1. What is Mr. Tamanini’s Philosophy and Background? 2. What is Family Law? 3. What are my rights in divorce? 4. What is required to retain you to represent me?

Do you accept CREDIT and DEBIT CARDS?
5. I’m sure I want a divorce, should I be doing anything now, before seeing you? 6. My case is pretty complicated, do you handle complex cases? 7. I’ve heard of “No Fault Divorce,” what is it? 8. I just got divorce papers in the mail, what should I do now? 9. What is the ADVERSARY SYSTEM used in divorce ? 10. What is the COLLABORATIVE LAW system used in settlement-oriented divorces? 11. What counties does your office serve? 12. Consultation fee? Or Free initial consultation? 13. How long does it take to get an appointment, and what about evenings and Saturdays? 14. Can I make my spouse go to counseling under the Divorce law or Custody law? 15. My spouse says that we should both have one lawyer, is that allowed? 16. Can my children’s father or mother keep them from me? 17. Is there such a thing as a Legal Separation? 18. Can I change my name as part of the divorce? 19. How do I apply for support for me and/or the children? 20. What about physical abuse of me or family members? 21. What if I am wrongly accused of abusing a family member? 22. If I get child support, must I prove how I use the money? 23. What if I’m not sure I want a divorce? 24. What if I want to stop my spouse from divorcing me? 25. How does the law decide how much I can get in support payments? 26. What is alimony, and alimony pendente lite? 27. Does your office handle probate of Wills or estates and Living Wills, and Powers of Attorney?

1. What is Mr. Tamanini’s Philosophy and Background? The Tamanini Law Office's mission is to provide conscientious, aggressive representation of you within the bounds of the law. We promise uncompromising loyalty and dedication to you. Along with our mission, Mr. Tamanini has set these priorities for our office: you will always be treated respectfully, your phone calls will be answered immediately or within 24 hours. Also, you will receive a copy of all correspondence and documents that come in or go out of this office.

Mr. Tamanini has been serving central Pennsylvania in the private practice of law since 1978.

He regularly takes continuing legal education coursework to maintain and expand his professional knowledge. Among the coursework he has taken in the last several years were the following: New Rules on Petitions and Motions, PBA County Bar Conference, Practical Dispute Resolution, Bench Bar Dialogue on Local Rules Cumberland County, Bench Bar Family Law: 2005 Divorce Code Amendments, Practice Tips from Judges, Interpreting Professional Custody Evaluations, A view from the Bench, Internet Legal Research, The New Child Custody Laws, Advance Divorce Code Amendments, Mediation in Dauphin County, An hour with the Dauphin County Court Administrator, New Local rules on Motions and Petitions, Family Law Potpourri, Current Issues for Child Advocates, Family of Laws/Family Lawyer, Support Practice Update, Bankruptcy/Domestic Relations, Family Law Section Winter Meeting, Collaborative law and Advance Collaborative law, Divorce Mediation.

Mr. Tamanini is a former Board member of the Dauphin County Bar Association and a current member of its Court Rules, and Alternative Dispute Resolution committees. He is a member of the Dauphin County Bar Association Family Law Section. Mr. Tamanini is the founder and coordinator of the Dauphin County Bar Association Divorce Master Reports archiving service and a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section. He is a member of the International Association of Collaborative Professionals, and a current member and past Executive Board member of the Independent Collaborative Attorneys of Central Pennsylvania.

Mr. Tamanini is a participant in the Dauphin County Bar Association Pro Bono program for those unable to afford an attorney. He is a former volunteer mediator for Neighborhood Dispute Settlement of Central Pennsylvania, which helps solve problems between people without resort to court. He has been appointed as a Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas Arbitrator.

Mr. Tamanini is familiar with drug and alcohol issues, as well as mental retardation problems as a result of his work with the Dauphin County Drugs and Alcohol Advisory Board. He has also been a Board member of the ARC of Dauphin County and is familiar with mental retardation and autism issues, particularly in children. Mr. Tamanini has been an Allied Arts Fund Allocation Panel Member. Top
2. What is Family Law? Family Law is a specific area of the law that gives us the rules to solve your problems in situations like divorce, separation, custody, child and spousal support, property settlement agreements, alimony and more. Top
3. What are my rights in divorce? You do have rights in divorce. Both of you may have certain duties too. We explain these rights and duties to you at the first office visit. For instance, parties have the right to a No Fault divorce with no hearing, if the marriage is irretrievably broken. There is the right to a fair division of property and real estate. Everyone has a right to some level of custody or visitation with their minor children. You may have the right to receive fair income support before, during, or even after the divorce. You have the right to a fair division of all things of value that you and your spouse have gotten during your years together after marriage. Things of value can include money, property, pensions, retirement accounts, and many other things. You also have a right to fairly divide up debts that you may have gotten during your years together too. Top
4. What is required to retain you and do you take credit cards? First, we need to meet you at the initial consultation. Each case varies, and after considering the extent of your particular matter and the services required to help solve your problems, Mr. Tamanini will quote you an initial refundable retainer fee. If there is a balance remaining from the retainer fee after you have paid our fees and costs, the balance is refunded to you.

