Attorney Jack A. Rounick Discusses What’s New in Family Law

One major change in family law is in the grounds for divorce with respect to couples needing to live separate and apart for a period of two years in order to prove a marriage was irretrievably broken. “As of December 5, 2016, this period has now been changed to one year, but the action had to be filed after December 5, 2016,” said family law attorney Jack A. Rounick, founder of the Law Offices of Jack A. Rounick, LLC. “There is a question as to whether the separation had to take place after December 5, 2016, all of which will be litigated during the course of proceedings for the near future.”

Additionally, a new act also took effect in June 2016 that provided that a conviction for a personal injury crime against a spouse is grounds for divorce without the consent of the offending party. A personal injury crime is defined as an act, criminal attempt, solicitation or conspiracy to commit the following crimes, whether graded as a misdemeanor or a felony: criminal homicide, assault, kidnapping, human trafficking, sexual offenses, arson and related offenses, robbery, victim and witness intimidation, homicide by vehicle or accidents involving death or personal injury.

“With respect to support, new guidelines are also going to take effect. In most cases, the amount of support payable will increase,” noted Rounick. “The new guidelines will take effect on May 1, 2017.”

About Jack A. Rounick, Law Offices of Jack A. Rounick, LLC

Jack A. Rounick has been rated as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” and one of Pennsylvania’s “Super Lawyers.” Practice areas of the Law Offices of Jack A. Rounick include divorce, custody, alimony, child and spousal support, protection from abuse, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements and more. For more information, please call (484) 684-6055, or visit http://www.rounicklaw.com. The law office is located at 25 E. Marshall Street, Norristown, PA 19401.