Practice Areas

Adoption is a beautiful and loving thing to do for a child, but the process can be complex. Whether you are seeking to adopt a child who is not biologically related to you, or as a grandparent or stepparent, the attorneys at Cornerstone Law Firm can help. We are familiar with the adoption process and can help you file the proper paperwork at the proper times. If you’re interested in adopting a child, call the adoption attorneys at Cornerstone Law Firm for help.

Appellate Advocacy requires a thorough knowledge of the unique rules of the appeals structure. When you’re defending a judgment on appeal, or advocating for reversal, you need an attorney with the experience to guide you through the briefing schedule and strategic decisions necessary to a successful appeal. Our attorneys have handled cases at virtually all levels of the appellate system–both state and federal. We help attorneys taking their own appeals, too, by offering consultation and brief-writing, and support on how to preserve errors in trial. In addition, we offer amicus curiae briefs to non-profits and advocacy groups. Contact us today to discuss your appellate needs.

Bankruptcy feels like a scary subject. The very word suggests to some people a stigma, a sense that one’s life will be permanently damaged in some way. But this is simply not true. Bankruptcy is a remedy provided under federal law to ensure that debtors are able to climb out of a financial hole and restart their lives. Sometimes, due to medical bills or a sudden downturn in the economy, a family can find themselves struggling to make payments. In that case, bankruptcy might be the right solution.

There are many factors that determine whether bankruptcy is right for you, and if it is, under which chapter to file. If you have any questions regarding bankruptcy, please contact our office and set up an appointment with one of our attorneys so that they may better advise you on your rights under federal law.

Being a parent is a huge responsibility. When there is a breakdown in the family, you shouldn’t feel alone. Our family law attorneys are here to help you navigate the child support system, protect your financial interests, and assist you in getting the help you deserve.

When your rights are violated by a police officer or other government employee, it can be an extremely disorienting, frustrating and even humiliating experience. Often, because of the significant protections built into the law, police officers and government agencies are not forthcoming about admitting their faults or apologizing for their mistakes, nor do they often volunteer to make things right. Civil rights litigation allows you to sue a police officer, a local government entity or a department of the government for an injunction to stop ongoing abuses of your civil rights and in some cases to obtain financial remuneration for the wrongs that have been committed. There are significant difficulties in this type of case, so having attorneys experienced in civil rights litigation is important when considering your options.

All too often in the world of construction and contracting, subcontractors, contractors, and even property owners fail to live up to their obligations under their contract. Sometimes an owner refuses to pay a contractor, and in other cases a contractor takes money and leaves without completing the job. Determining how much money you are entitled to in such cases can be complex, but our attorneys are knowledgeable about construction damages.

In all such cases, we are able to help our clients navigate the complex world of HICPA compliance, mechanic’s liens, and so much more. By ensuring that all parties stand by their word, we are able to help homeowners, contractors, subcontractors, and others finish the job and move on with life.

Contracts are the oil that allows business to thrive. Drafting contracts well frequently eliminates disputes that might otherwise arise from misunderstandings or ambiguities in an agreement. In addition, once contracts are drafted, it is necessary to modify them from time to time to conform to the parties’ changing of the understanding of their agreements. Unfortunately, breach of contract is also part of business life, and proper interpretation of a contract is important when parties have conflict with one another.

Contract language is important. It tells you whether you can recoup attorneys’ fees, whether you can obtain an injunction for a breach of contract, and more. Contracts also cover intellectual property concerns, and can clarify how a relationship can legally be terminated.

Our attorneys can assist you with drafting contracts which reflect the agreements you need to make with your employees, with third parties, and with business partners. We can help you figure out how to stay within the confines of your agreement and also enforce the obligations of other parties to you. Remember: contracts promote business. Having a good business attorney to help you keep your contracts in order can save you lots of time, frustration and money.

Pursuant to Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution, federal law governs the rights of those who create artistic works. Federal copyright statutes, the most important of which was passed in the 1970s, still govern the creation, ownership, distribution and payment for creative works throughout the United States. Whether you are concerned about not infringing others’ copyrights, accused of an infringement of another’s work, wish to prevent the infringement of your own copyrighted work, or just have general questions about how copyrights work in your industry, reach out to our attorneys who can assist you in navigating the best path forward.

