Attorney Betty Dillon handles a variety of family law issues for clients in Bethel Park, Pa and the Pittsburgh, PA area including pre-nuptial agreements, post-nuptial agreements, parental rights, adoption, asset protection, guardianship, grandparents’ visitation, protection from abuse and healthcare powers of attorney.  Attorney Dillon has over 25 years of experience in the practice of family law.  Her approach with clients is one of a personal relationship that helps reduce the amount of fear that many people have when needing legal assistance in a particular family matter.  Her goal is to keep you informed every step of the way.  Whether it is a child custody matter or a pre-marital agreement, Attorney Dillon has the experience to resolve your family matters as quickly and as easily as possible.  Attorney Dillon is highly experience in the practice of family law and handles all matters including:

Common Questions Regarding Family Law Issues Include:

Guardianship:
	I've been diagnosed with a terminal illness. What happens if I become too ill to care for my kids? Can I give my sister authority without my losing my rights?
Asset Protection:
	My husband died recently. Should I add a child's name to my bank accounts?
Adoption:
	I've been divorced and am about to re-marry. My fiancé wants to adopt my children. How is this done?

I'm a parent of two minor children, and have just been diagnosed with a terminal illness. I'm concerned about what might happen down the road if I become too ill to care for my kids. Is there a way my sister could be given authority without my losing my rights?

There is a law called the Standby Guardianship Act that was enacted to deal with the situation you describe, if there is no other parent willing or able to make and carry out day-to-day child-care decisions, or if the other parent consents to the appointment of a standby guardian. This law allows you to make long-term plans for your children without terminating or limiting in any manner your parental rights. You would execute a written designation naming your sister as standby guardian, and defining the "triggering event" upon which the appointment would take effect. A petition would have to be filed within 60 days to allow the authority to continue. The statute sets forth very specific requirements, so if this avenue sounds good to you, you will have to meet with an attorney.

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I've been divorced and am about to re-marry. My fiancé wants to adopt my children. How is this done?

Before the children can be adopted the parental rights of their natural father must be terminated. This can be done voluntarily, if he is willing to consent. But if he will not go along, you would have to petition the court to involuntarily terminate his parental rights. The legal standard is quite stringent. You must establish a settled purpose to abandon the children or failure to perform parental duties for at least six months prior to the filing of the petition. The facts of your particular case would have to be carefully evaluated.

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My husband died recently. Should I add a child's name to my bank accounts?

Rather than adding your child's name as a co-owner of the account, I would advise you to give that child power of attorney. By adding a child's name to the account, you're running the risk of paying inheritance tax on your own money if your child should predecease you. The account would also be subject to execution by a judgment creditor of your child. While the jointly titled accounts would not be subject to probate upon your death, neither could any of your other children lay claim to any portion after your death. An alternative that lets you remain in control of the accounts during your lifetime but allows them to pass free of probate (though subject to inheritance tax) is leaving them in your name, "MARY SMITH", "in trust for (ITF) JANE SMITH". As with most estate planning questions, whether your assets are modest or more substantial, you are advised to speak personally with an attorney.

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