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Kathleen B. Vetrano Esq. 
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
phone (610) 265-4441
fax (610) 265-1120
email Email Me

Kathleen B. (Kate) Vetrano has been practicing family law since 1981. Ms Vetrano believes that while lawyers and judges can eliminate the relationship of husband and wife, they cannot alter one's status as a mother or father. Families are forever so it is very important that the lawyers and the divorcing couple conduct themselves in a family centric manner. While amicable and collaborative solutions are often most desirable, Ms Vetrano is experienced and prepared to litigate issues to protect the rights of her clients.

Ms Vetrano has been a frequent faculty member and course planner on family law and related issues in programs sponsored by the American Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, and other organizations. In addition, she has written numerous articles that have appeared in state and national professional periodicals.

Ms Vetrano is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and a fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and member of the family law sections of the American Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Montgomery Bar Association. The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers certified Kate Vetrano as a Family Law Arbitrator on May 4, 2008.

Ms Vetrano is a founding member of the Collaborative Family Law Affiliates. She is a former member of the council of the American Bar Association's family law section, where she has chaired the elder law committee from the committee's inception in 1994 through 2006. She is also on the family law advisory council for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute.

Ms Vetrano is a past chair of the Montgomery Bar Association family law section, has been a director of the bar association, and is past president and founding member of the Doris Jonas Freed American Inn of Court for family law.

Ms. Vetrano attended the Sorbonne and received her undergraduate degree from Rosemont College. She graduated from Widener University School of Law cum laude.

Areas of Practice:
Divorce Law
Family Law
Bar Admissions:
Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania
U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
Education:
Widener University School of Law, Wilmington, Delaware, 1980
J.D.
Honors: Cum Laude


Rosemont College, 1973


University of Paris - Sorbonne CP, 1972


Published Works:
Ethical Considerations for the Practice of Collaborative Law, Pennsylvania Family Lawyer, January, 2005


A Guide to Legal Issues for Pennsylvania Senior Citizens, Pennsylvania Bar Association, 2004


Common Law Marriage- Abolished?, Pennsylvania Bar Association Solo & Small Firm Practice Section News, Family Law Report, Fall, 2003


Pennsylvania Uniform Transfer to Minor Act, Pennsylvania Bar Association Solo & Small Firm Practice Section News, Family Law Report, Spring, 2002


Approaching the Golden Years With No Band of Gold, Pennsylvania Bar Association Solo and Small Firm Practice Section News, Family Law Report, Fall, 2001


Suddenly Single Seniors, Main Line Today, August, 2001


Stock Option Valuation and Distribution in Divorce, Pennsylvania Bar Association Solo & Small Firm Practice Section News, Family Law Report, Summer, 2001


Is the Marriage Really Over?, Pennsylvania Bar Association Solo & Small Firm Practice Section News, Family Law Report, Spring, 2001


Changes in Support Collection, Pennsylvania Bar Association Solo & Small Firm Practice Section News, Family Law Report, Winter, 2000


Border Crossing, Pennsylvania Bar Association Solo & Small Firm Practice Section News, Family Law Report, Fall, 2000


Collaborative Divorce Comes to Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Bar Association Solo & Small Firm Practice Section News, Family Law Report, Summer, 2000


Social Security in Family Law, Pennsylvania Bar Association Solo & Small Firm Practice Section News, Family Law Report, Spring, 2000


Settlement Negotiation: Honing the Family Lawyer's Powers of Persuasion, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, May, 1999


The Role of Social Security in Divorce, Pennsylvania Family Lawyer, December, 1998


Divorce Law Summary, PaLAWnet.com, A Ready Law, Legal Communications, Inc. (Web site article), March, 1997


The Four-Way Meeting. Joy of Settlement: The Family Lawyer's Guide to Effective Negotiations and Settlement Strategies, Gregg Herman, Editor. Chapter 19, ABA FLS Publication, February, 1997


Book review: Illuminating Social Security, Family Advocate, Vol. 19 No.2, Fall, 1996


Using Four Way Meetings in Divorce Cases, The Practical Lawyer, Vol. 42 No. 6, September, 1996


Practice Pointers: A Custody Battle, Pennsylvania Law Weekly, 19 PLW 900, July 8, 1996


Book review: The Family Law Practitioner's GUIDE TO SOCIAL SECURITY, American Journal of Family Law, Vol. 10 No. 2, Summer, 1996


