(At least with your lawyer.)

AI is very useful but…

The allure of AI is undeniable. I present to lawyers—locally and nationally—about the expanding role AI will play in the legal profession.

But when something feels “too good to be true,” it usually is.

And while we’re still in the early days of the AI boom, we already know many of the pitfalls. Here’s one you may not be considering:

Using AI in your communications with your lawyer may be costing you more money than you think.

The pattern we’re seeing

More and more, clients are communicating with us through AI.

We can usually tell right away: the traditional font, the bolded subject headers, the tidy bullet points—and the tone. And in these emails (the length of which tends to be unmanageable), clients use AI to “explain” the law to us.

The problem is: these AI platforms always (and we do mean, always) steer clients in the wrong direction.

Most of the time, the “law” cited is just plain wrong.

For example, I asked ChatGPT to list the custody factors in Pennsylvania. It missed them.

Not most of them—all of them.

It created new custody factors, ignored the real factors, and tried to tell me I was wrong.

Why AI gets it wrong (even when it sounds right)

AI tools (including ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, and many others) do not know the law.

That’s a dangerous combination in a legal case where every move has a consequence.

The hidden cost: you pay for the cleanup

Attorneys spend three years in law school learning the law—but, more importantly, learning how to analyze it, synthesize it, and use their education and skills to represent you. They spend the rest of their careers sharpening those skills, building relationships, and learning how to navigate the legal system.

There is so much more to the practice of law than just the words in the Rules. The practice of law involves understanding the courts and our clients—and knowing how to strategize and plan to our clients’ advantage.

The documents AI drafts are nearly always wrong: they cite imaginary or incorrect rules, and they summarize the law incorrectly.

When this happens, we must spend hours:

AI isn’t saving you time. It’s creating more work—and more costs—for you.

A better way to use AI (without letting it misdirect you)

We understand why clients turn to AI.

Legal jargon is confusing. The process can feel mysterious and frustrating. Continuing to find ways to conserve costs and better understand the legal process is commendable.

However, relying on AI as “truth”—or using it to guide your attorney’s strategy—is not advisable.

The costs are high:

If you’re using AI, tell your lawyer

Be open with your lawyer about your use of AI.

We already know you’re using it.

Help us understand what you’ve read and what concerns you—so we can better help you.

Talk to us so we can enhance how we represent you, using our experience, our education, and the relationships we have built with other lawyers, the court—and with you.

Human and robotic hands shaking above the words "Stopping AI" to illustrate why AI legal advice should not replace advice from an experienced Pennsylvania family law attorney.

Pennsylvania Child Support Guidelines 2026: What Changed & What It Means for You

Starting January 1, 2026, Pennsylvania’s child support guidelines have been updated—and these changes could directly impact your support obligations or your case. Here’s what you need to know.

The Big Changes in 2026

Child Support Amounts Are Going Up

The new guidelines have increased overall child support obligations across the board. However, there’s an important exception: if both parents combined earn less than $1,300 per month, there’s no guideline-based support requirement.

But here’s the catch—and it’s important: no guideline doesn’t mean no obligation. The court still has broad discretion to award child support even when income falls below this threshold. Every case is different, and judges can order support based on the specific circumstances of your family.

Mental Health and Orthodontic Care Are Now “Necessary”

This is a significant shift. Previously, psychiatric care, psychological treatment, and orthodontic work weren’t considered reasonably necessary medical expenses. That meant the parent paying for these treatments couldn’t ask the other parent to chip in.

That has changed. As of January 1, 2026, these treatments are now classified as reasonably necessary medical expenses. If you’re paying for your child’s therapy or braces, you can now seek reimbursement from the other parent. This applies to both ongoing treatment and retroactively in many cases.

What Has Stayed the Same

The core calculation method hasn’t changed. Here’s how child support is still determined:

If you understand how it worked before, the process is still the same—just with updated numbers and new categories of expenses.

Does This Affect Your Current Order?

Yes, potentially. The new guidelines constitute what Pennsylvania law calls a “change in circumstances.” That means you may have grounds to file for a modification of your existing child support order.

Important caveat: Reopening a child support case means the court will review everything. While the new guidelines might work in your favor, there is also a chance the court could make a decision that doesn’t help your situation. This is why it is critical to seek professional guidance before filing.

