News

How Are Child Support Payment Amounts Determined in PA?

Pennsylvania child support guidelines are complex and, while the state has a formula for calculating child support payments, there are various factors, including expenses, custodial arrangements, and other nuances that can impact how child support payment amounts are determined in the Commonwealth.

The guidelines on child support payments are based on an income shares model, with the idea that a child will get the same financial support or portion of his parents’ income as he or she would if the parents remained together. The Pennsylvania child support guidelines strive to be as fair to the child as possible, although this model can be complicated.

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COVID-19 May Increase Cyberbullying in Pennsylvania

With schools closed and quarantines in place due to COVID-19, there’s been a surge of increased internet use among children and adults. This increase may make youth a target for cyberbullying.

Victims of cyberbullying or those accused of cyberbullying should seek an attorney for legal advice. It’s not kid’s stuff. It’s a growing issue and the state is taking it quite seriously.

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We Can Meet You Virtually, Remotely! Whether you are a current client or a potential client. You can contact us from the comfort of your home.

Social Distancing will not interfere with our commitment to serve you. We have ways to connect with you and continue to provide you quality legal services in all areas of our practice: Family Law, Criminal Law, Personal Injury, Medical Negligence, Workers’ Compensation, Employment Matters, Social Security, Wills and Estate Drafting and Planning, Education Law.

While our physical offices are still closed, we remain determined to serve the needs of our clients, current and new alike! Our normal business hours are 8am- 5pm Monday through Friday but as always, and now more than ever, you can leave us a message and we will return your call as promptly as possible and try to accommodate you and your schedule.

The numerous ways we can connect: Remote, Virtual, Videoconferencing, Teleconferencing, Group Conference Calls, Emails, and the traditional Telephone Calls.

Check our Facebook page, often and frequently; stay connected to us. Also see our Tweets, our LinkedIn or our periodic Constant Contact email messages in your inbox. We are just as readily available now as before, but frankly, with more means, different and greater options. We want you to stay healthy and safe.

PYFER REESE STRAUB GRAY & FARHAT PC, call us at 717.299.7342.

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HELPFUL RESOURCES: COVID-19 Related Administrative Links, Information Links, Administrative Orders–in various areas of the law.

READ ON FOR LINKS, ORDERS, UPDATES, IMPACTING YOU AND YOUR CASE


**Check Back Frequently For Updates**

As always, the Attorneys and Staff of PYFER REESE STRAUB GRAY & FARHAT PC are available for you to answer your questions and guide you; but remember, there are constant and frequent updates and changes due to the COVID-19 climate. Below are some general Helpful Resources. We urge you to continuously check these links for updates because we are in this together. And remember, what may apply today, may change tomorrow. Contact us at 717.299.7342. We are working diligently to keep you well-informed and our information current.

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OFFICE NEWS, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: COVID-19

DEAR CLIENTS, FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES:     

MARCH 19, 2020

-PER GOVERNOR WOLF’S ORDER, ALL NON-LIFE SUSTAINING BUSINESSES MUST CLOSE AT 8:00 P.M. TODAY, MARCH 19, 2020.  THEREFORE, OUR BUILDINGS ARE CLOSED.   WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK REMOTELY.

         – DROP-IN CLIENTS, OFFICE CLIENTS, APPOINTMENTS, ARE DISCONTINUED EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

          -HAVE AN EMERGENCY, A QUESTION, NEED INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CASE, CONTACT YOUR ATTORNEY BY EMAIL OR CALL OUR MAIN NUMBER AT 717-299-7342, AND LEAVE A MESSAGE; YOUR CALL WILL BE RETURNED.

          –MAIL: In Lancaster, use our side door mail slot; access via storm door.  In Willow Street, use front door mail slot.

  THANK YOU. WARM REGARDS.     

                                                                                                                                                     PYFER REESE STRAUB GRAY & FARHAT PC

Gabriella Hashem Farhat, Esq, Managing Partner

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UPDATE: CLOSING OF COURTS AND ITS IMPACT ON YOUR LEGAL PROCEEDING. COVID-19

Consistent with the March 16, 2020 Order of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court declaring a general, statewide judicial emergency, and the March 17, 2020 Declaration of Judicial Emergency for the Second Judicial District, and the recommendations of the CDC regarding COVID-19, various Pennsylvania Courts have issued Administrative Orders to be in compliance thereof. 

As we represent clients in various counties for various legal matters, most notably Lancaster, York, Chester, and Dauphin counties, please contact us so we can provide you with an update about your particular upcoming court proceeding.

