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Ruppert Law Firm LLC
No Matter What You Are Feeling, Ruppert Law Firm Can Guide You

Attorneys Proudly Serving The Family Law Needs Of LGBTQ+ Clients In Pittsburgh And Throughout Pennsylvania

Last updated on April 28, 2025

The law has come to recognize the fact that people of all different types of sexual orientations and gender identities have the right to create a family. At Ruppert Law Firm LLC, we also respect all families and the rights of all individuals to change their family situation. Whether you need help with a joyous occasion, like the adoption of a child, or a more difficult one, like ending a marriage, we will be by your side when you need it the most in Pittsburgh and across Pennsylvania.

How We Can Help You

As a full-service family law firm, we offer advice, guidance and representation in all aspects of your case, including assistance with: ​

While these are issues that can impact all types of families, we recognize that the LGBTQ+ community often has unique needs and challenges in family law. For instance, if you’ve been in a committed relationship with your partner for decades but only got “officially” married when it became legal to do so, property division could be significantly more complex than it might otherwise be.

Pennsylvania Legal Protections For LGBTQ+ Families In Family Law

Pennsylvania law continues to evolve regarding LGBTQ+ family protections, and navigating these changes requires experienced legal guidance. Our attorneys stay current with legal developments affecting LGBTQ+ families across Pittsburgh and all of Pennsylvania.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Pennsylvania since 2014, providing married LGBTQ+ couples the same legal rights as heterosexual couples in divorce proceedings. However, many couples were together long before this legal recognition, creating unique considerations for property division, retirement benefits and financial support.

For LGBTQ+ parents, legal parentage remains a critical concern. Pennsylvania law does not automatically recognize nonbiological parents in same-sex relationships, even if married, making second-parent adoptions essential. Our firm guides clients through this process to establish permanent legal parent-child relationships that cannot be challenged.

Trans and nonbinary individuals face additional considerations in family court. We assist with legal name changes, updating identity documents and addressing gender issues in custody arrangements. Pennsylvania courts are required to make custody decisions based on the best interests of the child, and we work to help ensure that a parent’s gender identity or expression is not used discriminatorily in these determinations.

For LGBTQ+ couples considering starting families, we provide comprehensive family planning legal services. This includes drafting donor agreements, surrogacy contracts and co-parenting agreements that protect everyone’s rights and intentions from the beginning.

Domestic violence protection is equally available to LGBTQ+ individuals in Pennsylvania. We help clients obtain Protection From Abuse (PFA) orders when necessary, recognizing the unique dynamics that can exist in these situations.

Our attorneys approach each case with cultural competence and sensitivity to the specific challenges LGBTQ+ families face in the Pittsburgh area and throughout Pennsylvania.

Parenthood is another example. Only one parent (or neither parent) may be biologically related to the child they have been raising together. Therefore, to protect everyone, it is important to go through the adoption process to confer legal parenthood for both parents. Our attorneys are ready to assist you with any and all aspects of your case at either of our offices in Mt. Lebanon and Monroeville, Pennsylvania.

Get The Legal Help You Need – Contact Us Today

Schedule your initial consultation with one of our skilled and caring lawyers, during which we can discuss your legal needs and create tailored solutions. Our convenient office locations in Mt. Lebanon and Monroeville make it easy to get the legal support you need anywhere in the Pittsburgh area. To get started, you can reach out online or call us at 412-730-2187.