The owner of Risoldi Law Offices, LLC, Carla Risoldi, a former Bucks County Assistant District Attorney, has practiced law since 1991, She founded Risoldi Law Offices, LLC in 199.. Today, Carla Risoldi represents people in family law proceedings for divorce, custody, and alimony. She also represents litigants on both sides in protection from abuse (PFA) cases in Pennsylvania and Domestic Violence (DV) cases in New Jersey.
In Pennsylvania, PFA orders can be entered into by agreement or after a hearing and finding of abuse by a judge. They can be for up to three years, but if problems persist, the petitioner can seek a new order. The courts will usually send the petitioner before a judge on the very day that they file for protection from abuse, to see if a temporary order should be entered prior to the scheduled hearing. This first hearing is called an ex parte hearing because the other side is there and does not participate. However, the other side is served with notice and does participate in the final hearing.
In New Jersey the DV protection orders are considered “permanent” which means that there is no expiration date on the order. At some later point, the defendant could petition the court to terminate the order, but that will by no means be automatically granted and they are often denied after a full hearing. For this reason, it is very important for a DV defendant in New Jersey to take the matter seriously and defend against it.
If you are either seeking the protection from the court from abuse or domestic violence or are facing such a hearing as a defendant, you should always consult with an experienced attorney. Carla Risoldi can be reached at 215-741-3700 or http://www.risoldilaw.com
A 2021 “Lawyer of Distinction” and a member of the Bucks and Mercer County Bar Associations, Carla Risoldi has owned and operated Risoldi Law Offices, LLC, in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, since 1994. In this position, Carla Risoldi provides clients with a wide range of legal support, particularly in areas of family law.
In 2003, New Jersey implemented a domestic partnerships scheme. It was one of the first states to do so after California. In 2006, advocates of same-sex unions sued to transcend domestic partnership in the case, Lewis v. Harris. The judges struck down the domestic partnership arrangement and split 4-3 to allow the Legislature to pass civil unions instead of allowing same-sex marriage. In December 2006, the New Jersey Legislature passed a bill providing for civil unions and recognizing other states’ civil unions. Civil Unions became the law in New Jersey On October 25, 2006, when the Supreme Court of New Jersey unanimously ruled in Lewis v. Harris that the “unequal dispensation of rights and benefits to committed same-sex partners can no longer be tolerated under our State Constitution.” With the Harris decision, same-sex couples were granted the same rights, benefits and responsibilities as heterosexual couples with respect to their relationships. On December 14, 2006, the New Jersey Legislature passed a bill providing for civil unions,[6] which was signed into law by then-Governor Jon Corzine on December 21, 2006. The Civil Union Act came into effect on February 19, 2007. On December 7, 2009, the New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee approved a same-sex marriage bill by a vote of 7 to 6, The Christie administration appealed Jacobson’s ruling and also requested a stay of its execution. The state Supreme Court accepted the appeal on October 11 and scheduled oral arguments for January 6–7, 2014.[34] On October 18, 2013, the Supreme Court rendered a provisional, unanimous (7–0 vote) order denying the stay, thereby provisionally authorizing same-sex marriage in the state pending its decision on the state’s appeal of Judge Jacobson’s ruling.[35] In the Supreme Court’s decision, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner wrote that “the state has advanced a number of arguments, but none of them overcome this reality: Same-sex couples who cannot marry are not treated equally under the law today”.[36] The court held that it could “find no public interest in depriving a group of New Jersey residents of their constitutional right to equal protection while the appeals process unfolds.”[37] Weddings were performed just after midnight on October 21, 2013, and Governor Christie dropped his administration’s appeal of the lower court ruling that morning.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s stances on same sex marriages and civil unions has changed in recent years. For an extended period of time, the state did not recognize same sex marriages, which left couples in a tough situation if they wished to end their marriages. Because Pennsylvania did not recognize the marriages, the state could not grant divorces. At the same time, the states that did recognize same sex marriages could not authorize divorces for these couples because they no longer resided there. Same-sex marriage has been legally recognized in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania since May 20, 2014, when a U.S. federal district court judge ruled that the Commonwealth’s 1996 statutory ban on recognizing same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.[1] The state had prohibited recognition of same-sex marriage by statute since 1996. It had never added such a ban to its State Constitution.
