- DivorceThe Court system regarding Divorce and Family matters can be quite intimadating. Each of these matters, Divorce, Custody, Support, Equitable Distribution, are processed through separate, independent parts of the Court. Our firm has served the Court in various positions and understands how to navigate this process. We have, for thirty (30) years, respresented over One Thousand (1,000) clients in all aspects of Family Law. We understand how the Domestic Relations Office works. We understand how the Divorce Court works. We understand how the Custody Court works. Our experience in Family Court, Support Court and Divorce Court matters is extensive and we are one of the longest standing firms regarding Divorce and Family Law matters in the County.
- Child SupportIn Chester County, the child support procedure is a multi-step process that commences with the filing of a Complaint for support with the Domestic Relations Office. A support conference is held with a Conference Officer at which time a temporary order for child support will be entered. Either party may appeal the determination to a Master, where a full evidentiary hearing is conducted.
- Child Custody and VisitationIf the parties are unable to settle their matter at the mediation, the parties attend, with their attorneys, a custody conciliation conference conducted by a Master. This is not an evidentiary hearing. However, the Master can set a custody and visitation schedule. You will leave with an Order that will be signed by a Judge. There are numerous types of Custody and Visitation Orders which might be entered. For this reason, you need an experienced Chester County custody lawyer to ensure that the best interests of your children are protected and that the right schedule is put into place.
- Premarital AgreementPennsylvania recognizes the general validity of premarital or prenuptial agreements. To a very large extent, the same principles that govern the enforcement and interpretation of contracts apply to the enforcement and interpretation of prenuptial agreements. Whether the court will enforce or ignore, in whole or in part, the parties’ agreement requires a case-by-case analysis of several factors.
- Spousal SupportPennsylvania permits parties to obtain a “no-fault” divorce – typically the least expensive and least emotionally draining method of ending a marriage. A Chester County No-Fault Divorce can be finalized within approximately four (4) months of the filing of the divorce complaint, assuming that both parties consent to the divorce and all other ancillary issues (e.g., equitable division of property and alimony) have been resolved.
- Criminal Defense
- DUI/DWI
- Traffic ViolationsMost criminal fines, penalties and restitution orders. This exception includes even minor fines, including traffic tickets.
- FraudYou are likely to get many mail offers and telemarketer calls from your credit card lender about special services such as credit card fraud protection plans, credit report protection, travel clubs, life and unemployment insurance, and other similar offers. These products are generally overpriced. It is best to throw out and refuse these offers, or at a minimum, treat them with a high degree of caution. And avoid “free trial” offers as you will be billed automatically if you forget to cancel the service.
- Business DisputesJay G. Fischer devotes the majority of his time to Estate Planning, including the preparation of Wills, Trusts, Durable Powers of Attorney and Living Wills, and Estate Administration, including the probate of Wills and the preparation and filing of Inheritance Tax returns. He also serves as Solicitor for the Borough of Downingtown Zoning Hearing Board and handles Real Estate, Bankruptcy and Business Law matters.
- Workers Compensation
- Real Estate LitigationThe Firm has been a Downingtown establishment since 1981 and has consistently served client needs in the areas of Estate and Probate; Business; Auto Accidents and other tort litigation; Divorce and Family Law including Support custody and other Divorce related issues and property, real estate matters and consumer bankruptcy.
- Land Use and Zoning
- Personal InjuryEach lawyer at Valocchi and Fischer focuses his practice on specific areas. Jeffrey J. Valocchi handles primarily Family Law matters, including Divorce, Child Support, Custody and Division of Property issues, as well as Personal Injury cases.
- Medical MalpracticeThe Firm has vast experience and network regarding all manner of Personal Injury claims, including Automobile Accidents, Rear-Enders, Slips and Falls, Medical Malpractice & Workers Compensation matters.
- Auto Accidents
- Estate PlanningMany people mistakenly believe that they do not need a Will unless they are wealthy, own real estate, or are elderly. The fallacy is that everyone needs estate planning, which takes into consideration many issues, including the ultimate disposition of your assets.
- WillsThe administration of an estate is the legal process by which a personal representative, called an executor if the deceased had a Will, safeguards the deceased’s assets, pays the deceased’s final bills and debts, files final state and federal income tax returns, files a inheritance tax return, and then distributes the remaining assets as directed in the Last Will and Testament or as determined by the law of intestacy if there was no Will.
- TrustsOne of the areas frequently addressed by financial planners is Living Trusts. Thanks to a great deal of attention by “media experts,” clients or potential clients frequently have a great deal of questions about the appropriateness of a Living Trust for their situation. Although there are some specific circumstances where a Living Trust may be appropriate, the advantages of Living Trusts are, in general, not significant enough to warrant this financial planning tool for all Pennsylvania residents. It is a very worthwhile consideration in certain circumstances.
- Power of AttorneyAn advance health care directive is a written set of instructions expressing your wishes for medical treatment. It may contain a health care power of attorney, where you name a person called a “health care Agent” to decide treatment for you, and a living will, where you tell your health care Agent and health care providers your choices regarding the initiation, continuation, withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment and other specific directions.
- Probate
- BankruptcyThere have been many news reports suggesting that changes to the bankruptcy law passed by Congress in 2005 prevent many individuals from filing bankruptcy. It is true that these changes have made the process more complicated. But the basic right to file bankruptcy and most of the benefits of bankruptcy remain the same for most individuals.
- ForeclosureStop foreclosure on your house or mobile home and allow you an opportunity to catch up on missed payments. (Bankruptcy does not, however, automatically eliminate mortgages and other liens on your property without payment.)
- Debt CollectionCarefully read any credit card or other credit offer from a company that claims to represent a lender you listed in your bankruptcy or own a debt you discharged. This may be from a debt collection company that is trying to trick you into reaffirming a debt. The fine print of the credit offer or agreement will likely say that you will get new credit, but only if some or all of the balance from the discharged debt is added to the new account.