Think Social Security in Domestic Support Cases, Pennsylvania Law Weekly, 18 PLW 1153, September 18, 1995


Book review: The Good Divorce: Keeping Your Family Together when Your Marriage Comes Apart, FAIRSHARE, Vol. 15 No. 6, June, 1995


Controlling Behavior Through Divorce Penalties in a Prenuptial?, FAIRSHARE, Vol. 15 No. 4, April, 1995


The Good Divorce: An Attainable Goal, Pennsylvania Law Weekly, Vol. XVIII No. 6, February 6, 1995


Elder Law and Divorce, PBA Pennsylvania Family Lawyer, Vol. XVI No. 5, December, 1994


Educational Support Statute Unconstitutional, Divorced and Intact Families Treated Differently under Blue, Co-Author with Julia Malloy-Good, Pennsylvania Law Journal, Vol. XVII No. 7, February 14, 1994


Building Blocks for Children's Health Insurance: Changes to State, Federal Law Target Gaps in Medical Care During Family's Breakup, Pennsylvania Law Journal, Vol. XVII No. 2, January 10, 1994


Spousal Wavier of Pension Premaritally and upon Divorce, FAIRSHARE, Vol. 13 No. 9, September, 1993


Lawyers, Proceed with Care: Prenuptial Agreements Do Not Avoid ERISA Rules, Pennsylvania Law Journal, Vol. XVI No. 35, September 13, 1993


A House Divided: Divorce Over 50 is on the Rise, AARP The Magazine, Elizabeth Enright, July/August, 2004


Women Blamed for the Mid-Life Divorce, The Times, Nicholas Wapshott, May 28, 2004


Wayne Attorney Introduces West-Coast Style of Divorce to Older Couples, The Suburban and Wayne Times, May 17, 2001


More Elderly Couples Calling it Quits After Years of Marriage, Daily Local News, Tracy Behringer, March 6, 2001


Rising Divorce Rate for Couples in Golden Years, Main Line Life, February 28, 2001


Retiring the Marriage: Divorce is Becoming More Common in the 'Golden Years', Main Line Times, Bill Marshall, February 15, 2001


Feeling the 50-Year Itch: Seniors aren't Waiting Around for Death to do Them Part, Newsweek, Karen Springen, December 4, 2000


Older Divorce Clients Offer Unique Challenges, Wisconsin Opinions, Jane Pribek, September 1, 1999


Caught in the Net, The Pennsylvania Lawyer, September/October, 1998


Lawyers in Love: Suburban Couples Work Together - And Stay Together, The Legal Intelligencer, Miryam Strassberg, Vol. 2 No. 13, March 26, 1997


Inns of Court: Ancient Idea Becomes a New Way to Learn and Network, The Legal Intelligencer, July 24, 1996


New Bill Would En No-Fault Divorce, Pennsylvania Law Weekly, Mary Ellen Fox, May 13, 1996


Elder Law Committee Reaches Out to Seniors, The Legal Intelligencer, Montgomery Bar Page 1450, March 1, 1996


The Graying of the Law, American Bar Association Journal, Jill Schachner Chanen, January, 1996


Prenuptial Agreements Invalid Under Federal Law, Lawyers Weekly USA, James L. Dam, September 25, 1995


Clients Seek Prenuptial Protection From Long-Term Care Expenses, Serving Elderly Clients: A Practitioner's Guide to Issues of Aging, Vol. 2, Issue 1, May, 1995


Retiree's Health Benefits May be Marital Asset at Divorce, Lawyers Weekly USA, James L. Dam, April 10, 1995


Classes/Seminars Taught:
Speaker/Producer, The Second Season: Issues for Divorce over Fifty, Philadelphia and Mechanicsburg, PA, 2008


Producer, A Practical Approach to Premarital Agreements, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia PA, 2008


Speaker, Collaborative Family Law, Montgomery Bar Association, Norristown, PA, 2008


Speaker, Author - Internet Risks and Resources for the Family Lawyer, Cambridge, MD, 2007


Producer, Alimony and Retirement: A Crossroad, American Bar Association. Monterey, CA., 2007


Speaker, Practicum. Tax Issues in Divorce, Montgomery Bar Association. Norristown, PA, 2006


Speaker, Trainer of Lawyers, Accountants, and Psychologists in the Collaborative Law Process for Divorce, Collaborative Family Law Affiliates. Philadelphia, PA., 2006