The state has never recognized civil unions or domestic partnerships and was the last state in the Northeast region where same-sex couples could not legally marry. Pennsylvania has never recognized civil unions or domestic partnerships and was the last state in the Northeast region where same-sex couples could not legally marry. Fortunately, these “wedlocked” situations were resolved when Pennsylvania began to recognize same sex marriages in 2014. However, this move did not change the fact that the state does not recognize civil unions or domestic partnerships of any kind. This meant a couple with a civil union from another state that moved to Pennsylvania had no legal recourse for dissolving the union.
This changed on December 28, 2016, when the Superior Court of Pennsylvania decided Neyman v Buckley, which resulted in the dissolution of a 2002 civil union between a couple from Vermont. The Superior Court, while in no way authorizing civil unions or domestic partnerships in the state, determined that civil unions must be held as the legal equivalent of a same sex marriage and therefore could be governed by Pennsylvania divorce law. Same-sex marriage has been legally recognized in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania since May 20, 2014, when a U.S. federal district court judge ruled that the Commonwealth’s 1996 statutory ban on recognizing same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.[1] The state had prohibited recognition of same-sex marriage by statute since 1996. It had never added such a ban to its State Constitution . If you need an attorney to navigate your same-sex divorce, call Carla Risoldi at 215-741-3700 or learn more about RISOLDI LAW OFFICES, LLC at http://www.risoldilaw.com
A Pennsylvania attorney in private practice, Carla Risoldi founded Risoldi Law Offices in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, in 1994. Among her other areas of expertise, Carla Risoldi is adept at family law mediation.
An alternative to traditional litigation and court processes, mediation allows parties to settle disputes through collaborative negotiation with the help and guidance of an impartial and mutually agreed-upon legal arbitrator or mediator. Many people turn to mediation to settle matters related to family law.
Mediation is a particularly popular way to settle family disputes due to the unique benefits that it offers. For one
thing, mediation allows opposing parties to avoid the public courtroom setting and resolve often highly sensitive family issues in private.
Mediation also places participants in a better position to promote cooperation and limit hostility. This can be especially important for divorcing parents who will have to continue to collaborate in order to coparent their children.
Individuals who want to settle family legal disputes amicably can certainly benefit from the lower cost of mediation. Resolution through mediation also generally comes with less hassle and stress.
If you are interested in divorce or custody mediation, contact Carla Risoldi at samaggikaranam divorce & custody mediation, llc at 215-741-1011 or sam-mediation.com.
Ex Bucks County, Pennsylvania assistant district attorney An attorney licensed and practicing in Pennsylvania and New Jersey since 1991, Carla Risoldi has over three decades of experience in law. In 1994, Carla Risoldi founded the Langhorne, Pennsylvania-based Risoldi Law Offices, LLC. She serves the community by providing legal counsel in family law areas such as child support, divorce, spousal support, and child custody.
Child custody is the legal term used to refer to parental rights and responsibilities related to caring for a child. Child custody arises in cases of divorce, separation, or the death of both parents. There are different technical names for the various types of child custody, one such distinction being between legal and physical custody. Within them there are distinctions such as primary physical custody, partial physical custody, supervised visitation and the like. Legal custody determines which parent has the right to make important decisions in the child’s life, such as education, non-emergency medical treatment, and religious upbringing. Physical custody is almost always shared. On the other hand, physical custody determines the child’s primary residence and the custody schedule.