Yes, We accept MASTER CARD, and VISA. Call the office at (717) 541-1805 to make payment. Top
5. I’m sure I want a divorce, should I be doing anything now, or should I just retain you to file a divorce case? Sometimes it can be important to prepare yourself for an upcoming divorce before filing papers, or even announcing your intentions. The reasons can vary from case to case and they may be for safety reasons or just plain preplanning. Therefore, you ought to devote time to planning, with your attorney, before taking legal action. Top
6. My case is pretty complicated, do you handle complex cases? Yes, our office’s mission is to help good people at a bad time in their lives. We truly approach complex cases with a view toward solving problems with creativity, using the power of the law for you. Top
7. I’ve heard of “No Fault Divorce,” what is it? No Fault Divorce in Pennsylvania includes the most common legal grounds for divorce. If someone believes that their marriage is irretrievably broken, they can get a divorce. Top
8. I got divorce papers in the mail, what should I do now? Once you get the divorce papers, you ought to make an appointment to see an attorney at your earliest opportunity. Since this is how we help people, we want to serve you. Top
9. What is the adversary system used in divorce ? The adversary or court representation system is one in which each side retains an attorney to counsel them and represent them in solving their problem. The bottom line is that the attorney must be willing to represent you in front of a judge, divorce master, custody conciliator, or support conference officer. Court representation means that we will represent you in court if necessary. We do this aggressively by thoroughly preparing the case. This is done by meticulous analysis of all the facts in your matter, and also preparing you for often rigorous hearings. With our preparation, you will be ready, more confident and able to do your best. This will help us present your case. The adversary or litigation process can end in front of a judge. In this system, you must depend on and trust your lawyer. With our meticulous preparation, we discover how your spouse and his/her attorney approach the case. We then take the measures needed to handle your matter even if the other side is argumentative, and difficult to deal with. Sometimes when we vigorously stand up for you, and make your case to the other side, (and sometimes with the threat of going to court) a negotiated private settlement can be reached. Top
10. What is the Collaborative system used in settlement-oriented divorces? In cases where you want to settle without court, and think your spouse might agree, Mr. Tamanini is one of about 30 attorneys in central Pennsylvania who are specially trained in the Collaborative Law Process. This legal process is for couples who believe they can dissolve their marriages without the challenges of litigation. Both parties must choose an attorney specially trained in the Collaborative Process and we have a list of trained attorneys for your spouse to select from, if you want to move in this direction.

This is a very special type of dispute resolution; very different from the adversary court representation process.

It is particularly effective for couples committed to maintaining decent relationships with each other during and after the divorce. This may minimize negative consequences in many ways, especially if you have minor children.

Collaborative law can be used to settle property division, support for children and a spouse, custody and visitation matters, alimony and any other type of marital problem.

The goals are the same in both court representation and collaborative process. That is, to help you deal with the present circumstances, and prepare for the future. The big difference with collaborative divorce is that it can allow you and your spouse to reach a mutually satisfactory divorce settlement instead of facing the sometimes unpredictable results of a judge-imposed decision in a court of law.

While both resolution processes have proven to be generally effective, some differences may affect a couple's decision to choose the Collaborative Process when deciding which would be the most appropriate way to go. For example, there is the issue of fees and experts. Although few comparison studies have been conducted comparing the costs of collaborative divorce, the general consensus is that litigation on average, is more expensive. In Collaborative Divorce, the parties may split the costs and fees of neutral outside experts, rather than each paying for an adversary expert to evaluate values of pensions, real estate, businesses etc. The Collaborative Process can move a complex case from beginning to end much more quickly. The parties, not the court system, set the pace on when to move faster, or sometimes even slower. Top
11. What counties does your office serve? We help with Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Cumberland County, York County, Lancaster County, Lebanon County, Snyder County and Perry County divorce cases. For those individuals who may live far away, but the other side lives in a central Pennsylvania county, we can also serve as your attorney and will give you advice on your family problem. Top
12. Consultation fee? Or Free initial consultation? We do charge a consultation fee for each new client inquiry. We believe you get important value at the consultation. Mr. Tamanini meets personally with you for one hour to review and evaluate your family problem. For this confidential and attorney client privileged consultation, and advice on your family separation or other family problem, we charge a flat fee of $100, which is payable at this first meeting. Top
13. How long does it take to get an appointment, and what about evenings and Saturdays? We try to schedule the initial consultation with a you within a week of your call. We will arrange to see you even sooner if there is an emergency. Your initial consultation will include one hour with Mr. Tamanini. If you want to set up an appointment now, please call at (717) 541-1805. You can also leave a message on our confidential voice mail after hours and we will call you back. After the first visit in the office, we can set up evening or Saturday morning visits for your convenience. Top
14. Can I make my spouse go to counseling under the Divorce law or Custody law? Ordinarily, outside of a divorce or possibly a custody matter, courts will not make your spouse go to counseling.

