Best Divorce Lawyers Pittsburgh
BETHANY L. NOTARO
Divorce Lawyers
Bethany L. Notaro, Esq. has her legal roots in Pennsylvania. As an undergraduate student, she attended the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia where she received a bachelor’s degree in psychology. After her undergraduate work, Bethany attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where she obtained her Juris Doctorate. While in law school, Ms. Notaro received numerous scholarships and honors for her academic achievement and focused her studies on income taxation, trusts and estate, divorce, ADR, and wealth planning. Specifically, she received training in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and family law and professional divorce mediation.
As a certified professional mediator, Bethany L. Notaro, Esq. has spent her time as an attorney practicing family law. Ms. Notaro, Esq. has reinforced her knowledge of the law by training in conflict resolution and professional mediation at the Pittsburgh Mediation Center. Before openingNotaro Epstein Family Law Group, P.C., Ms. Notaro honed her skills as an associate attorney for two large family law firms.
Ms. Notaro is a member of various associations dedicated to family law. She is a member of the Family Law Sections of the Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Bar Associations. Additionally, she serves on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Board of Arbitrators. She is proud to have been able to serve the people of Pennsylvania through her work here.
Anthony Piccirilli
Divorce Lawyers
Attorney Anthony Piccirilli is a family law and divorce attorney serving clients in the Pittsburgh area. He is passionate about helping individuals and families understand the intricacies that are involved in domestic matters, and he is dedicated to fighting for each client to receive a fair outcome in their case.
Attorney Piccirilli knew he was destined for a career in law after hearing Supreme Court Justice Alito speak at a commencement ceremony on the importance of lawyers being soldiers in the fight for justice. Anthony’s desire to help families stems from a great need he saw that in family law; when people were dealing with the worst days of their lives, having the right counsel in their corner could make all the difference. He wanted to be that difference, and continues to help clients with a variety of family and domestic issues to this day.
With internship experience working on PFS and divorce matters and time as a law clerk working in general practice, in addition to a well-rounded education at Ramapo College of New Jersey and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, attorney Piccirilli has the skills and knowledge necessary to help you with a variety of legal issues, including:
- Divorce
- Child Support
- Child Custody
- Protection from Abuse (PFA)
- Protection Orders
- Domestic Relations
- Adoption
- Surrogacy
- Paternity
- Domestic Violence
- CYF Investigations
Steven R. Tabano
Divorce Lawyers
Steve Tabano is a skilled negotiator who knows his way around the courtroom. For over 25 years he has handled hundreds of difficult cases involving divorce, equitable distribution, child custody, protection from abuse and support. Steve has argued numerous cases before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. He also has many years of experience in Pennsylvania’s criminal courts having tried numerous jury trials including client’s charged with homicide and white-collar crimes.
History & Expertise
- J.D., 1992 – Duquesne University School of Law
- B.A. (Political Science) 1987 – Allegheny College, Meadville, PA. (Deans List)
The State Bar of Pennsylvania 1992
Brittany Petricca
Divorce Lawyers
Brittany Petricca is an associate at DeRiso Law Grroup with a comprehensive family law and criminal practice. Clients value her willingness to listen, adept ability to identify client priorities, and knowledge of the law.
A native of Pittsburgh, Brittany previously worked as an Allegheny County Public Defender, as an associate attorney with Christy Foreman Law LLC, as a certified legal intern for Neighborhood Legal Services, as a student participant in the Duquesne Family Law Clinic and as teaching assistant to Duquesne Law Professor Maryann Herman.
Brittany achieved a bachelor’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications and a minor in Psychology from Duquesne University before pursuing her Juris Doctorate at Duquesne School of Law. While in law school, Brittany received the Public Interest Law Association Scholarship. She also was the Justice for the Duquesne Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. Brittany is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Brittany truly has a passion for her job, but when she is not in the office she is either running after her daughter and two dogs or exploring new restaurants.
LISA MARIE VARI
Divorce Lawyers
Lisa Marie Vari, a female divorce lawyer in Pittsburgh and family formation lawyer in Pennsylvania and Florida, has focused her legal efforts in the family law field for over twenty-five years. From 1996 to the present, Ms. Vari has been in private practice and has operated her family law firm in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Attorney Vari and her staff have represented over 2,000 family law clients in both Pennsylvania and Florida. As a skilled negotiator and contract attorney, most clients’ issues have been settled by way of out-of-court agreements or contracts during her 30 year career. However, Ms. Vari has personally litigated as trial counsel over 600 contested Family and Orphans’ Court issues when her clients’ interests and the best interests of minor children required such action.
