Home › Volunteers › Case Listings

Available Cases

VIP offers the unique opportunity to positively affect the lives of low income Philadelphia residents. We provide resources to assist you throughout the case, including mentors, interpreters, law students and training materials. VIP has included potential core competencies that staff anticipate volunteer counsel would achieve by taking the case, but these experiences are not guaranteed. Every VIP case provides an opportunity for direct client contact and case management. Join the VIP team by taking a case!

If you are interested in taking one of the following cases, please click on the case number to send an email to the VIP staff. Thank you!

Custody

  • 11-0030729
    110
    Custody before Master
    Client/Mother and OP/Father are the parents of a child, age 3. Before any orders were entered in this case, when the child was 3 months old, Client brought the child to visit OP and OP's wife. OP and his wife kept the child from Client for 13 months. Since that time, numerous custody orders have been put into place, giving OP primary custody of the child. When OP has not complied with the court orders, Client has filed contempt petitions. Under the terms of the custody order entered in July 2011, OP was awarded sole physical custody of the child without prejudice because Client failed to appear in Court. OP's wife was awarded shared legal custody with OP. The client was directed to undergo an evaluation by ATA due to her criminal history, which she has completed. OP also has an extensive criminal background. OP’s wife recently acknowledged that she and OP are not living together and that she is going to file for primary custody of the child.  Client would like her custodial rights to the child reinstated. OP is represented by counsel. OP’s wife has indicated she is going to obtain counsel.  The matter is scheduled for a hearing before Judge Nina Wright-Padilla on March 1, 2012.
    Core Competencies: Courtroom Experience, Factual Development and Investigation
  • 111421
    110
    Visitation

    Client/mother and OP/father are the parents of an autistic child, age 4. The parties entered into a temporary custody agreement which affords the client primary physical custody of the child and OP partial physical custody of the child on alternate weekends and additional dates. There is a history of domestic violence by OP against client.  Client had a Protection from Abuse Order against OP in July 2011, which she withdrew as part of the custody agreement. The client had filed a second PFA against OP in August 2011, which the client decided not to pursue. There is a hearing scheduled before a Judge for June 8, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. 
    Core Competencies: Courtroom Experience, Factual Development and Investigation.
     

Divorce

  • 12-0030836
    110
    Divorce with Property Division
    Client/Wife and OP/Husband were married in 1999 and separated in October 2011. Client lives in Philadelphia; OP’s last known address is in New York.  The parties do not have any children together.  The primary asset subject to equitable distribution is the jointly-titled former marital home, where the client continues to reside. No divorce action has been started. Client seeks legal representation to obtain a divorce. 
    Core Competencies: Draft Pleadings and Analysis of Statutes.
  • 111061
    110

    Client/Wife and OP/Husband were married in December 2005 and separated in October 2009. The parties were living in Georgia at the time.  OP physically assaulted Wife, was arrested, and pled guilty to aggravated assault.  OP is on parole in Georgia. OP does not know where the client is living.  Client has PFA entered in GA against OP. The parties have two children, ages 9 and 3.  The marital estate may include real property in Nigeria, motor vehicles, OP’s retirement benefits, modest bank accounts and possible business interests. The majority of assets are in OP’s sole name.  Client needs assistance in obtaining financial support for herself and the parties’ children as well as a divorce. 
    Core Competencies: Analysis of Statutes, Factual Development and Investigation.

  • 110758
    110

    Client/Wife and OP/husband were married in 2005 and separated in March 2011. The parties are the parents of one child, age 2.  When client left OP due to domestic violence, she moved with the child to Massachusetts. Client has a PFA against OP that was entered in Massachusetts.  The marital estate includes a jointly-titled property in Philadelphia, which is in foreclosure, a rental property in Massachusetts, modest bank accounts, a car, credit card debt, student loans, and back taxes.  The Client is not employed outside the home. OP initiated a divorce action in Potter County, but that action was dismissed incident to Preliminary Objections filed on behalf of the client.  No divorce action has been filed in Philadelphia. 
    Core Competencies: Negotiation Skills, Analysis of Statutes.

     

  • 111098
    110

    Client/Wife and OP/Husband were married in 1992 and separated in 2008.  The client lives in Philadelphia, but OP’s last known address is in Brooklyn, NY.  The marital estate includes a jointly-titled house in Philadelphia in which neither party is residing.  No divorce action has been entered to date.
    Core Competencies: Analysis of Statutes, Written Advocacy.

  • 111168
    110
    Divorce with Equitable Distribution
    Client/Wife and OP/Husband were married in 2008; they are still living in the house together. The client asserts that there has been a history of physical and verbal abuse; the client never filed for a Protection from Abuse Order as she was afraid for her children. Both parties are employed. The marital estate includes the increase in value on real property owned by OP, retirement accounts, modest bank accounts, and credit card debt. No divorce action has been started to date. Client’s primary language is Spanish. Translation and interpreting assistance is available. Core Competencies: Draft Pleadings, Discovery Practice.
  • 11-0030698
    110
    Divorce with Equitable Distribution

    Client/Wife and OP/Husband were married in 1970 and separated in March 2009 after OP allegedly physically and sexually abused Client.  The marital estate includes a house in Philadelphia where Client resides, a house in Northumberland County where OP resides, financial accounts, OP’s pension, and considerable debt.  Client is currently receiving alimony pendente lite; there is a divorce action pending. OP is represented by counsel. Core Competencies: Analysis of Statutes, Factual Development and Investigation.

  • 111021
    110

    Client/Wife and OP/Husband were married in June 2002 and separated in December 2007. A Protection from Abuse Order was entered against OP in 2009. Client has had no contact with OP since that time.  Client believes that OP may be residing in Florida. The marital estate may include the increase in value of Client’s house, a jointly-titled timeshare in Florida, a modest bank account, and credit card debt.  The parties have no children together. No divorce action has been initiated. 
    Core Competencies: Analysis of Statutes, Factual Development and Investigation.
     

  • 111238
    110

    Client/Wife and OP/Husband were married in July 1999 in Morocco and finally separated in November 2011. The parties had separated in 2009; however, according to the client, the parties had reconciled until their separation in November 2011.  They are the parents of three minor children.  The parties’ youngest child, age 3, is living with the client; the older two children, ages 10 and 7 are living with OP.  Each party has a protection from abuse order against the other.  Notwithstanding the current PFA against the client, she has been the victim of years of abuse by OP during the parties’ marriage.  The marital estate includes the former marital residence, two automobiles, a modest bank account, and credit card debt.  OP previously owned an interest in a restaurant; OP may still have thousands of dollars of furniture and equipment from the restaurant.  A divorce has been filed by OP, who is represented by counsel.  OP is employed; the client is not.  The client’s primary language is Arabic. Translation and interpretation assistance are available. 
    Core Competencies:  Negotiation Skills, Factual Development and Investigation.