Speaker, The Second Season: Spending the Gold in the Golden Years, American Bar Association. Santa Fe, NM, 2006


Speaker, Pennsylvania Bar Institute. Mechanicsburg, PA, A Family of Laws for the Family Lawyer, 2006


Speaker, Family Law Section. When the Retirement Parachute Fails, American Bar Association. Washington D.C., 2006


Speaker, Family Law Section. The Retirement Nightmare: Guardianship in America, American Bar Association. San Diego, CA., 2005


Speaker, Family Law Potpourri, Landmines in ERISA Regarding Survivor/Spousal Benefits., Pennsylvania Bar Institute. Philadelphia, PA., 2005


Speaker, Collaborative Relationships Among Counselors, Psychologists and Advocates., Pennsylvania Bar Institute. Philadelphia, PA. ADR Institute., 2005


Speaker, The Use of Alternative Dispute Resolution in Family Law Matters., Mealey-Lexis. Mealeya Family Law Conference. Philadelphia, PA., 2005


Speaker, Landmines in ERISA Regarding Survivor Benefits., Pennsylvania Bar Association, Family Law Section. Hershey, PA., 2005


Speaker, From Start to Finish: Planning the Best Outcome in Your Family Law Case., Montgomery Bar Association, Family Law Section. Norristown, PA., 2004


Speaker, Trainer of lawyers and psychologists in the collaborative law process for divorce., Collaborative Family Law Affiliates. Strafford, PA., 2004


Speaker, Family Law Issues Arising in Your Elder Law Practice, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Elder Law Institute, Harrisburg PA, 2004


Speaker, Family Law Section, San Juan Puerto Rico, Approaching the Golden Years with No Band of Gold, Family Business Distribution Issues and Solutions, American Bar Association, 2004


Speaker, Ethics Potpourri, Collaborative Law, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, PA., 2003


Speaker, Instructor for training program for Collaborative Lawyers., Collaborative Family Law Affiliates. Devon, PA., 2003


Speaker, Family Law Issues Arising in Your Elder Law Practice, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Elder Law Institute, Harrisburg, PA., 2003


Speaker, The Changing Tides in Valuation Practices and Property Distribution, American Bar Association, Family Law Section, Las Vegas, Nevada., 2003


Speaker, Death of a Client, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Family Law Section, Montreal, Canada, 2002


Speaker, Producer of Committee CLE, American Bar Association, Family Law Section, Providence, Rhode Island., 2002


Co-producer and speaker. A Practical Approach to Prenuptial Agreements: Negotiating and Drafting Techniques, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, PA., 2001


Speaker, Family Law Potpourri (Discovery), Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, PA., 2001


Speaker, Update on Elder Law Issues in Family Law, Montgomery Bar Association, 2001


Speaker, Producer of 12 hours of Committee CLE on various topics. Vancouver, Canada., American Bar Association- Family Law Section., 2001


Speaker, Co-producer/moderator. Tampa, Florida. Approaching the Golden Years with No Band of Gold., American Bar Association- Family Law Section., 2000


Speaker, Technology for the Family Lawyer, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, PA., 2000


Producer/Speaker. Did You Get Your Deal? Enforcement and Security Issues, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Philadelphia., 2000


Speaker, Author. Whose Divorce Is It Anyway? A Multi-Generational Look at Elder Divorce., American Bar Association Presidential Showcase Program Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, 1999


Speaker. Author. Divorce and Elder Law: Looking to the Future., Pennsylvania Bar Association, Family Law Section, New York, NY., 1999


Speaker. Author. Settlement Negotiations: Honing the Family Lawyer Powers of Persuasion., Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, PA., 1999


Speaker, Co-producer. Collaborative Divorce, American Bar Association, Family Law Section, Miami, FL., 1999


Speaker, Co-Producer. Settlement Negotiations, American Bar Association, Family Law Section, Portland, OR., 1998


Speaker, Co-Producer. Course Planner. Legal, Social, & Economic Issues Facing Dependent Spouses at the Turn of the Century., American Bar Association, Family Law Section. Cambridge, MA., 1998


Speaker, The Fundamentals of Family Law., Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, PA., 1998


Speaker, Course Planner. Speaker. Author. Divorce Remarriage and Cohabitation., Pennsylvania Bar Institute First Annual Elder Law Institute, Philadelphia, PA., 1998


Speaker, Author. ED and Retirement Planning: Social Security Benefits., Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia and Mechanicsburg, PA., 1997