Generally, if your matter is deemed to be “emergency” in nature, it will be handled either by telephone, videoconferencing or in person if there is no other alternative.  However, if it is not deemed an emergency proceeding, proceedings are cancelled and will be rescheduled. The Lancaster County courthouse and all Magisterial District Courts will be closed to the public effective March 18, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. and shall remain in place until April 15, 2020, 8:00 am.  Other Counties have ordered similar closings. We can provide you with details. However, as with all closings, re-evaluation shall be conducted as deemed necessary. Contact us so that you can be advised as to whether your proceeding is an emergency one and if not, what is the projected outlook and timeline.  Irrespective, we will be contacting you to keep you informed.

Regards, Gabriella H. Farhat, Esquire, Managing Partner, PYFER REESE STRAUB GRAY & FARHAT PC  

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TO OUR CLIENTS, FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES: COVID-19 NEWS

PYFER REESE STRAUB GRAY & FARHAT PC. ATTORNEYS AT LAW.                                                      March 16, 2020

We are sending this message to reach out to you because your health and safety is of utmost importance to all of us. So, during this health-related crisis, we hope and trust you will stay in good health and the situation will normalize in the near future.

As we value our relationships, we want to make sure to protect you and our relationships with our Firm. We share the following:

  1. Rest assured, as of now, we are open for business as usual. We are conducting our business as always, unless and until we get any government directives to do otherwise.
  2. Should any changes need to be implemented, be assured we are able to continue to conduct business and communicate with you and address your needs or transactions remotely and seamlessly.
  3. We are able to communicate with you efficiently through the same norms we have been utilizing to date, whether by telephone at 717-299-7342 or email directly with your contact person at the Firm. If you are not able to communicate with that individual, as an alternative, send your email to [email protected] and copy to [email protected]. Similarly, any scheduling-related matter should be directed to the same individuals. Any financial related matter is to be directed to our Financial Administrator at 717-464-5900 or [email protected].
  4. If when you call, you are prompted to a voicemail recording option, please leave a voicemail message; do not simply hang up and redial. Leave your message and we will respond to you as promptly as possible.
  5. If you have a current court-related hearing or arbitration or mediation or trial or a deposition, be assured we will use our best efforts to provide YOU with up to date information. We will get the message to YOU as to postponements, cancellations, change of venue, or change in the handling a particular matter; ie. via telephone as opposed to “in person” appearances. Rest assured we are being vigilant in addressing your case and your needs. Trust us.
  6. We can tell you this, as of now: the domestic relations support conferences** will be conducted by telephone. As a client, you can come to our office at 128 North Lime Street, Lancaster, and participate OR we can make arrangements for you to participate by telephone; you tell us your preference. Your preference should be communicated to our primary scheduler, Katrena, at [email protected], in addition to notifying your Attorney. This is as of this writing, but subject to change of course. We will timely notify you of changes.
  7. We will provide you with client alerts electronically. If you are not already connected to us through one of the social networking platforms, this may be the time to do so. Follow us on Facebook, connect with our Website at https://www.pyferreese.com [go to our News drop down Section] or via Constant Contact emails we send out. Please email your address to us if you are not already in our Constant Contact data base. Email to: [email protected] and you will be added to our Constant Contact master data base to receive such information and future legal related posts and blogs.
  8. ** From the Domestic Relations Website: Lancaster County DRS is focused on safeguarding our community and we are taking proactive measures to act with an abundance of caution in the face of the COVID-19/Coronavirus situation. Our operational environment is changing rapidly and is influencing every decision. To minimize this risk, we have temporarily changed our face-to-face procedures and are conducting as much business as possible by phone, email etc. Please do not physically appear in the Domestic Relations Office until further notice. All communication should be via email or by phone. All upcoming conferences will be conducted by phone.

9. From Cheryl Steberger, Warden at the Lancaster County Prison: Effective immediately (March 16, 2020), all persons entering the prison must submit to a temperature check. If the temp reading is 100 degrees or over you will not be permitted in the building. Legal visits will continue, however to limit inmate movement, they will take place in the housing area’s counseling room. All other prison programming, to include inmate visitation, has been temporarily suspended. We will be using video conferencing to its fullest capacity. As always, I appreciate your cooperation and patience as we go through these unchartered days. Prison administration will continue to reassess the situation as circumstances develop.

Thank you for your attention and courtesies extended during these uncertain and challenging times.

Gabriella H. Farhat,

Gabriella Farhat signature capture

Managing Partner, PYFER REESE STRAUB GRAY & FARHAT, PC

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