deputy District Attorney, Bucks County District Attorney’s Office (6 years)

Education:
J.D. Temple University School of Law 2007
Presidential Scholarship
Distinguished Class Performance in Trial Advocacy
B.F.A. Emerson College 2000

Personal Interests:
When not practicing law, Abigail enjoys cooking, old movies, searching for treasures at antique and consignment shops and planning her upcoming wedding to a local farmer! After college, she acted in an independent film.

Although after leaving the District Attorney’s Office, Abigail did not intend to defend clients in criminal matters after her services were requested in connection with the Bucks County conflict list, a list of private attorneys who assist in criminal defense matters when the Office of the Public Defender is unable to represent an individual due to a conflict of interest, she learned that she was fulfilled by helping people who became involved in the criminal court system as a result of drug addiction, emotional trauma or dire financial straits. One client told Abigail after her court appearance that Abigail “saved her life.” That particular client had turned to drugs after the death of her husband, leaving her with two children. After being charged with a felony identical to that which would be charged for a career heroin dealer, this widow, now facing potential incarceration in a state correctional institution sought help. Abigail was able to ensure the client was able to remain at home with her children on probation and that she began treatment for her drug addiction.

Abigail’s Blog Posts:
“I Know My Rights!” Ok, So What Are They? | Part 1
“I Know My Rights!” Ok, So What Are They? | Part 2

This blog is designed for general information only. The information presented should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.

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Attorney Rick Howard Discusses the Equifax Breach and Changes to Pennsylvania Family Law on WFYL’s “It’s a New Day”

Top 10 Tips on How to Help Your Family Lawyer Help You – Part 2

Meet the Attorneys: Abigail Fillman

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