While many custody cases are determined in court by judge or through a court procedure such as with a court representative such as a conference officer or “custody master” , mediation is an alternative dispute resolution method that helps parents reach an agreement on child custody without going through a traditional court process. Unlike in court, where a judge makes the ultimate custody decisions, a mediator uses their skills and knowledge to facilitate an agreed arrangement between both parents. Below are some of the important advantages of using mediation in child custody cases:
1. Less conflict; Mediation has been shown to have a reduced impact of parental conflict on children. 2. High participation rate; Mediation Increases parents’ participation as they get to decide the terms of the agreement. 3. Time and money saving; Mediation saves on time and money as compared to having your case decided in local family courts. 4. Confidentiality; Mediation also offers a high level of confidentiality as mediators and parties involved cannot discuss issues raised with other members, unlike in court proceedings whereas court proceedings and filings may be open to the public. However, if the agreement reached through mediation is reduced to a final custody order submitted to and signed by a judge, that order is a public record. If you are in the midst of a custody dispute or one is in the near future, consider contacting a custody mediator such as Carla Risoldi at samaggikaranam divorce & custody mediation, llc at 215-741-1011 or at contact@sam-mediation.com.
A graduate of Fordham Law, Carla V. Risoldi, who practices family law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, has owned and operated RISOLDI LAW OFFICES , LLC with offices in Langhorne and New Hope, Pennsylvania, since 1994. Drawing on three decades of legal experience, Carla Risoldi provides services in various areas of law, including child custody cases.
In the state of Pennsylvania, child custody cases are determined sixteen factors set out in the law, mostly relating to the “best interests of the child” standard.. Parents, grandparents, those in loco parentis and others involved in a custody case are advised to seek out the aid of a knowledgeable family attorney. That said, it can be helpful to become familiar with a few important aspects of child custody cases.
To start with, child custody cases can be very contentious, as can other aspects of divorce proceedings. With this in mind, courts tend to favor the parent or custodian who is more likely to facilitate a positive relationship between their child and the other parent.. The stated goal of Pennsylvania child custody law is that, whenever possible, the child should have the benefit of having both parents in his or her life.
Naturally, any element of abuse will be highly relevant over the course of custody proceedings. Any instances of abuse on record will be carefully considered by the courts, as will any indication that the child or other guardian might be at risk of harm while living with one party. The law in Pennsylvania also requires anyone seeking custody to file a verified form stating all relevant criminal or child protective services history of themselves and anyone else in their household. The other party in the custody dispute must also file a similar form.
The courts will prioritize a living situation that represents as little disruption to a child’s life as possible. For example, if one parent has been largely responsible for parental duties, they will be looked on favorably by the courts. That said, the courts understand that as the living relationships between the parents change, the parent who was less involved will often assume more parental duties and the courts often seek to encourage this. Similarly, a parent will have better odds of gaining custody if they can provide stability and consistency in areas of home life, social interactions, community engagement, education, and so on. This includes a good working relationship with the other parent so that both parents are “on the same page”: as much as possible regarding parenting decisions.
In addition to legal services relating to custody in family courts in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Carla Risoldi also offers custody mediation services through samaggikaranam divorce & custody mediation, llc. Ms. Risoldi is also a court-appointed Parent Coordinator in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
A former assistant district attorney in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Carla Risoldi, who is licensed to practice law in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, has operated her own private law offices in Langhorne, Pennsylvania and New Hope, Pennsylvania, since 1994. Carla Risoldi has earned honors from Lawyers of Distinction on multiple occasions. She has also consistently had a “five-star” review from clients on both Google and Avvo.com. “I get most of my clients from word of mouth” says Ms. Risoldi. Risoldi Law Offices strives to provide diligent and compassionate representation to their clients and that is part of the reason for the success of the firm for so many years.