There are few things in life more exciting than starting or expanding a business. One of the necessary tasks in expanding a business is ensuring that your corporate formalities are set up to support the business that you are undertaking. Whether you are starting out fresh or building something bigger, it is important to consult a business attorney who can help you to assess the needs of your organization, file the appropriate documents with the Department of State, draft Ownership Agreements that reflect you or your other owner’s respective interests in the company, and reduce the risk of conflicts down the road. Failure to properly organize a business can lead to a number of civil penalties, but more importantly, they leave you and your personal assets exposed. They also reduce the likelihood that you will have favorable tax treatment. Consulting with a business attorney is the first step in ensuring that your business is primed for success.

We have helped clients form corporations, LLCs, fictitious names, business trusts and much more.

When you have been accused of a crime, it is vitally important that you have a criminal defense attorney on your side who understands the criminal system and can challenge the evidence gathered against you by the police. A criminal defense attorney knows your rights under the Bill of Rights and also can assist you in determining how to vindicate your innocence or fight to limit government overreach in your case. In addition, a criminal defense attorney knows the system in the county where you have been charged and can help you navigate the process by negotiating with prosecutors and looking into alternatives to jail time or other sentences.

Our attorneys have handled cases ranging from harassment and simple assault to more serious charges such as aggravated assault and homicide.

The criminal process includes the preliminary arraignment and the preliminary hearing, calls of the list and status hearings, motions to dismiss and ultimately, a trial. Our attorneys regularly handle DUI charges, aggravated assault, harassment and many other crimes. Contact one of our criminal defense attorneys today.

There is perhaps nothing more sacred to the American democratic process than the act of voting. A web of state and federal laws govern how funds are raised for campaigns, as well as the way in which votes are counted and even how ballots must list candidates and questions presented. Our attorneys have the unique and unusual expertise to advise candidates, campaign fundraising committees, and political parties about campaign finance, pre-election and post-election challenges to ballots, and to the ultimate ballot counts. We also advise political action committees, nonprofits, and advocacy groups on their rights and obligations under state and federal law.

Eminent domain is the process by which the State or Federal government may seize private land for public use. Examples of eminent domain are when the government builds or expands a highway, when the government takes land to build a school or other public facility or even where a local government wishes to encourage economic development and takes a neighborhood to tear down and build a shopping center instead. The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to just compensation at fair market value for their land if it is taken through the process of eminent domain by either the state or federal government. You have a right to be compensated for the value of your land including the costs of moving, and in some cases, potentially in loss of good will to a business that is being relocated. If you have been contacted by local, state or federal authorities regarding the seizure of your land, you may not be able to dissuade them from seizing your land but you are certainly entitled to compensation. The attorneys at the Cornerstone Law Firm are experienced in negotiation compensation for clients affected by eminent domain.

Our attorneys are experienced in advising both employers and employees on the law surrounding employment. Whether advising on paying wages, appropriate handling of requests for accommodation, or how best to negotiate a severance agreement, our attorneys are versatile and knowledgeable. Many questions from our business clients surround how to accurately characterize workers as employees or independent contractors. Other concerns are about ensuring compliance with federal and state labor laws.

Pennsylvania is an at-will employment state, but there are still dozens of considerations when terminating an employee, and our attorney can help either side through this process. Some of the limitations on firing an employee include protections for race, national origin, gender, disability, age and religion. Furthermore, our attorneys advise on the Fair Labor Standards Act and how to appropriately handle Whistleblower employee status. Call us today to discuss your needs.

When a loved one dies, the details of transferring their property legally can be overwhelming. The process of probating and obtaining a short certificate can be overwhelming and time consuming. Our estate administration attorneys can help you by answering your questions, handling probate, telling you if and when you can transfer bank accounts, houses, cars, and more. Our attorneys can also file the estate tax return and help you to minimize your Pennsylvania inheritance tax obligations. Whether you’re an executor or a beneficiary, we can help.

