Discovery and Evidence in Pennsylvania Family Law Cases

Agenda / Content Covered

1. Practical Tips for Discovery Requests: From Interrogatories to Subpoenas
   9:00 - 9:45, Karen A. Ulmer
   1. Interrogatories
   2. Requests for Production of Documents
   3. Requests for Admissions
   4. Orders for Physical/Mental Examination
   5. Issuing Subpoenas in Divorce Cases
   6. Actions for Non-Compliant Parties
2. Discovering Hidden Assets and Income
   9:45 - 10:30, Karen A. Ulmer
   1. Premarital/Prenuptial Agreement Provisions
   2. Paystubs and Other Employment Records
   3. Tax Returns
   4. Financial Account Statements
   5. Pension/Retirement Accounts
   6. Insurance Policies
   7. Business Records
3. Smartphone, Social Media, and Other Electronic Evidence
   10:45 - 11:30, Cassandra Colombo
   1. Social Media Platforms: Procedures and Pointers
   2. Securing Electronically Stored Information (ESI)
   3. Smartphone/Tablet Discovery
   4. Email Discovery
   5. Video-Sharing Apps
   6. Subpoenaing Cell Phone Records, Social Media, etc.
   7. Retrieving Deleted and Lost Data
4. Divorce Depositions: Key Tactics and Questions You Must Know
   11:30 - 12:15, Cassandra Colombo
   1. Preparing Your Witness
   2. Preparing Documents for Deposition
   3. Financial Questions
   4. Custody Questions
   5. Mental Health Expert Reports and Depositions
   6. Practical Tips for Dealing With Difficult Deponents
5. Parental Alienation and Abuse: Evidence and Witnesses
   1:15 - 2:00, Julie Beroes
6. Evidence Authentication and Admission in Family Law Cases
   2:00 - 2:45, Laura Robbins
   1. Evidence Rules and Procedures
   2. Key Strategies to Get Your Evidence Admitted and Keep Theirs Out
   3. Authenticating Social Media, Email, and Text Evidence
   4. Expert Witness Admissibility: Valuation Experts, Mental Health Experts, Vocational Experts, and More
   5. Child Testimony
   6. Hearsay Objections and Exceptions
7. Direct and Cross Examination of Expert Witnesses
   3:00 - 3:30, Julie Beroes
8. Ethics in Family Law
   3:30 - 4:30, Laura Robbins
   1. Client/Lawyer Relationship
   2. Attorneys' Fees
   3. Communication With Adverse Parties
   4. Malpractice Concerns and Considerations
   5. Duty of Candor to the Tribunal

Accreditation Details:

Elizabeth A. Beroes is the owner of Beroes Law Center, P.C. She has practiced law for 27 years in the areas of family law, criminal law, estates and personal injury (female issues). Ms. Beroes' estate practice involves, wills, trusts, guardianships and complex litigation involving heir/beneficiary contests. She has tried many divorce cases in Allegheny, Westmoreland, Lawrence, Washington Butler, Beaver and Fayette counties where court appointed valuation experts have testified in each case. Ms. Beroes previously lectured at the University of Buffalo, Creative Problem Solving Institute and for the Stepping Out Program at high schools around the city of Pittsburgh. She is also involved in a mentoring program through Allegheny County - Child Advocate Training. Ms. Beroes obtained a mediation certificate and co-parenting certificate and opened a supervised visitation center for children where parents have had safety issues. She earned her B.S. degree from the University of Pittsburgh and her J.D. degree from Capital University. Ms. Beroes is a member of the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association (member, Family Law Section), Allegheny County and Pennsylvania bar associations, and Compassionate Friends of Greater Pittsburgh Organization for parents who have lost children (Steering Committee).

Julie Beroes is a partner with Beroes Law Center, P.C. She grew up in the Family Division courthouse watching and listening to her mother advocate for clients; therein, she was inspired to help children, families, and clients in need. Further, Ms. Beroes has worked alongside some of the most prestigious family law practitioners in practice today in Allegheny County, Beaver County, Washington County and the surrounding counties, as well as in Ohio. She earned her B.F.A. degree, summa cum laude, from The University of the Arts and her J.D. degree, sum laude, from Capital University Law School.

Cassandra Colombo is a divorce attorney with Cordell & Cordell. Her practice centers around family law. Ms. Colombo earned her B.A. degree from Ursinus College and her J.D. degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Lackawanna County Bar Association, and the Philadelphia Bar Association. Ms. Colombo is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania.

Laura Robbins opened Laura Robbins Law, LLC in July 2011. Her practice focuses primarily on family law, especially custody and divorce. Ms. Robbins is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Centre County Bar Association. She earned her B.A. degree from Michigan State University and her J.D. degree from Wayne State University.

Karen A. Ulmer is the founding partner of Karen Ann Ulmer, P.C. Her areas of practice are family and matrimonial law, and estates. Ms. Ulmer earned her B.S. degree from Duke University, her J.D. degree from Widener University School of Law, and an advanced law degree in securities law from Georgetown University Law Center. She is an active member of the Family Law Section of the Bucks County Bar Association and has held offices in the YLD, having served as president of the YLD division, secretary and treasurer. Ms. Ulmer is also a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Montgomery County Bar Association, and the New Jersey State Bar Association. She is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, United States District Court (Eastern District of Pennsylvania), and the United States Supreme Court.