It is increasingly common for a parent and step-parent to adopt a child. When one of the natural parents marries or remarries, it may be in the child’s best interest to legally transfer all of the other natural parent’s rights to the step parent.If the other birth parent of the child consents to...

A grandparent has visitation rights in PA when either of the above situations occurs. Visitation under Pennsylvania law refers to supervised visits with the children that do not result in an overnight stay.In addition, The Grandparents Visitation Act allows grandparents reasonable visitation, or par...

Outcome: Adult daughter’s PFA complaint against our client, her father, was unsubstantiated at the hearing and the PFA order was terminated.History: Our client’s adult daughter filed a protection from abuse complaint against him. The temporary PFA order was determined by the Court of Common Plea...

Outcome: Helped client remove herself and her children from marital residence where they were subjected to physical and emotional abuse from husband/father. We also obtained a Divorce settlement that was fair and fully aligned with our client’s new beginnings and needs.History: Our client, who was...

Outcome: Client’s child not ordered to reunify with father as both our client and her daughter desired.History: Our client hired us after her daughter’s father filed a Complaint for Custody in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, seeking partial custody. Father had been absent from chi...

A woman may fear that the act of leaving or filing for divorce will trigger serious retaliation by her husband. Verbal and emotional conflicts are common, especially when the desire for divorce is not mutual. However, at-risk situations demand planning and vital preparation to avoid dangerous confli...

Many women who are at risk in abusive marriages have children with their spouse. The possibility, no matter how remote, of losing custody of your child/ren is terrifying. Even shared custody seems unacceptable. Know this: You have an inherent right to custody of your child. The courts almost never t...

Alimony in Pennsylvania may be ordered by a judge as a part of the divorce/marriage settlement. There are 3 different reasons alimony can be awarded:Rehabilitation – Rehabilitation alimony is granted when one of the spouses needs time after divorcing to acquire the employment skills necessary in o...

If an assault is committed against a child under the age of 13 by an individual who is 18 years or older, the charge will be graded as a Felony of the First Degree. A First Degree Felony can result in a penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment.A Felony in the Second Degree for aggravated assault carri...

In Pennsylvania, a Petition for Expungement may be filed when:Charges were withdrawnCharges were dismissedYou are found Not GuiltyDisposition is UnreportedProsecutor submits to Nolle Prossed; Or whenA Guilty Summary Offender has remained free from arrest and prosecution for 5 subsequent years.Juveni...

In PA, retail theft is a grading offense and can result in any of several graded offenses and different penalties. The laws for theft and robbery grading are extensive, complex, and frequently misunderstood by defendants as well as less experienced attorneys.An individual without any prior retail th...

Theft and robbery can be both a criminal and civil proceeding in Pennsylvania. The prosecution will charge you with theft crime(s) under PA Title 18 Chapter 39, and the plaintiff can sue you for damages in a civil action. This is where pleading strategies and alternate sentencing programs can become...

While most summary offenses are just fines, the penalties for the above underage violations are more substantial.A first offense will subject the accused to:A fine from $0-$300Up to 90 days in jail, andLicense suspension for 90 days.A second offense can result in:$0-$500 in finesUp to 90 days in jai...

First, understand that driving while impaired or driving under the influence of any drug is typically charged at the highest tier under Pennsylvania’s 3-tier DUI system. Third tier DUIs are reserved for those drivers that have BAC of .16% and above or driving on any controlled substance.Your chanc...

DUI offense grading and sentencing takes into account prior convictions for driving under the influence during the penalty phase. Priors for driving while impaired from other states will also be counted by the Commonwealth. If you have a prior DUI or DWI in another state, it is still possible that y...

In Pennsylvania, most DUIs will be graded as a misdemeanor and will carry stiff penalties that include the suspension of your driving privileges upon conviction. How long your suspension lasts will depend on your driving record, whether you have any prior DUI convictions, and how high your BAC was f...

Drunk driving defense in Pennsylvania requires a set of technical and highly specialized skills that includes intensive training on examining standard field sobriety testing. We have gone through the same classes that police officers attend to learn how to give field sobriety tests, so we know when...

Remember, field sobriety tests are conducted to assist the police officer in developing a case and gathering evidence against you. You have the right to politely refuse to participate in any field sobriety testing. Should you decide to participate in field sobriety testing, it is important to obtain...

Standardized Field Sobriety Tests were developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the mid-1970s to establish a reliable and consistent way to evaluating intoxication. NHTSA determined that three tests, if administered in accordance with NHTSA guidelines, could accurat...

Under Pennsylvania law, pets are considered property. During divorce proceedings, the Courts will give pets to one spouse just like other property and assets are divided after a couple separates.Desanctis v. Pritchard set the precedent for how pet custody is handled in Pennsylvania. In this case, th...