Speaker, Mondschein Talks Divorce. Guest speaker. Elder Law and Divorce., Radio program, Bethlehem, PA., 1997


Speaker, Co-Producer. Course Planner. Emotional Warfare: Dealing with Abuse in Divorce, American Bar Association Family Law Section, Phoenix, AZ., 1997


Speaker, Course Planner. Author. Speaker. Tax Consequences of Retirement Benefit Distributions., Chester County Bench Bar Annual Meeting, Annapolis, MD., 1997


Speaker, Alimony: Avoiding the Perils of Poverty., American Bar Association Family Law Section, San Francisco, CA., 1997


Speaker, Producer. Course Planner. Moderator. Tax Consequences of Retirement Benefits., American Bar Association Family Law Section, San Francisco, CA., 1997


Speaker, Author. Course Planner. Cohabiting Couples: Safeguarding Interests and Assets., Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section, Baltimore, MD., 1997


Speaker, Co-Producer. Fractured Families, Fragmented Courts, Pennsylvania Bar Association Annual Meeting. Commission on Women in the Profession, 1997


Speaker, The Fundamentals of Family Law., Pennsylvania Bar Institute, King of Prussia, PA., 1997


Speaker, Author. Exit Advice and Procedures: Closing the File., Bucks County Family Law Committee, Doylestown, PA., 1997


Speaker, Author. Post Divorce Planning: The Exit., Chester County Bar Association Family Law Section, West Chester, PA., 1996


Speaker, Author. Cohabitation in the Nineties., American Bar Association Family Law Section, Washington, D.C., 1996


Speaker, Author. Exit Advice and Procedures: Closing the File., Montgomery Bar Association Family Law Committee, Norristown, PA., 1996


Speaker, Fundamentals of Family Law., Pennsylvania Bar Institute. King of Prussia, PA., 1996


Speaker, Confidentiality: Children and Adolescents, Legal Perspectives., Regional Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Annual Colloquium, Philadelphia, PA., 1996


Course Planner. Author. Speaker. Exit Advice and Procedures: Closing the File., Pennsylvania Bar Institute. The First Annual Family Law Institute, Philadelphia, PA., 1996


Course planner. Moderator. Divorce and the Aging Family., Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section. Harrisburg, PA, 1996


Speaker. Author. The Aging Family., American Bar Association National Telephone Seminar., 1995


Speaker, Women and Social Security., Montgomery Bar Association Elder Law Committee. Norristown, PA., 1995


Speaker, Co chair, course planner and moderator., Montgomery Bar Association Family Law Practicum Norristown, PA., 1995


Speaker, Author. Some Elder Law Concerns in Your Divorce Practice., Chester County Bench Bar Conference- Annapolis, MD. Course Planner., 1995


Speaker, Co-Producer. Course Planner. Moderator. The Aging Family: Marital Status Issues for the Older Client., American Bar Association Family Law Section, Beaver Creek, CO., 1995


Workshop Planner. Speaker. Author. Gender Bias., Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section, Williamsburg, VA., 1995


Speaker. Author. Course Planner. The Elder Care Lawyer: A New Specialist Who Combines New and Traditional Areas of Practice., Pennsylvania Bar Association Annual Meeting, Hershey, PA., 1995


Course Planner. Speaker. Author. Divorcing the Elderly., Pennsylvania Bar Institute Philadelphia, Harrisburg & West Chester, PA., 1995


Lecturer, Course on Marriage, Villanova University Guest, 1994


Workshop Planner. Speaker. Author. Elder Law and Divorce., American Bar Association Family Law Section. Albuquerque, NM., 1994


Speaker, Author. When Does a Lawyer Decide to Ask for a Child Psychiatric Consultation?, Child and Law Study Group of the Regional Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Philadelphia, PA., 1994


Speaker, The Fundamentals of Family Law., Pennsylvania Bar Institute Philadelphia, PA., 1994


Speaker. Author. Qualified Medical Child Support Orders., Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section Pittsburgh, PA., 1994


Speaker. Author. Fundamentals of Family Law, A Practical Review and Update, A to Z on Qualified Medical Child Support Orders., Pennsylvania Bar Institute. Philadelphia, PA., 1993


Speaker. Author. Effect Of Releases And Waivers In Prenuptial Agreements Of Qualified Plans Under ERISA Rules., Family Law Committee of the Montgomery Bar Association, Norristown, PA., 1993


