Providing objective guidance in a professional and compassionate manner
Serving Venango County Businesses and
Individuals Since 1930
From the historic city of Franklin, Pennsylvania comes Venango County’s largest and most historic law firm – the Dale Woodard Gent McFate Law Firm. Our firm today is the combination of several well-established and respected firms, giving our firm an unbroken connection with Venango County that stretches back to 1930. Four generations of attorneys at our firm have served clients and the communities of Venango County and Northwestern Pennsylvania. As a client of the firm, this means you can depend on the Dale Woodard Gent McFate Law Firm to be here when you need us, providing top-tier legal advice and representation with caring, compassion and the utmost professionalism.
Extensive Experience, Personal Excellence
What sets us apart at Dale Woodard Gent McFate Law Firm is not just that we have been around for many years. In our commitment to honoring our name and history, our firm’s leaders continue to select the best and brightest attorneys from around the country known for their academic distinction, personal excellence and commitment to providing objective legal guidance in a professional and compassionate manner. Our lawyers work in tandem with a highly trained and experienced staff of legal assistants to ensure a positive client experience that gets great results while making sure you know you are being listened to and your needs are being attended to diligently and professionally.
Comprehensive Practice Serving Individuals and Businesses Throughout Venango County and Beyond
At Dale Woodard Gent McFate Law Firm, we still believe in the value of having one integrated law firm capable of meeting all of our clients’ needs. That’s why we maintain a general legal practice but with specific areas of concentration among our attorneys to ensure excellence in everything we do. Our comprehensive law firm practice equips us to handle your personal and professional legal needs, no matter how large or small, or how simple or complex. Whatever legal matter you are facing, it’s important to you that it be resolved efficiently and effectively, and that’s equally important to us as well.
You can count on Dale Woodard Gent McFate Law Firm in Franklin for practical, objective legal advice and professional representation in any of the following areas:
Family Law
We provide compassionate, client-focused representation in family matters, recognizing the emotional and sensitive nature of these cases. Our comprehensive family law practice includes representation in child & spousal support requests, adoption proceedings, negotiating and drafting prenuptial agreements, navigating the process and ramifications of domestic violence and protection from abuse orders, and more. We provide such services for clients in Clarion, Crawford, Forest, Mercer, Jefferson, Venango and Warren Counties.
Divorce and Custody
Our legal team offers expert guidance through the divorce process, including property division, alimony, alimony pendente lite (APL), spousal support, and child custody arrangements. We strive to achieve outcomes that protect your interests and those of your children. We provide both the objective guidance and compassionate support that are critical to people going through emotionally difficult times like a divorce or custody dispute in Clarion, Crawford, Forest, Mercer, Jefferson, Venango and Warren Counties.
Estate Planning
Estate planning is crucial for safeguarding your legacy and ensuring your assets are distributed according to your wishes. We assist clients in creating comprehensive estate plans, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advanced healthcare directives, tailored to meet their individual needs and goals.
Probate and Estate Administration
After the loss of a loved one, probate and estate administration can be a complex and emotionally taxing process. Our attorneys are experienced in guiding executors and trustees through probate proceedings and trust administration, ensuring compliance with state laws and the efficient administration of the estate.
Real Estate
Real estate transactions in Pennsylvania, whether residential or commercial, require meticulous attention to detail and an understanding of state-specific regulations. Our attorneys provide comprehensive legal services for real estate transactions, including purchases, sales, leases, title and settlement services, resolution of title disputes, and much more.
Business Law
We assist clients with contract negotiations, employment law issues, regulatory compliance, and more, offering strategic advice tailored to your business’s unique needs. When you cannot afford to have your own in-house legal counsel, you can rely on us to be on-call whenever you need us with advice and support.
Business Entity Formation and Business Transactions
Choosing the right business structure is crucial for any Pennsylvania business. Our firm provides expert advice and technical assistance regarding the formation of corporations, nonprofit corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies (LLCs), as well as business transactions involving the purchase/sale of a business or business assets and business mergers.
Business Litigation
Business litigation can be a challenging aspect of running a company, but it’s something every business runs into at one time or another. Our firm represents businesses in various disputes, including contract disagreements, shareholder and partnership conflicts, business torts, and other commercial litigation, aiming for resolutions that minimize disruption and protect your interests. Rental properties also present business opportunities for many people, and our firm represents landlords and tenants from the beginning of their relationship with leases and other documents, and, when unfortunate turns of events occur, with eviction proceedings
Municipal Law
We offer legal counsel to cities, townships, boroughs, sewer and water authorities, and school districts throughout Northwestern Pennsylvania, helping to draft ordinances, deal with contracts and easements, and attend council and board meetings as needed.
Guardianships and Orphans’ Court Proceedings
Guardianship and Orphans’ Court proceedings in Pennsylvania involve the protection of minors and incapacitated individuals. Our firm represents clients in these sensitive matters, ensuring the best interests of the ward are at the forefront of every decision. Clients depend on us to represent them in guardianships, adoptions, proceedings involving the termination of parental rights, civil commitments, and more.
Personal Injury
Personal injury law is about securing justice and compensation for those harmed due to others’ negligence. Our attorneys are committed to advocating for your rights, whether it’s a car accident, slip and fall, product defect, or wrongful death, ensuring you receive the financial support you need and deserve.
Civil Litigation
Our civil litigation practice encompasses a wide array of disputes, from construction defect and payment disputes to battles with insurance companies over coverage and payment of claims. Our Franklin law firm represents individuals and businesses in Venango County and throughout Northwestern Pennsylvania in civil litigation, providing skilled advocacy to protect your interests and achieve favorable outcomes.
High-Quality Legal Services in an Efficient and Client-Friendly Manner
Our clients know they can count on us to deliver timely and professional legal services at an affordable price, and that’s why they come to us whenever they have an identified legal need. We strive to make it easy to work with our firm, offering simple and secure online payments and the latest in technology to better serve our clients. Clients can reach out to us 24 hours a day via email, voicemail and fax, and we are always quick to respond. State-of-the-art computers and software help us do our work more efficiently and accurately, saving clients time and money.
Contact Dale Woodard Gent McFate Law Firm for All Your Legal Needs in Northwestern Pennsylvania
For high quality legal service in an efficient and client-friendly manner, look no further than Dale Woodard Gent McFate Law Firm in Franklin, serving all of Venango County and Northwestern Pennsylvania with a commitment to excellence, personal service and dependability you can count on to meet your needs. Call 814-432-2181 for immediate assistance, or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our skilled and dedicated legal team.