The Lawyers of Distinction selection process begins with an attorney nomination or a suggestion from the selection committee. Next, Lawyers of Distinction conducts extensive independent research in areas such as educational and professional background, case results, awards, pro bono service, publications, lectures, and both client and peer feedback. These research efforts are particularly focused on objective and quantifiable criteria such as years of experience and reviews on Google and AVVO. Candidates with the proper credentials go on to the third step in the selection process, which is an extensive ethics review and final background check that ensures a clean record for at least a decade. Lawyers of Distinction finally selects its members from this thoroughly vetted candidate pool.
If you have a family law matter, consider contacting Carla V. Risoldi at risoldilawoffices.com or calling 215-741-3700.
An accomplished attorney, Carla Risoldi owns and operates Risoldi Law Offices in Langhorne and New Hope, Pennsylvania. She has headed this private practice since 1994. Ms. Risoldi passed the Pennsylvania and New Jersey bars in 1991, and served as a Bucks County Assistant District Attorney. . Carla Risoldi maintains active membership in multiple professional organizations, including the Bucks County Bar Association (BCBA).
According to the current Bucks County Bar Association history: “The Bucks County Bar Association (BCBA) is one of the oldest bar associations in the United States of America. The first courts held in Bucks County were those established by William Penn, as early as 1683 when the first Provincial Assembly divided the state into Philadelphia, Bucks, and Chester counties.
In 1853, seventeen members of the Bucks County bar met and formed the Association of the Bar of Bucks County, an organization comprised of legal practitioners.
Incorporated in 1883 with 40 charter members, the Bucks County Bar Association initially concerned itself with the welfare of the judicial system, the courts, the administration of justice, service to the public and the betterment of the profession. As the population of the county grew at a dramatic rate, so too did the number of members in the Association.
Today, the BCBA has over 800 members. Since the mid 1900’s the BCBA has established a legal journal, The Bucks County Law Reporter, created a lawyer referral and information service program; sponsored a local chapter of the Legal Aid Society; implemented a mock trial program for local high schools, and founded the Bucks County Bar Foundation, a charitable arm of the BCBA. At present, the BCBA has over 30 different committees, sections and divisions each actively working to further the purposes of the bar association.
The mission of the BCBA is to promote and support programs, organizations, and individuals throughout Bucks County who are engaged in activities designed to foster respect for the rule of law, the advancement of rights, liberties and protections under the law as well as activities which have as a principal purpose the advancement of social justice for the individuals, families and communities of Bucks County. The BCBA aims to uphold legal and ethical standards in the legal community. For members, the BCBA offers an important platform for education, professional development and networking. For the community, the BCBA serves as a resource offering education, legal assistance and financial resources for community members demonstrating need.”
Family law attorney Carla Risoldi is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Attorney Carla Risoldi works closely with her clients to reach divorce agreements that ensure spouses and their children receive the support they are entitled to under state law.
In 2014, New Jersey passed legislation that redefined the conditions for alimony. Prior to this rule change, a spouse could be ordered to pay alimony permanently. Today, the duration of alimony payments is now dependent on several factors, including the length of the marriage. The new arrangement, known as open duration alimony, can only be applied if the marriage lasted at least 20 years.
The spouse who receives alimony must also demonstrate financial dependency. The order terminates if the more financially-secure spouse passes away or retires. Likewise, the spouse receiving support no longer qualifies for alimony if he or she remarries or has a long-term relationship with a live-in partner. The terms of open duration alimony can also be revised should the paying spouse face a significant change in employment or finances.
Law regarding alimony and property division in a divorce can be complicated. If you are faced with a divorce, you should have the benefit of experienced counsel. Carla Risoldi has been practicing family law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey since 1994. She practices throughout New Jersey with an emphasis on cases in Mercer County, Burlington County and Hunterdon County, New Jersey. You can reach top-rated family law attorney Carla Risoldi at Risoldi Law Offices, 215-741-3700, http://www.risoldilawoffices.com.
