About

One of those lucky people who truly loves what she does, Ellen’s enthusiasm and expertise continue to be evident more than 30 years after beginning her work in family law. Through personal care and attention to every case, she is a true advocate for her clients—a strong, well-respected figure in the courtroom, known for aggressively pursuing her clients’ legal rights, as well as a powerful champion of no-court alternatives. 

Ellen handles all aspects of divorce, custody, child support, spousal support and alimony, property settlement agreements, pre-marital and co-habitation agreements, equitable distribution, mediation, collaborative law, name change petitions, second parent adoptions, and adoptions. 

Whenever possible, Ellen’s goal is to guide families through a healthy divorce. A certified collaborative divorce attorney and an experienced mediator, Ellen is proud of her success with helping clients reach their goals without going to court.  Mediation and collaborative divorce are no-court alternatives that are likely to result in a more collegial, healthy result for everyone involved.. 

In addition, Ellen has been an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, since the start of her career. She handled one of Pennsylvania’s earliest transgender custody cases in 1993, and has remained an active Legal ally ever since. In fact, she is one of only a limited number of Pennsylvania lawyers invited to join the LGBTQ+ Family Law Institute® of the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association, a select group of international attorneys dedicated to pursuing the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals and families. 

Ellen is also enthusiastic about her years of capable work in the areas of Wills and Estates.  Ellen provides estate services including the preparation of Wills, Living Wills/Health Care Declarations and Powers of Attorney.  She handles probate, inheritance tax preparation and filing, Will contests, and estate administration.  Ellen also handles Orphan’s Court Litigation including matters involving minors, incapacitated persons and decedent’s estates.