Pennsylvania Family Law Blog

Pop star Britney Spears and her child custody lawyer has finalized her much-publicized child custody settlement with ex-husband Kevin Federline, according to this news report. The article states that Spears will fork out a $5,000 a month increase in child support to Federline. Spears’ payments to her ex-husband fo from $15,000 to $20,000 a month, backdated to July 15. Spears has also agreed to pay Federline’s lawyers a single payment of $250,000. Earlier this month, both parties told the media that they had finally come to terms on child custody issues relating to the couple’s two young children.

Child custody is one of the most contentious, if not the most contentious issue, in a divorce. Finding an experienced divorce lawyer will help you save a lifetime of problems. It is always important to have your lawyer draw up a comprehensive settlement plan before filing your divorce papers, which can include a custody schedule. In Pennsylvania, there are two main types of child custody. There is legal custody, which means you have the right to make all decisions relating to your child’s upbringing. And then, there is physical custody, which dictates where your child can reside and when.

If you are dealing with a divorce and have children involved, you will be well-advised to obtain a custody order from a Pennsylvania court. The only way you can do this is by filing a successful legal pleading in family court.

If you or someone you know is involved in divorce, filing for child custody and needs assistance from a Pennsylvania child custody attorney, please call Sheryl R. Rentz for a free and completely confidential consultation. She has the knowledge and experience to handle child custody issues and will help protect your rights.

A recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer addressed a recent city council committee meeting where Pennsylvania’s system for serving protection-from-abuse orders was discussed. Unlike many other states, Pennsylvania domestic violence victims can serve their abusers with protection orders, although police officers remain the first choice for the task.

Advocates of the policy argue that victims of domestic violence in Philadelphia and other cities in Pennsylvania are the best judges of what action to take when it comes to serving protection orders. Victims can call 911 or go to a police station to have the orders served. Very often, police will gain valuable information by interviewing the victims, including details about the home, family relationships and children, and the nature of the abuser.

The article explains that of the roughly 14,000 emergency protection from abuse orders issued in Philadelphia each year, only about half are served by police, a surprisingly low number. The others are delivered from the court to the parties by private courier, family members, or the abused themselves. While this may seem dangerous, Nicole Lindemyer, counsel from the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, testified that in some situations, letting police serve the order “may, in fact, increase the safety risks” to victims.

The filing of a restraining order can be a good first step in removing yourself from a dangerous family living situation. Pennsylvania family and criminal courts can serve protection from abuse orders to help protect the abused, but the process can be daunting and stressful. There are many variables involved when dealing with these volatile situations, variables that are best left to an experienced Pennsylvania Family Law attorney to handle.

Regardless of your legal case or particular circumstances if you are involved in or need to file a domestic abuse charge you should contact our offices for a free consultation. The Law Office of Sheryl R. Rentz, P.C. has locations in Pennsylvania and have years of divorce law experience that you can trust. Contact us today for a free evaluation on your case.

Divorces are an everyday occurrence in the United States and in the rest of the world. But at no time do they get media attention unless it is a nasty celebrity divorce. The Associated Press reports that model and actress Christie Brinkley and her estranged husband Peter Cook are in the thick of a contentious divorce trial in New York, at the center of which is a custody battle for their two children ages 13 and 10.

Brinkley and her attorneys are alleging that Cook spent $3,000 a month on pornographic Web sites. Cook’s affair with 18-year-old Diana Bianchi reportedly set off a frenzy in the tabloids. Bianchi is also expected to testify in the trial. She claims Cook seduced her shortly after hiring her to work at his Hamptons architectural firm. Cook’s attorneys on the other hand claim that Brinkley has had a bad track record with marriage. Cook is her fourth husband. Child custody is the main issue in this trial as opposed to money. Brinkley’s ex-husband and musician Billy Joel is also expected to testify in this star-studded trial.

This case is just yet another example of the sad truth that an already complicated and nasty divorce could get even more complex when children are involved. In Pennsylvania the laws that talk about Pennsylvania child custody in a divorce are complex and tough to interpret. It is crucial to retain a divorce lawyer who is experienced and has a thorough knowledge of divorce and child custody law.

These are also cases that must be treated with dignity and sensitivity. The Law Office of Sheryl R. Rentz has years of experience in successfully handling Philadelphia child custody cases. We handle almost every custody issue whether you are single, married or divorced. We will help you sort through the legal process and paperwork at a time when sorting though your life and spending time with your children can be your top priority. Call us today for a free and confidential consultation.

The prospect of losing their driving privilege has apparently prompted more than 3,000 Illinois parents to pay about $1.3 million in child support since Jan. 1, according to an Associated Press news report . The way this new program works is that the state’s Department of Healthcare and Family Services sends out warning notices to deadbeat parents who owe at least $2,500 in child support provided they have an Illinois driver’s license.

If these parents do not reply, their names are then forwarded to the secretary of state who suspends their driver’s license 60 days later. At least 20 other states have similar programs to force parents to do the responsible thing and provide for their children. Illinois has especially been notorious over the years for having the most number of parents who skipped child support payments. According to the report, seven years ago, the state collected $726 million in child support. This year, after this new law was enacted, that number has risen to more than $1.2 billion.

We all know that in any divorce, the toughest issues to settle involve child support and how the payments should be set. It is an unfortunate fact that many parents end up not paying their legally entitled payments. In some cases, a parent may be required to pay child support even though they shouldn’t. If you or someone you know has concerns relating to such child support issues in Pennsylvania, please contact the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz for free advice and guidance.

Pennsylvania has very strict laws that impose severe penalties on those who fail to make their child support payments. A parent who does not pay could face a series of problems including suspension of driver’s license and passport, jail time, bank account seizure and reporting of failure to pay to credit agencies.

We have extensive experience in dealing with such complicated divorce laws. We can help you recover child support, assist with your child support contract or even offer suggestions and possible options for those parents who have not paid child support for some time.