After a term working as an assistant district attorney, Carla Risoldi founded her Pennsylvania and New Jersey legal firm, Risoldi Law Offices, LLC. Carla Risoldi focuses on areas of family law, including divorce, grandparents’ rights, and child custody.
When parents separate and cannot agree on a child custody arrangement, both Pennsylvania and New Jersey courts weigh several factors to determine the legal and physical custody arrangements for children. While children’s safety and best interests are prioritized, their input is also considered in most cases.
How a child’s preference impacts custody decisions depends on a variety of factors. For example, if both parents are equally fit, the child’s preference may contribute more significantly to the final decision.
Further, older children who provide reasoned preferences may have more influence on custody outcomes than young children who may not be able to articulate their feelings. Likewise, many young children may experience psychological distress if asked to choose a parent. For this reason, the preferences of young children are generally presented to the court through a psychological report rather than direct testimony.
Most courts have some type of pre-trial evaluation process that can assist the courts in understanding the various positions of the parties and these usually consider the input of older children and their preferences. In some cases, a special attorney may be appointed to represent the child separately from the parents. If the case still ends up going to court for a full trial, the judge may have the child come to testify, either in open court or in chambers with the court reporter present and usually with both parents’ attorneys present. Procedures will vary from judge to judge and may depend on the age and maturity of the child and the facts of the case.
If you are facing a disputed custody situation, you should have the benefit of legal advice from experienced counsel. Carla Risoldi is not only an experienced family law attorney, but also is a custody mediator, having founded samaggikaranam divorce & custody mediation, llc in 2019. You can reach Ms. Risoldi by calling 215-741-3700 or at http://www.risoldilawoffices.com or sam-mediation.com
After graduating with a B.A. Magna Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania (where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa) and a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in Manhattan, Carla Risoldi became an Assistant District Attorney in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. In July, 1994, Carla Risoldi opened her own law firm, Risoldi Law Offices, LLC, which has been serving satisfied clients in Pennsylvania and New Jersey ever since..
At the start of civil lawsuits, usually meaning a lawsuit over money damages, attorneys have to write pleadings – documents filed with the court. These documents clarify each side’s initial standpoint.
The pleadings phase starts with a complaint submitted by the plaintiff. The complaint contains the plaintiff’s view of the facts and what he/she wants to receive from the lawsuit.
After that, the defendant submits a pleading, called an answer. This document clarifies the defendant’s standpoint and the reason the plaintiff’s case is not valid. This document may also contain facts omitted from the complaint. Ir is important that the defendant answer the pleading in the manner and time required by law, or else, he or she will face the possibility of losing the case by way of a “default”.
The defendant may also file another type of pleading called a counter-claim. This pleading asserts that the plaintiff has harmed the defendant. The defendant may submit the counter-claim together with or separate from the answer, but must be aware of the procedural requirements and time allowed to do so.
Civil litigation can be complex, involving many types of pleadings, including “motions” relating to issues such as procedural and evidentiary issues and also includes the “discovery” process whereby each side can ask the other questions either in written form, called “interrogatories”, or in person, called a “deposition”, As part of discovery, parties can also request documents from each other in the form of “request for production of documents” or from third parties, usually by way of a “subpoena”. One side may also request that the other side agree to certain facts which is called a “request for admissions.”
Many counties, including Bucks County in Pennsylvania, will require that the parties participate in a court-sponsored arbitration process if the amount in dispute meets the criteria. In Bucks County, the arbitration panel consists of three attorneys selected at random from the roster of attorneys in the county. This is an excellent opportunity for the litigants to test the strength of their cases or defenses and often leads to a settlement, either before or after the panel submits their recommended resolution for the case. Other counties have similar programs and some, such as in New Jersey, have specialized courts for these lower-dispute cases, such as the “Special Civil Part”.
If you are the plaintiff or defendant in a civil litigation, you should have the benefit of experienced counsel. You can reach Carla Risoldi at 215-741-3700.
About Carla Risoldi 
