Family Law

• Divorce
• Child Support
  The Pennsylvania Child Support Guidelines determine the level of child support, based on various factors which include the number of children, child custody arrangements, income and earning capacity. Our experienced family law attorneys advise and represent clients in all matters of child support including initial determination of the child support, support conferences and hearings, and support modification proceedings. Our knowledge of the child support law will guide you through the process and address any concerns you may have, enabling the best possible outcome for your particular situation.
• Child Custody and Visitation
  Pennsylvania child custody matters are extremely emotional and important legal situations for parents and their children. Our family law attorneys recognize the immense importance of child custody matters, and we realize that the decisions that are made in this regard can have permanent effects on the well-being of both the parents and the children involved.
• Premarital Agreement
  Non-marital property generally includes, but is not limited to property that was acquired before the marriage; property covered by a prenuptial agreement; gifts received by one spouse; and inheritances received during the marriage.
• Guardianship
  Parents can also create a Standby Guardianship for their minor children so that if the worst were to happen (death, incapacity) or if they were to be out of communication with health care providers, a designated person would be able to step in for a short time (up to 60 days) in order to help care for the minor children and assist with important decisions.
• Spousal Support
  2) Fault Divorce. A fault-based divorce in Pennsylvania can be pursued and awarded to an "innocent and injured spouse." You should speak to an attorney if you believe you may have a claim for a fault divorce. Importantly, a spouse at fault may be barred from receiving spousal support and/or alimony in a fault divorce.

Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
  At Stuckert and Yates, Derek practices in the areas of criminal law, civil litigation, and zoning, among other areas.
• DUI/DWI
  DUI charges can have significant impacts on your rights and your life. DUI charges and subsequent convictions can jeopardize your driver’s license, can cost a significant amount in fines and fees, and can even result in jail sentences.
• Wrongful Death
• Traffic Violations
  Traffic offenses can also result in substantial fines and fees, can place points on your driving record, affect your auto insurance premiums, and can result in the loss of your driver’s license. If you have been charged with a traffic violation and wish to oppose the citation, contact us so our experienced attorneys can help you navigate the system from beginning to end.
• Misdemeanors
  Stuckert and Yates represents and defends clients charged with criminal offenses, including driving under the influence (DUI), misdemeanor drug charges, and traffic offenses.
• Drug Crimes

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
  We are a full service law firm with experienced attorneys practicing in many areas of law. The firm places particular emphasis on real estate, estate planning and estate administration, business and commercial law and corporate law. However, Stuckert and Yates also has lawyers who concentrate in the areas of civil trials, municipal law, zoning, land use and land development, personal injury, and family law.
• Business Disputes
  At Stuckert and Yates, our experienced business law attorneys offer sophisticated and practical advice in a wide range of business and commercial matters. We bring decades of combined experience to the negotiation of purchases, sales and other business agreements and litigation of contract disputes.
• Business Transactions
  Donna J. Wengiel is a partner with Stuckert and Yates. She has a widely-respected practice with an extensive background in the following types of matters: wills, trusts, estate planning and estate administration, commercial and residential real estate transactions, and business and commercial transactions for small to medium sized companies.
• Limited Liability Companies
  Forming a business requires counseled decision-making, whether the proposed business is small or large. Our law firm will advise you and assist you in making an informed decision as to the type of entity that would be best suited for your business. We will also assist you with the formation of limited liability companies (LLCs), corporations (S Corporations or C Corporations), general partnerships, limited partnerships, family limited partnerships, and non-profit organizations.

Employment Law

• Wrongful Termination
  Prior to joining Stuckert & Yates, Justin gained invaluable experience as an associate attorney with a prominent employment law firm in Philadelphia. There, he litigated employment discrimination and wrongful termination claims on behalf of clients in state and federal courts. Justin practices in the areas of estate planning, estate administration, real estate law, civil litigation, orphans’ court litigation, guardianship matters, and employment law.
• Employment Discrimination
  Often, employees are not aware of certain protections afforded under both federal and state law. Race discrimination in the workplace occurs when an employee is treated differently or harassed on the basis of their race, color, or national origin. This also includes situations where employers take tangible employment actions against individuals on the basis of their race such as failing to hire, firing, demoting, and failing to promote or provide advancement opportunities. Racial slurs, derogatory statements, or other verbal or physical conduct based on the employee’s race constitutes unlawful harassment, if this conduct creates a hostile work environment wherein the conduct interferes with the employee’s job performance.
• Employment Contract
  Employees find themselves facing an overwhelming array of considerations during negotiations for their employment. Employment law attorneys can help an employee, whether a new recruit or a seasoned executive, sift through the complex terminology, laws, and regulations relevant to his or her employment and successfully negotiate a beneficial employment contract.
• Employment Litigation
• Severance Agreement
  A severance agreement specifies the terms of an employee’s separation from an employer. The agreement will establish the amount of severance pay and the manner in which the former employee will be paid. Often, the agreement will include confidentiality and non-disparagement clauses, and restrictions, including restrictive covenants and non-competes. These provisions will cause the former employee to waive certain rights as against the employer in exchange for the severance pay.
• Sexual Harassment
  Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and both PA and NJ state law, an employee is protected from a hostile work environment and discriminatory treatment on the basis of their gender. These laws cover workplace harassment, including sexual harassment, equal pay, pregnancy discrimination, sexual orientation discrimination and parental status discrimination. Employers are required to establish policies and practices that equally treat both male and female employees. Additionally, employers are required to provide employees with channels to report harassment in the workplace and must take action to prevent this harassment.

