• Pennsylvania laws address many aspects of family life.family image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
  
  Family life is often pleasant and rewarding, but challenging situations can arise that the state must address. Pennsylvania has laws focusing on all aspects of family life. The laws are found in Title 23 of the Pennsylvania Statutes and strive for fairness to all parties but are especially protective of children.
  
  

Home Study Report

• Pennsylvania family law forbids placing a child in the car of a potential adoptive parent unless a study of the fitness of the potential parent or parents, as well as the home environment, is conducted by a qualified person or agency. This study must take place within three years prior to the adoption with a supplemental review occurring within one year of the adoption. Only an adoption agency, local public child care agency or court approved social worker may conduct the study.
  
  

Premarital Agreemant

• Any party to a premarital agreement bears the burden of proof when attempting to have the agreement set aside, according to Pennsylvania family law. The requesting party must show that she did not enter into the agreement voluntarily or that she was not given full disclosure of the other party’s property or financial obligations and did not waive any right to this knowledge.
  
  

Publishing Names

• Any county in Pennsylvania has the right to publish the names of any individuals who are more than 30 days overdue on their child support payments in a local newspaper, according to the Consolidated Statutes of Pennsylvania Section 4309. County and newspaper officials are immune from civil liability as of result of publication unless they engaged in deliberate misconduct.
  
  

PACE

• The Pennsylvania Adoption Cooperative Exchange is part of the Department of Public Welfare. It registers children available for adoption and potential adoptive parents who were vetted by other agencies, oversees a public information program informing potential parents about the children registered with PACE and prepares an annual report concerning its activities during the year. This report is sent to both the Legislature and the governor, according to Pennsylvania Statute 2554.
  
  

Oral Testimony

• Every applicant for a Pennsylvania marriage license must give oral testimony under oath affirming there are no legal restrictions on the marriage taking place. She must also give information concerning previous marriages and verbally confirm all relevant information required in the license application. Military personnel unable to attend an oral examination may testify by affidavit.