Currently, Attorney Vari’s practice takes her across the state where she focuses her efforts on the issues which mean the most to her – issues involving children including child custody, grandparents’ rights, paternity, adoption and third-party reproduction cases involving the use of donated eggs, sperm or embryos and, on occasion, surrogates to assist an individual or couple to become parents. Ms. Vari also mentors her firm’s Associate Attorneys and support staff by overseeing all aspects of the firm’s family law cases including divorce, equitable distribution and support issues.
Attorney Lisa Marie Vari is one of the most highly regarded family law attorneys in Pennsylvania. PA Super Lawyer magazine has named her as Super Lawyer in the Family Law field since 2014 and as a top rated family law attorney in Pittsburgh, PA. Ms. Vari has also received a superb 10 rating and top ratings from Avvo in the overall attorney, divorce, family law, child custody and child support areas. Ms. Vari has also been honored by the Lead Counsel organization in the family law and divorce areas of law.
Ms. Vari’s clients have included individuals such as professional athletes and other high income and asset clients; an international recording artist; a record producer from California; persons holding professional degrees such as physician’s, accountants, and other lawyers; and many business owners. Ms. Vari has also represented hundreds of clients from middle class backgrounds such as hospital employees, police officers, automobile mechanics, and homemakers.
Attorney Vari is licensed to practice law in the trial courts in every county in Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Superior Court, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and the United States Supreme Court. Ms. Vari has also successfully passed the Florida Bar Examination and is also admitted to practice law in the Florida courts system. Ms. Vari is also a trained Collaborative Family Lawyer and Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator.
Elizabeth A. Beroes
Divorce Lawyers
Elizabeth A. Beroes is the owner and founder of the Beroes Law Center. She has practiced law for over 27 years in the areas of family law, criminal law, estates, and personal injury (female issues). Mrs. Beroes has successfully tried many cases all over Pennsylvania, including Allegheny, Westmoreland, Lawrence, Washington, Butler, Beaver, Erie, Armstrong, and Fayette counties. Mrs. 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. Further, Mrs. Beroes can often be seen and heard teaching Continuing Legal Education classes to attorneys in various areas of the law for the National Bar Institute and The Pennsylvania Bar Institute.
Ms. Beroes holds a mediation certificate and a co-parenting coordinator certificate. She earned her B.S. degree from the University of Pittsburgh and her J.D. degree from Capital University Law School. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association (member, Family Law Section), Allegheny County and Pennsylvania Bar association, and the Compassionate Friends of Greater Pittsburgh Organization for parents who have lost children.
Areas Of Practice
- Custody and children’s issues
- Divorce and support
- Guardianship and adoption
- Wills
Certified Legal Specialties
- Co-Parent Coordinator
- Mediator
Bar Admissions
- Pennsylvania
Education
- Capital University Law School, Columbus, Ohio
- J.D. – 1986
- Honors: Barristers Award 2016 for excellence in courtroom advocacy
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- B.A. – 1981
- Honors: summa cum laude
Tara L. Hutchinson
Divorce Lawyers
Attorney Tara Hutchinson founded Pittsburgh Family Law Services, P.C. in 2018 with a goal of providing high quality legal services in a relaxed manner using creative solutions to help families achieve their goals.
Although calling Pittsburgh home since 2004, Tara grew up in a small, close-knit town outside of Philadelphia surrounded by many hard-working parents who make numerous sacrifices so their children can have the best future possible. She chose to concentrate her practice in family law and estate planning, to guide families toward reaching solutions that will protect those most important to them.
Tara’s approach to all clients is to look at each issue with a problem-solving mindset. Above all, her goal is to protect your family especially your children and the most vulnerable members of your family. What often stands in the way of finding solutions is difficult emotions of hurt, anger, and pain. Tara counsels her clients to help them see past the emotion and move forward in an efficient way that is in their children’s best interests. This often saves families substantial amounts of time and helps them move to the next stage of their lives more quickly. Recognizing that not every case can settle amicably, Tara diligently advocates for the right outcome in court. She was recognized in 2023 as a “Rising Star” by the publication Super Lawyers, a selection that only 2.5% of lawyers in Pennsylvania receive.