Property Law

• Real Estate Litigation
  Jessica is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court of the United States, Third Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and our Pennsylvanian courts. She has litigated cases and argued appellate cases before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Pennsylvania Superior Court, Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, and practices primarily in Bucks County and Montgomery County in the areas of family law, orphan's court litigation, election law, business/commercial litigation, real estate litigation and transactions, partition litigation, juvenile court, and estate planning and administration.
• Real Estate Transactions
  Mr. Brown concentrates his practice of law in the areas of Wills, Trusts, and other aspects of Estate Planning, as well as Probate and Estate Administration, Commercial and Residential Real Estate transactions, and Corporations and Commercial Transactions. He is a multiple-year honoree in the Five Star Professional rating program for Estate Planning.
• Land Use and Zoning
  Stuckert and Yates provides counseled assistance and advocacy in all aspects of land use law, including zoning issues, real estate development, subdivision and development, real estate sales, acquisition, variances, special exceptions, conditional uses, and all other real estate related needs.
• Landlord-Tenant Disputes
  Stuckert and Yates represents all forms of landlord and tenant matters, including the preparation, negotiation and review of residential and commercial leases for landlords and tenants  and litigation of lease contract disputes, evictions, security deposits, and unpaid rent.  With or without court intervention, our firm will seek a solution to your landlord tenant matters.

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  If you or someone you love has suffered a serious personal injury or some other damage to your welfare due to someone else’s negligence, Contact us or call us at 215.968.4700 to speak to an experienced personal injury attorney.
• Medical Malpractice
  At Stuckert and Yates, we are dedicated to providing quality legal representation to individuals and families that have been injured by the negligent or wrongful actions of others. Our personal injury attorneys and team have substantial expertise in handling matters involving injuries or death arising from car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death, slip and fall incidents, trip and fall incidents, and general negligence. We have helped injury victims and their families throughout Pennsylvania, and particularly in Bucks County, pursue legal action against negligent individuals. Our reputation has been built on a record of personal attention to our clients’ needs, sizable and numerous settlements, and success at trial.
• Auto Accidents
• Disability Discrimination
  Far too often employees do not understand the protections they are afforded when they have a disability. If you feel you have been the victim of disability discrimination, please give us a call at 215.968.4700.

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  Mr. Brown has been an attorney with the law firm of Stuckert and Yates in Newtown, Pennsylvania since 1985. A 1984 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and a 1981 graduate of Bucknell University, Keith Brown is a member of the American, Pennsylvania, and Bucks County Bar Associations. He is also active in the Bucks County Estate Planning Council.
• Wills
  A Last Will and Testament is a document that controls your probate assets after death, and distributes property to your named beneficiaries. Probate property is property that does not pass to another person pursuant to a beneficiary designation, via trust, or to a joint owner of the property. A Will also names your Executor or Executrix, which will be the person that will carry out your wishes, and can also name the Guardian of your minor children, so that someone is assigned to care for your children should something happen to you.
• Trusts
• Power of Attorney
  There may come a time when it is too difficult or impossible to make your own health care decisions. It is important for you to designate a trusted person in a health care power of attorney to be in charge of your medical decisions if you are unable to make those decisions. In a health care power of attorney, you have the ability to specifically state who may speak on your behalf, and direct that trusted person in advance as to what your health care wishes are. This document will also help to assist your medical providers so that they are aware who they may speak with and listen to for direction regarding your health care.
• Probate

Finance Law

• Foreclosure
  Stuckert and Yates represents residential, commercial, and industrial real estate clients in real estate transactions. We handle all legal aspects of purchase and sale, development, construction, mortgages, foreclosures, and leases of commercial and residential real estate.  Our team is skilled at handling complex commercial leasing, land use, development and zoning matters, condominium formation, and other transactions involving residential, commercial and industrial properties.