No one likes to think about death, but planning for what will happen after you die is one of the most important things that you can do. Whether you just need a simple will to cover what will happen at your death or a more complex trust, including revocable or irrevocable trusts, our attorneys can assist you with planning for your future and ensure that you can rest easy knowing that you have the proper estate plan in place. Estate planning also includes Power of Attorney documents and Health Care Power of Attorney documents or Living Wills that name an Agent to handle your affairs in the case that you are incapacitated. Contact Cornerstone Law Firm to learn more.

Family law is more than just divorces and custody arrangement. At Cornerstone Law, our attorneys see divorce differently than many firms, and we seek to help you analyze whether there is a way to keep your family together, even in situations where it seems hopeless. We can advise you on your custody rights and on how to pursue child support. We also handle Protection from Abuse (PFA) petitions for both victims and defendants. PFA petitions carry serious consequences, including the loss of firearms, and being legally barred from the home. We also defend clients charged with PFA violations through Indirect Criminal Contempt (ICC).

With over 30 years of banking law and foreclosure experience, the attorneys of Cornerstone Law Firm can advise you on defending and securing your rights. If you’re faced with a foreclosure action, call us to discuss how to leverage value from your home.

If you have received a citation from the Game Commission in Pennsylvania you should be aware that pleading guilty and paying a fine could result in suspension of your hunting rights. It is vitally important that you consult with a hunting law attorney about the consequences of such a plea. If you’ve already plead, there still may be ways to avoid the suspension of your hunting rights but it is important that you act right away. At Cornerstone Law Firm we have extensive experience arguing to preserve hunting rights for Pennsylvania hunters.

Whether you are seeking to immigrate to the United States through a family member, applying for green card renewal, looking to naturalize, or seeking temporary protected status, having an experienced immigration attorney can help. The immigration process can be complicated to navigate on your own. An immigration attorney can help you file proper documentation and ensure that you meet all the requirements for your legal status.

It is also important to contact an experienced attorney when you are facing criminal charges as an immigrant. Any crime can potentially put your immigration status at risk and lead to deportation. It is vital that you speak with a criminal defense attorney who understands immigration law before accepting any pleas or other agreements.

Few things in life feel more disorienting than having one’s privacy invaded by another. In an age of advanced technology and surveillance, invasions of privacy by both private individuals and government entities are becoming increasingly common. Whether you had your privacy invaded by someone visually spying through a camera or you have had important information stolen, our firm helps recover damages for these situations.

Landlords and tenants have rights and obligations under Pennsylvania law. Landlords must provide a safe, clean and healthy environment for their tenants, and tenants must pay rent and comply with the other terms of the lease. When a tenant stops paying rent or begins disrespecting the property rights of the owner, our firm is able to help landlords to enforce their rights against the tenants or evict the tenant when necessary. Conversely, we also help the tenants in conflicts with landlords who refuse to make necessary repairs to keep a rental space safe or clean.

When you buy a car or other product, the seller should deliver the goods as promised, not a cheap imitation. Unfortunately, there are many disreputable dealers and vendors in the world. When you’ve purchased something, but haven’t received the value you bargained for, we can help.

Technology is ever changing, and media is increasingly a part of our daily lives. Running a media organization today means dealing with copyright, trademark and other intellectual property rights, as well as traditional corporate law. Our attorneys have the unique experience in media and intellectual property law to help your organization meet its goals and legal challenges. Our attorneys have started media companies, advised creatives of all stripes, and are actively involved on a regular basis in litigation over First Amendment issues and their intersection with creative rights.

Effective representation of a nonprofit means understanding the unique difficulties that nonprofits face. Our attorneys all have experience dealing with nonprofits, both as directors and employees, as well as representing them in court. As a branch off of corporate law, nonprofit representation includes understanding the similarities and unique differences from for-profit corporations that nonprofits experience in their day to day operations. Our attorneys have helped nonprofits form, obtain 501(c)3 status, draft by-laws and daily resolutions, as well as represent them in court from attacks from both the outside and within. Our attorneys have also chased down donations that were misdirected away from their intended recipients.