Attorneys Tibbott and Richardson are by far the best attorneys I've worked with. I trusted Beth and her partner Dana Richardson to take care of my federal criminal issue and they did so with results that exceeded my expectations. They return calls and emails and are honest about what to expect. The...

Beth Tibbott goes above and beyond what most attorneys do. The communication between client and council is always ongoing. She is super knowledgeable on so many levels that it is almost scary. Beth will not sugar coat anything and will explain every scenario that can play out in court. Beth is a tru...

I hired Ms. Richardson to help me set up my new business and to make sure that I was following all of the necessary state and local guidelines. In addition to walking me through the process and explaining everything, she also took the time to provide a small business law primer to me. She makes sure...

I hired Beth and her partner, Dana, a number of times. They were very informative and gave me all of the facts I needed to make the decision that would work best for me. They are professional, but also friendly and compassionate. I had the unfortunate experience to have my mother pass away shortly a...

I highly recommend Beth Tibbott. She's very personable, knowledgeable and is a joy to talk to. She's is what you look for in an attorney. Especially with my crazy life.-StephenTibbott & Richardson1040 Fifth Avenue, Fourth FloorPittsburgh, PA 15219(412) 444-7171https://www.tibbottrichardson.com/...

Beth Tibbott was a wonderful lawyer! I had many issues with my previous landlord and was unaware of how to handle them. Beth answered all of my questions, while at the same time thoroughly explaining to me everything that she was doing. I was informed throughout the entire process. Thanks to Beth, a...

I worked with Beth on a couple of projects related to business development, and must say, I was extremely impressed. The thing about Beth that really stood out to me was her calm, yet confident demeanor. When reviewing different contracts and items of discussion, she took her time to absorb the mate...

I can't say that I have ever really enjoyed working with lawyers until I met Beth. Normally, the process is drawn out, confusing and overall exhausting. Beth was the complete opposite of what I have dealt with in the past. Though she specializes in criminal law, she was able to work around what I ne...

I would without a doubt recommend Tibbott & Richardson to anyone looking at a DUI case. They were very professional, very thorough and very nice to work with. Beth gave me my life back in my opinion. People make mistakes, and they understand that, and they fight to make sure you'll be able to mo...

My experience with Tibbott & Richardson has not only been outstanding, they always manage to make me feel like I’m their only client. In particular, Beth and Dana, have both become like part of my family. I have never before witnessed a more professional, punctual and dedicated Team of highly...

In today’s digital age, teenagers often find themselves facing the consequences of sharing explicit photos through their phones. Sending or receiving explicit images, especially when underage, can have serious legal implications. In this blog post, we will explore what minors should do if they fin...

A non-custodial parent (NCP) in Pennsylvania may have been awarded partial custody or visitation rights to their child. The NCP may also have been granted shared (joint) legal custody over their children. This is important, because even though parenting time is less than the custodial parent’s, th...

Today, there are countless blended families nationwide that are providing loving, thriving environments for minor children. In PA, many custodial and non-custodial parents share the responsibilities of raising a child with a spouse or step parent.A parent through marriage alone is considered a step...

The Pennsylvania legislature has provided grandparents and great-grandparents with direct and indirect paths to filing for custody of their grandchildren. The code states, in part, that:Grandparents and great-grandparents may file an action under this chapter for partial physical custody or supervis...

If you have been granted partial physical custody of your children after divorce, you may also have been awarded shared legal custody. Legal custody rights entitle a parent to make major decisions for a minor child, such as those involving education, religious pursuits, and medical care. You and the...

In Pennsylvania, paternity can be established by unwed parents who both agree as to who the father is by signing a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity. This gives both father and child the same rights and responsibilities as a married father would have with the child.A claim of paternity can be m...

Pennsylvania is a marriage presumption state with regard to issues of paternity. Paternity is the establishment of a child’s legal father in the eyes of the courts. When the birth mother is married at the time of conception and birth, her husband is presumed to be the child’s legal father. Few c...

Each and every citizen has certain inalienable and fundamental rights. The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania declares these rights and so states:All men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent and indefeasible rights, among which are those of enjoying and defe...

Visitation and Guardianship of Elder Parent – All Issues ResolvedOutcome: Obtained Co-guardianship & Restored Visitation Rights.History: Our client’s mother required around-the-clock care which both our client and her brother had been providing to their mother along with health care aids. Th...

The Department of Justice reports that 1 in 4 women in the U.S. will experience domestic violence during their lives. Further research shows that domestic violence and abuse is statistically as likely to occur in any segment of society. This means it cuts across all socio-economic, cultural, ethnic...