Speaker. Author. Considerations When Representing The Older Woman In Divorce., Practicum of the Family Law Committee of the Montgomery Bar Association. Norristown, PA., 1993


Speaker, Author: Employer Benefits Workshop. Qualified Medical Child Support Orders & ERISA Preemption of Prenupts., Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section. Toronto, Ontario., 1993


Speaker, Author. ERISA: How Will It Affect Health Care Reform., Symposium of the Womens Way Organization Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies, Harrisburg, PA., 1993


Honors and Awards:
Best Lawyers in America - Family Law Mediation (nominated by and voted in by peers), 2009


Family Law, Pennsylvania Super Lawyer, 2008


Certified Family Law Arbitrator, AAML, 2008


Family Law, Pennsylvania Super Lawyer, 2007


Family Law, Pennsylvania Super Lawyer, 2006


Family Law, Pennsylvania Super Lawyer, 2005


Professional Associations and Memberships:
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers- PA, 2006 - Present
Member, Board of Examiners


International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2004 - Present
Fellow


Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 1999 - Present
Family Law, Advisory Committee


American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1998 - Present
Fellow Program Committee


American Bar Association, Family Law Section, 1994 - 2006
Chair, Elder Law Committee


American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, PA, 2004 - 2005
Chair, Elder Law Committee


Montgomery Bar Association, 2004
Co-chair, Alternate Dispute Committee


American Bar Association, Family Law Section, 1998 - 2001
Council


Doris Jonas Freed American Inn of Court, 1998
Counselor


Montgomery Bar Association, 1998
Director, Executive Committee


Montgomery Bar Association, 1998
Board of Directors


Southeastern Pennsylvania Family Law Council, 1997 - 1998
Director


American Bar Association, Family Law Section, 1997 - 1998
Co-chair, Cohabitation Committee


American Bar Association, Family Law Section, 1997 - 1998
Program Committee


Doris Jonas Freed American Inn of Court, 1997 - 1998
Founding Member, President


Montgomery Bar Association, 1997 - 1998
Co-Chair, Family Law Committee


Legal Affairs of Older Persons of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, 1996 - 1998
Vice Chair of the Committee


Montgomery Bar Association, 1996
Co-chair Committee, Family Law Committee


Montgomery Bar Association, 1996
Co-Chair, Family Law Committee


Montgomery Bar Association, 1995
Co-Chair, Family Law Committee


Montgomery Bar Association, 1995
Co-Chair, Elder Law Committee


Montgomery Bar Association, 1996
Co-Chair, Elder Law Committee


Golden V/I/Ps Senior Citizen Organization, 1994 - 1995
Board of Advisors


Doris Jonas Freed, American Inn of Court (Family Law), 1994
Executive Director


Doris Jonas Freed, American Inn of Court (Family Law), 1995
Executive Director


Doris Jonas Freed, American Inn of Court (Family Law), 1996
Executive Director


Montgomery Bar Association, 1993
Chair, Sub-Committee, Family Law Committee


American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
Member


International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
Member


American Bar Association, Family Law Section


Pennsylvania Bar Association, Family Law Section


Montgomery Bar Association, Family Law Section


International Academy of Collaborative Lawyers


American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2008 - Present
Certified Arbitrator


Past Employment Positions:
Butera Beausang Cohen & Brennan PC, King of Prussia, PA, Partner, 1983 - 1996


Butera Beausang Cohen & Brennan PC, Associate, 1980 - 1983


Pro Bono Activities:
Attorney, Womens Resource Center, Wayne, PA, 2001 - 2004

Vetrano & Vetrano is a law firm in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania that practices in the areas of family law and civil (noncriminal) appeals.

The firm’s family law practice extends throughout eastern Pennsylvania. This area includes the Philadelphia Main Line ( Merion, Narberth, Gladwyne, Wynnewood, Ardmore, Haverford, Bryn Mawr, Rosemont, Villanova, St. David’s, Radnor, Wayne, Strafford, Devon, Berwyn, and Paoli) and the communities of Newtown Square, Malvern, Valley Forge, and Phoenixville. The counties covered include Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, and Northampton—whose county seats are, respectively, in Reading, Doylestown, West Chester, Media, Lancaster, Allentown, Stroudsburg, Norristown, and Easton.

The firm’s civil appeals practice is throughout Pennsylvania.

Suite 410 • 455 South Gulph Road • King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406
Voice: 610/265-4441 Fax: 610/265-1120 Email Us

 

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