Outside of practicing law, Tara is heavily involved in both the Allegheny County Bar Association and Pennsylvania Bar Association, holding leadership positions in both. She is a member of the Family Sections, Real Property, Probate and Trust Sections, and Solo and Small Firm Sections of both associations. She regularly assists with the North Hills Community Outreach legal clinic and Wills for Heroes. She is a classically trained vocalist and a passionate language learner. Tara is fluent in Polish.
Heather Schmidt Bresnahan
Divorce Lawyers
Heather Schmidt Bresnahan is a skilled legal advocate who provides effective representation in all aspects of family law. From complex divorce matters including valuation of businesses and high net worth support disputes, custody disputes to preparing prenuptial or postnuptial agreements, her comprehensive family law experience will be essential to protecting your interests. Heather also helps families protect assets through drafting wills and administration of estates.
Heather has been licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania since 2001. Throughout her nearly 20-year legal career, she has focused on providing comprehensive and effective representation to each client. She is recognized as an effective negotiator who obtains favorable results through her ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of personality types. When trial is necessary to resolve a dispute, she is relentless in preparing and presenting her clients’ cases in court.
After graduating cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in political science and international studies in 1993, Heather went to work for the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office for six years. Heather then went back to law school in 1997 and received her Juris Doctorate Degree from Duquesne University School of Law in 2001. She was admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in October 2001.
Benefits of Having the Best Divorce Lawyer in Pittsburgh:
Legal Expertise: A top divorce lawyer in Pittsburgh will have an extensive understanding of Pennsylvania’s divorce laws and regulations, ensuring that your case is handled in compliance with state statutes and procedures.
Objective Advice: Divorce is often emotionally charged, making it difficult to make rational decisions. A divorce lawyer can provide you with objective advice and help you make informed choices about important matters such as property division, alimony, child custody, and child support.
Negotiation Skills: Many divorce cases are resolved through negotiation and settlement rather than going to court. An experienced attorney can negotiate effectively on your behalf to reach a fair and favorable settlement with your spouse, potentially saving you time, money, and emotional stress.
Legal Documentation: Divorce involves a significant amount of paperwork, including legal documents and court filings. A top divorce lawyer will ensure that all necessary documentation is prepared accurately and submitted on time to avoid delays or complications.
Court Representation: If your divorce case does go to court, having a skilled attorney by your side can be invaluable. They will represent your interests effectively before a judge, present your case persuasively, cross-examine witnesses, and advocate for your rights.
Asset Protection: If you have substantial assets or complex financial holdings, a divorce lawyer can help ensure that your property and financial interests are protected during the divorce process.
Child Custody and Support: If you have children, a top divorce lawyer will work diligently to secure a fair custody arrangement and child support agreement that is in the best interests of your children.
Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution: Some divorces can be resolved through mediation or alternative dispute resolution methods. A knowledgeable attorney can represent you during these processes and help you reach a mutually acceptable agreement with your spouse.
Post-Divorce Issues: Even after the divorce is finalized, there may be post-divorce issues that arise, such as modification of custody or support orders. Having a trusted attorney can be helpful in addressing these ongoing legal matters.
Impact of Divorce on the Mental Health of Spouse:
Divorce is a significant life event that can have a range of emotional and psychological effects on the spouses involved. Some potential impacts on mental health include:
Stress and Anxiety: The divorce process itself, along with the associated legal and financial complexities, can lead to heightened levels of stress and anxiety.
Depression: Feelings of sadness, loss, and grief are common during divorce. In some cases, this can develop into clinical depression that may require professional intervention.
Low Self-Esteem: Divorce can sometimes lead to feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, and a diminished sense of self-worth.
Loneliness and Isolation: Adjusting to life after divorce can be socially isolating, particularly if a spouse loses a significant portion of their social support network.
Parenting Challenges: For parents, the responsibilities and adjustments associated with co-parenting or single parenting can contribute to heightened stress and anxiety.
Impact on Children: Witnessing or experiencing a divorce can have a significant impact on the mental health of children, which in turn can affect the well-being of the divorcing spouses.
Coping Mechanisms: Individuals may turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as substance abuse or unhealthy behaviors in an attempt to deal with the emotional pain of divorce.
It’s important for individuals experiencing divorce to seek emotional support from friends, family, or mental health professionals. Therapists or counselors with experience in divorce-related issues can provide valuable guidance and support during this challenging period. Taking care of one’s mental health is an important aspect of navigating a divorce and moving forward in a healthy and positive way.