If a divorce action has been filed. The Divorce Code specifically says that either you or your spouse can make a timely request for marriage counseling for both of you. However, the maximum number of counseling sessions that will be ordered is three sessions. After that, neither side can be compelled to attend. Top
15. My spouse says that we should both have one lawyer. Is that allowed? Legally, an attorney can only represent one person. It is possible that your spouse doesn’t want to get an attorney. We have worked for clients with this situation. If you and your spouse have an idea how you’d like to resolve matters related to divorce you alone retain us to advise you and prepare documentation for you to present to your spouse. Top
16. Can my children’s father or mother keep them from me? The short answer is emphatically "No!". If the other parent is not being reasonable, and a decision must be made by a judge, the law requires that all custody and visitation cases be decided by relying on the "Best Interests of the Children". Today, in Pennslvania, all courts recognize that some involvement in a child's life by a non-custodial mother or father figure is usually in the best interest of the children. If there are issues of drugs, alcohol or physical/mental abuse, these can severely limit or prevent visitation that one parent may get. We focus on “parenting plans” which both parents can agree on and take part in. Top
17. Is there such a thing as a Legal Separation? There is no legal status of being legally separated in Pennsylvania. However, it is possible for a couple to enter into a binding written agreement which sets out their rights on everything from living separately, to support issues, to property division or property rights. Top
18. Can I change my name as part of the divorce? Yes, a name change for you as part of a divorce action is easy to obtain and inexpensive. Top
19. How do I apply for support for me and/or the children? Every county courthouse has a Domestic Relations Office. You can find the address and phone number in the phone book. It is best to call ahead and check for the best time to apply. We often see cases where it is best for the person seeking support to get legal advice before applying, since the other side may have defenses that you need to be ready for in advance. Top
20. What about physical abuse of me or family members? There are ways to get help if someone in the family is abusing you physically. Modern law in Pennsylvania explicitly forbids it, and we can help you get the abuse stopped, even if it means removing the abuser from the home and keeping them away. This is done under the Protection from Abuse Act. You can get help free of charge if you don’t want to use a private attorney. If you need immediate help because you are in danger of serious harm, get out of the house. Then call for help. Any police department can refer you to your local county protection from abuse service. Top
21. What if I am wrongly accused of abusing a family member? Sometimes this happens too. If you are wrongly accused, we have the experience to advise you and help you to set things right. Top
22. If I get child support, must I prove how I use the money? Ordinarily, the answer is no. Under the law, if you are receiving child support through a court order, you are considered to have the proper judgment on how the support money is used for your family. Flagrant abuse of this trust given to you can be the cause of severe penalties. Top
23. What if I’m not sure I want a divorce? If you are not sure you want a divorce, feel free to call us for a useful booklet titled “Making Marriage Last”. We mostly serve folks who have broken marriages, or need Family Law services and we’re always going to be busy helping them. But we know that divorce isn’t the answer in every case. If you are sure divorce is the answer in your case, we’d like to help you. If you are not sure, but want to know your rights, we’ll be ready to explain them in detail here in the office. If you are interested in the booklet, we’ll mail it to any address you give us. This booklet was developed by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and was put together after a comprehensive survey to determine the most common factors leading to divorce. Top
24. What if I want to stop my spouse from divorcing me? You may have good reasons for trying to delay a divorce in Pennsylvania. Under the law, you can delay the procedure from moving forward for two years after you and your spouse separate. We can give you guidance and sound legal advice on any material benefits and even material detriments to you that may occur if a delay were to occur. Top
25. How does the law decide how much I can get in support payments? Decisions on the amount of support are usually based on calculations contained in a Supreme Court chart that is used for determining child and spousal support. If you are in a high income bracket, and/or you have special circumstances, certain factors can be taken into account that may affect how much you can receive for your needs. Top
26. What is alimony, and alimony pendente lite?* Alimony Pendente Lite is a form of support payment to a dependent spouse during a divorce action. Alimony is a form of support payment that a court may order one spouse to receive once the divorce decree has been signed. Top
27. Does your office handle probate of Wills or estates and Living Wills, and Powers of Attorney? Yes,when you decide that it is time for your Will to be made (even more important after a divorce), we'll help there. We'll explain and prepare Wills, Living Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Healthcare Powers of Attorney. We also help Executors and Administrators carry out their duties in Dauphin County, Cumberland County or Perry Counties. We help the personal representative carry out the wishes of a deceased person’s will. If there was no will, we give guidance on complying with the law, paying bills and distributing property to next of kin. The questions and the answers above are based on questions asked of us, and on Pennsylvania law.

Divorce/Family Law, Collaborative Law, Wills and Estate Probate
(717) 541-1805

Uncompromising Loyalty and Dedication in Harrisburg divorces, as well as divorces in Dauphin County, Cumberland County, York County, Lebanon County, Lancaster County, Snyder County, and Perry County.