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Family Law

With offices in Chester County, Pennsylvania and Wilmington, Delaware, the divorce lawyer and family law practice at Gawthrop Greenwood provides support across state lines for the major life changes of our clients. Our experienced attorneys provide legal counsel for individuals in anticipation of marriage, adoption, divorce, support, child custody and other personal matters that require vigilance.

As a couple contemplates marriage, we provide legal advice regarding the protection of assets through prenuptial agreements.

As new families form, we provide representation for clients through the adoption process, including international adoptions, step-parent adoptions and adult adoptions.

We also offer assistance with trust and estate planning as families develop and plan for the future.

For separating couples, our experienced divorce attorneys focus on asset protection and support issues, identifying and resolving them whether the matter is settled or goes to trial. We also have the breadth of experience that is critical to providing legal counsel on child custody and support. More and more, we find that couples appreciate our guidance on mediation and what it entails. In many cases, this out-of-court alternative involves substantial cost savings, less stress and is usually much shorter in duration.

In many of our cases, clients with high net worth and family businesses appreciate the assistance of our team of business lawyers.

Family Law Mediation

More and more, the Family Law attorneys at Gawthrop Greenwood, PC are asking families in Pennsylvania and Delaware:

Why Not Start with Mediation?

  • Mediation involves substantial cost savings, less stress and is usually much shorter in duration, allowing all parties to move on with their lives.
  • Mediation is an out-of-court alternative that gives families more control over the outcomes, rather than putting those decisions into the hands of a judge.
  • During mediation, all parties are more likely to comply with an order they have created instead of one imposed on them by a court.
  • Download the Family Law Mediation brochure here

How Mediation Works:

A qualified mediator is a neutral third party who is charged with preserving confidentiality while helping families resolve issues more creatively and amicably than they can in court for legal issues including divorce, custody, visitation, child support, property division and alimony.

To begin mediation, a couple contacts a qualified family law mediator to set up an initial session where the issues that need to be resolved are clearly identified. Over the course of ensuing sessions, the parties then explore and pinpoint ideal resolutions, frequently resulting in negotiation and amicable compromise. Family law mediators are trained to listen to both sides of a case without bias, find middle ground that is feasible by the law and enforceable from a legal standpoint.

One of the biggest advantages is that couples facing divorce have more settlement options than a court can provide, including longer timelines to handle assets, costs for adult children in college and considering important emotional assets like pets. Couples also have common interests and goals, which they can leverage more flexibly and personally during the mediation process.

Why Gawthrop Mediation Works:

Before hiring a family law attorney for cases including divorce, be sure to ask: Have they ever set foot in Family Court? Unfortunately, there are attorneys who misdesignate themselves as family law attorneys, and there are family law mediators who have few qualifications to act in that capacity. At Gawthrop Greenwood, our family law attorneys are members of the Pennsylvania Council of Mediators as well as Delaware Certified Family Law Mediators.

Gawthrop Greenwood’s Family Law law practice includes three seasoned attorneys with 75 years of combined experience in family law, including mediation and litigation. They have led Continuing Legal Education courses in family law matters including custody, protection from abuse and representing an unwilling minor as a guardian-ad-litem. They are recognized in their communities for public service, and recognized by their peers for superior legal achievement.

  • Prenuptial and cohabitation agreements
  • Child and spousal support issues
  • Adoptions and guardianships
  • Child custody matters
  • Separations and divorces
  • Trusts and estates

Key Contact

Mary Ann Plankinton

Mary Ann Plankinton

Family Law Mediation

More and more, the Family Law attorneys at Gawthrop Greenwood, PC are asking families in Pennsylvania and Delaware:

Why Not Start with Mediation?

  • Mediation involves substantial cost savings, less stress and is usually much shorter in duration, allowing all parties to move on with their lives.
  • Mediation is an out-of-court alternative that gives families more control over the outcomes, rather than putting those decisions into the hands of a judge.
  • During mediation, all parties are more likely to comply with an order they have created instead of one imposed on them by a court.
  • Download the Family Law Mediation brochure here

How Mediation Works:

A qualified mediator is a neutral third party who is charged with preserving confidentiality while helping families resolve issues more creatively and amicably than they can in court for legal issues including divorce, custody, visitation, child support, property division and alimony.

To begin mediation, a couple contacts a qualified family law mediator to set up an initial session where the issues that need to be resolved are clearly identified. Over the course of ensuing sessions, the parties then explore and pinpoint ideal resolutions, frequently resulting in negotiation and amicable compromise. Family law mediators are trained to listen to both sides of a case without bias, find middle ground that is feasible by the law and enforceable from a legal standpoint.

One of the biggest advantages is that couples facing divorce have more settlement options than a court can provide, including longer timelines to handle assets, costs for adult children in college and considering important emotional assets like pets. Couples also have common interests and goals, which they can leverage more flexibly and personally during the mediation process.

Why Gawthrop Mediation Works:

Before hiring a family law attorney for cases including divorce, be sure to ask: Have they ever set foot in Family Court? Unfortunately, there are attorneys who misdesignate themselves as family law attorneys, and there are family law mediators who have few qualifications to act in that capacity. At Gawthrop Greenwood, our family law attorneys are members of the Pennsylvania Council of Mediators as well as Delaware Certified Family Law Mediators.

Gawthrop Greenwood’s Family Law law practice includes three seasoned attorneys with 75 years of combined experience in family law, including mediation and litigation. They have led Continuing Legal Education courses in family law matters including custody, protection from abuse and representing an unwilling minor as a guardian-ad-litem. They are recognized in their communities for public service, and recognized by their peers for superior legal achievement.

  • Prenuptial and cohabitation agreements
  • Child and spousal support issues
  • Adoptions and guardianships
  • Child custody matters
  • Separations and divorces
  • Trusts and estates
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With offices in West Chester, Berwyn and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as well as Greater Wilmington, Delaware,
we provide the highest level of legal services throughout the Greater Mid-Atlantic Region.

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