When you have been injured in a car crash, a bus wreck, or a motorcycle collision, your life can be significantly altered. It is not just the pain of the injury that causes problems; it can often be the lost work, the on-going fight with an insurance company and difficulty in getting your life back together. Injuries come in strange varieties: motor vehicle accidents, dog bites, work-related injuries and more.

Cornerstone Law’s attorneys can assist you by contacting the party in the wrong in your situation and dealing with the insurance company, insisting that they give you proper payment for your medical bills, as well as for pain and suffering and lost wages that you have incurred.

Our attorneys have handled million-dollar-plus wrongful death cases, as well as minor fender benders and everything in between. We will not charge you until you recover in your case so that your case with us is risk free to you.

Cornerstone Law handles quiet title actions, boundary disputes, driveway conflicts, real estate closings, condemnation work, eminent domain, utility easements, property line disputes, tax assessment appeals and more. We’ve handled trials over easements, we record deeds, and we handle partition actions when co-owners of a property can’t get along.

Because real estate is often the most valuable thing an individual or married couple owns, disputes over real estate can be especially stressful. They happen during the estate administration process and even years after a divorce. Negotiating and resolving real estate disputes is well worth being prepared for, and our attorneys know how to help.

Our attorneys have the experience you need to determine your rights to property, and how best to vindicate those rights. Contact us to learn more.

In closely held corporations, such as a family run business or other small organizations, disputes among the business owners is not uncommon. Our firm has handled multi-million-dollar disputes between shareholders, and we seek to bring about peaceful resolutions, where possible. We have successfully litigated a number of partnership freezeouts. We are also experienced in litigation to enforce the rights of shareholders in derivative suits against a corporation where corporate assets have been mismanaged or mishandled.

Property in Pennsylvania is subject to taxation but there is no need to pay more than your fair share. When your property is assessed, it should be assessed at a proportional value with other properties in the same district and township. Whether you’re looking for a commercial or residential tax reassessment, our attorneys have the experience to guide you through the process. We evaluate the probabilities for success of a tax assessment appeal and help you to figure out the best way to lower the taxes you have to pay each year.

Our traffic attorneys help people with traffic tickets by negotiating with police officers to reduce points, avoid license suspensions and minimize fines. In addition, our attorneys attend hearings to defend individuals who have been tagged with speeding tickets or other violations. Our attorneys help those who have been charged with reckless driving, running school bus stop signs, speeding and much more.

Our attorneys set up trusts for estate planning purposes, for children and adults with special needs, and as a wealth-preservation tool to pass on money to the next generation. But we also help trustees comply with their trust obligations, and defend trustees accused of wrongdoing. In addition, we’ve helped beneficiaries ensure trust provisions are honored, and handled complex litigation regarding trusts.

Pennsylvania provides strong remedies to employees who have not been paid wages which they were promised contractually. Our firm helps employees to vindicate their rights by pursuing overdue paychecks from past or present employers. The robust protections of the Wage Employment and Compensation law in Pennsylvania include the right to payment of overdue wages, percentage penalties, and attorneys’ fees.

When you report illegal or unsafe conduct, you shouldn’t fear for your job. Unfortunately, employees sometimes suffer adverse employment actions when they make a report. If that’s you, contact our experienced litigators at Cornerstone Law to discuss your rights.

Our wrongful death attorneys help bereaved families who have lost a loved one due to the negligence of another. Wrongful death claims are difficult for any family, but our attorneys can help your family make the decisions that are right for you. Wrongful death actions require a family to open probate and obtain a Pennsylvania short certificate, among other estate administration steps. Speaking with experienced attorneys who can help you through this process can relieve you of delving into the minutiae of estate administration and litigation while you grieve your loss.

At Cornerstone Law Firm, we solve problems for individuals, businesses and families. That means that we stand ready to assist our clients in virtually every area of their lives. If you have a legal problem or concern, we welcome your call. If it’s something we can’t handle for you, we’ll happily find you a good attorney to take your case. Contact us today, and let us know how we can help.