Dedicated Divorce Attorneys
Going through a divorce is a stressful process, so you should seek the assistance of a skilled attorney to guide you. At Reynolds Family Law, LLC, our attorneys have a combined 50+ years of experience, including Karen Reynolds’ years as Chief Staff Attorney and Assistant Director of the Domestic Relations Office.
Trusted Chester County Divorce Lawyers with Over 30 Years of Specialized Experience
We value the importance of negotiation, as it typically yields better results and fewer headaches in the divorce process. In those cases where it is necessary to involve the court, we are your advocates. We stand up for you to ensure that you and your family are treated fairly. Let us work with you to find a solution that helps you and your family move on from your divorce and enjoy a better future. As experienced West Chester family attorneys, we have significant knowledge of the biggest concerns for people going through their divorce. The most common disputes we handle revolve around issues such as…
Custody and Visitation Rights
Child Support and Alimony
Division of Marital Assets
Frequently Asked Questions
What can Reynolds Family Law help with?
– Divorce
– Property Division
– Child Custody and Visitation
– Child Support, APL and Alimony
– Mediation
– Adoption
– Pre-Nuptial and Post-Nuptial Agreements
– Property Settlement Agreements
– Name Changes
Legal Separation or Divorce?
There is no such thing as a “legal separation” in Pennsylvania. The law on this issue varies from state to state. In Pennsylvania, the concept of legal separation does not exist, however, the date of physical separation can have a significant impact on the value of the assets in the marital estate.
It is very important to have an attorney who has experience in the state and county where your divorce will be filed.
How does Child Custody work in Pennsylvania?
There are two types of child custody, legal and physical. Legal custody involves who makes the big, important decisions concerning your child in areas such as health care, education, and religion. Legal custody is usually shared. Physical custody is what you hear about the most. It involves the schedule the parties follow and where the child resides. The physical custody schedule determines the amount of time the child resides with each parent.
In every case, the Court awards both physical and legal custody. Child custody orders are always modifiable.
What types of financial support are available in Pennsylvania?
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Child Support
Child support is determined according to the Pennsylvania Child Support Guidelines, which use an income shares model. This means that the amount of support a parent is obligated to pay depends on the physical custody schedule and each parent’s monthly net income. The Domestic Relations Section is the branch of the Court that handles support.
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Spousal Support/APL/Alimony
All three of these are methods of providing financial support to a dependent spouse. A dependent spouse is the lower income earner of the two parties. Which type of support you are entitled to depends on the stage of the case. The amount of support is dependent upon several factors including the type of support, the incomes of both parties, and the reasonable needs of the parties.
Child support orders are always modifiable. Spousal/APL/Alimony support orders may be modifiable depending on the case.
What is the benefit of using a Local Pennsylvania Attorney?
Family Law rules vary from state to state and, within each state, the rules vary from county to county. When choosing your legal team, be sure that your representative has knowledge of and experience in the rules of your local area.
Reynolds Family Law has been serving families in Chester, Montgomery, and Delaware Counties since 1992. We are not a large, multi-state law firm. We are a small, local practice that offers individualized attention with decades of experience and focus in Family Law.
Initial Consultations – “You Get What You Pay For”
When you have a legal problem or question and are looking for legal advice, you may call around looking for a free consultation. You will find an attorney that will offer you one, but there is a catch – they will be giving you what is called a case evaluation. Basically, what this means is that an attorney or intake person will listen to you and make a determination of whether or not they can help you and then explain the cost to retain. They will not give you legal advice, answer legal questions or get into the specifics of your case.
Typical "Free" Consult:
Surface-level information for a limited period of time
Typically limited to 30-60 minutes
Hard stop at the end of allotted time
No specific discussion of details of your particular circumstances
Generic discussion of the process of divorce, such as the required court filings and fees
Goal is to entice prospective client to sign on and pay retainer.
No follow up questions included
Reynolds Family Law Initial Consult:
Full discussion and plan of moving forward.
Includes overview of the divorce process
Including timeline, budget and fees, but also includes specific case strategy for the prospective client, including full discussion of the client’s goals.
No time limit
Whether consult is by telephone, Zoom, or in person, the meeting takes as long as the client needs.
Includes any follow up questions
Frequently, clients provide employment/wage information after their initial consultation and have follow-up questions focused on financial/support. Additionally, we can run support calculations to give the client a ballpark idea of what support obligation he/she is facing.
Within 5 minutes of our meeting, I knew I had found the right attorney for me and my family. Karen was extremely knowledgeable, confident in my case, and just an absolute pleasure to work with. You will never find a more loyal advocate and attorney for your legal matters. Karen is one of the most kindest, compassionate lawyers I have ever met; I couldn’t have asked for better representation. I am forever thankful to her for all of her hard work, and her commitment to me and my family during a very difficult time.
— Lisa
I contacted Karen after having a horrible experience with another law firm during my divorce. Karen was warm, compassionate and made sure I understood what was happening at all times. She answered all of my questions. I wish I had started with Karen from the beginning of my divorce. I recommend her highly.
— Emily
I can only express my heartfelt gratitude to Karen for being passionate about our custody case. She was thorough and very complete. Karen is also very warm and approachable especially since she handles very complicated matters of the heart when it comes to family law.
— Tashir
If you are in need of a family law attorney, look no further. Karen is kind, compassionate, understanding and a delight to work with, even in the most turbulent of times. She has the experience needed to do an excellent job- spend just a few minutes with her and I am sure she will prove it to you. I HIGHLY recommend Reynolds Family Law to everyone!
— Michelle
I can’t say enough about Karen’s professionalism and expertise at guiding me through all of the necessary steps for my divorce. She was thorough and very responsive to every need. I am thrilled I hired her and would not hesitate to use her if the need ever arises in the future.
— Diana
After many google searches, and endless phone calls with other lawyers, literally about to give up hope, Karen Reynolds family law popped up on google. Let me preach about Karen and our story for a moment; because I will forever swear by Karen Reynolds. She is the most patient, kindhearted, attentive, thorough lawyer we have had the pleasure of working with.
— Whitney
She did a great job talking me through the various steps of the process. I felt informed and that I understood what was happening during all phases of the process. She gave me confidence and I knew then and still know now that I can count on Karen to represent me if/when it is needed. She is very reasonable and down to earth and I have never questioned my decision to have her as my legal representation. I would highly recommend Karen for anyone that is involved in a divorce proceeding.
— Kirk
Interested in an Initial Consultation?
Learn more about Karen's background, education, and experience, including strategy and philosophy of practice. Consult is informal and informational. It includes an overview of case management and expectations regarding fees.
Our preliminary goal is to establish your needs and create a comfortable atmosphere to discuss what's next and how to get through a difficult time.