What You Should Do Now

If you are currently paying or receiving child support, the 2026 changes could impact your case—whether that’s an increase, a decrease, or the ability to recover costs you’ve been covering on your own.

The best move? Contact our office for a consultation. We’ll review your specific situation, analyze whether the new guidelines work in your favor, and help you decide if modifying your current order makes sense. We will be honest about the risks and benefits so you can make an informed decision.

Don’t leave money on the table—and don’t expose yourself to unexpected changes. Let’s talk about what 2026 means for your family.

Alimony Isn’t as Rare as You Think

Alimony isn’t as rare as you think. Growing up, when I heard the word “Alimony”, I thought of all the celebrity divorces that made headlines. Movies and TV shows always made it seem that alimony was only an option when there was a substantial amount of money in the marital estate. I always believed that if both parties in a divorce could or did work for a living, that alimony would not be an option. I held this belief up until law school. Even when I took my first Family Law class, and I was told Alimony was rarely granted and there had to be good reason for it.

It wasn’t until I started working in Family law that I realized this was not true. Alimony is an option for a lot of situations regardless of wealth level. Alimony, also known as maintenance or spousal support, is court ordered financial support that can be awarded in the divorce process. There are a few different types of Alimony, and the type is awarded based on the timing and need for the award. After a divorce complaint has been filed, a Court can award Alimony Pendente Lite (APL), which is temporary alimony awarded with the intent of helping the financially dependent spouse litigate the divorce. Spousal support can be awarded after parties separate but before a divorce is finalized to help the financially dependent spouse with living costs that they may not be able to shoulder themselves upon separating. Long term Alimony is a permanent or specified term of financial support that is awarded when the divorce is final. Courts consider a lot of factors when determining financial support for the dependent spouse, including the income difference and earning capacity between spouses, cost of living, need for support, and more!

Many people stay in unhappy relationships because they are worried about the financial strain of separation and litigating a divorce. If you’re like I was and think alimony is more of a myth than a real tool to help financially-dependent spouses, you may have more options than you think. Often, a family law attorney can advise you if you are a candidate for receiving support and help determine estimates of what a court may order. At the Law Offices of Jennifer J. Riley, we are proud to help our clients make informed decisions and pursue all support options that can help them through these difficult life transitions. Alimony isn’t as rare as you think.

What’s This Every Other Weekend Thing Even All About? A Song About Separated Parents from the Perspective of the Child. – By Tyler E. Kaestner, Esq.

By Tyler E. Kaestner, Esq.

Country music singer Luke Combs’ new song “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” delivers a rare perspective. Written from the point of view of a child, the song describes the emotions and desires of coming to terms with his parent’s separation, and that his Dad is no longer living with him and his Mom.

The song begins by the Child recalling how he caught a foul ball at a baseball game, had it autographed by a player, and cherished it. He then shifts to talking about having to play ball with himself, and calling his dad to tell him he misses him, before asking if his Dad will take him out to the ballgame. The Chorus and second verse leave all pretenses behind – asking “what’s this every other weekend thing even all about?” – representing a common partial custody schedule that this Child is seemingly experiencing with his dad.

The Child in the song goes on to say that his Mom says she still loves his Dad, and in some way always will, and blames himself for his parents not being together: “I’m so sorry I was bad, I promise I’ll be better.” At the end of the second verse, the Child negotiates with his Dad: “cause I just wanna see you, and if you’ll come back, you don’t have to… take me out to the ballgame.”

The Child in this song clearly does not understand the adult complications in his parent’s relationship, he does not understand why his dad can not just pick him up from the house at any time, and ultimately, he just wants to be a kid and go see a baseball game.

Certainly, there are plenty of valid reasons and circumstances as to why the Child can not see his Dad regularly, and why the Child should not know about adult topics. However, what his song reveals is the innocence, confusion, and insecurity of a Child dealing with his world turning upside down. Sometimes, that perspective is lost in the middle of custody litigation.

While a lawyer’s duty is to advocate for his client, first and foremost, courts must consider the best interests of the child in determining a custody schedule. A family lawyer can help connect these interests, to ensure that the parent he represents, and the child, have a strong, loving relationship – which may be best served by allowing the other parent to come by for an extra visit if it helps the child transition to a new normal.

This is such an impactful song that I think every parent going through a custody dispute should listen to. It might just make your Child’s whole week if they could go to that ballgame with their other parent.

Category: Family Law

Stop Using AI