Are the Custody Factors on the Road to Extinction? How to Question and/or Defend the Unwritten Presumption of 50-50 Custody in Pennsylvania (Family Law Institute 2026 session)

Mr. Hoover is a founding member of the Levin Hoover Family Law Firm in Lemoyne, Pennsylvania. Mr. Hoover has dedicated his career to family law, and he practices throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Mr. Hoover was recently an Adjunct Instructor of Family Law at the Widener University Commonwealth Law School. Mr. Hoover is a frequent CLE presenter, former member of the PBA Family Law Section Council, former member of the PBA Family Law Section Executive Council, prior chair of the PBA Family Law Rules Committee, prior member of the PBA Family Law Programming Committee, and member of the Dauphin County Bar Association Family Law Section Court Relations Committee. He has been a leader in the Pennsylvania Bar Association, including selection for the 2015-2016 class of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Bar Leadership Institute, and prior member of the PBA Conference of County Bar Leaders Executive Council. Mr. Hoover is active and has strong connections at the local level. He is the former chair of the Dauphin County Bar Association Young Lawyers Section, current member of the Dauphin County Court Relations Committee, and former Dauphin County Bar Association board member and Dauphin County foundation member. Mr. Hoover’s law career started as a clerk in York County, and he regularly r.,ractices in the southern Pennsylvania. He has a passion for pro bono service and community involvement. Mr. Hoover participated in the 2015 PBA Pro Bono CLE Video Project, Wills for Heroes, direct representation of complex custody matters, former board member of the Community Justice Project, and has presented CLEs regarding pro bono service. In 2018-2019, Mr. Hoover was involved in developing a project to provide free legal service for families who require legal guardianship of their adult children.

Garrett James Helvy, MA, is a student psychologist and researcher currently enrolled at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. After graduating sum cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh in 2023 Garrett began the process of obtaining his Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D) and is currently in his 3rd year, with an expected graduation in 2028. In addition to his academic studies and clinical training work, he is planning a qualitative study on the lived experiences of college students who have used large language model artificial intelligence systems for psychotherapeutic purposes. Garrett also works part time at a neurobehavioral clinic and has been trained in the administration and use of qualitative electroencephalography (QEEG) for neurofeedback.

Erik W. Blasic is an associate attorney at Silverman, Tokarsky & Forman LLC in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where his practice focuses primarily on family law while also handling matters involving veterans benefits, estate planning, business formation and nonprofit law. He takes a client-first approach to solving legal issues and works to create practical solutions that bring meaningful results for his clients. Erik also integrates his veterans benefits expertise into his family law practice to help veteran-clients address divorce and custody issues that involve their benefits and the unique challenges veterans face. Erik earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from Washington & Jefferson College in 2021, graduating summa cum laude and serving as valedictorian of his graduating class. He earned his Juris Doctor from Penn State Law in 2024, graduating magna cum laude, and was inducted into the Order of the Coif. Erik is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section and is accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of General Counsel to represent veterans in VA benefits claims.