Pennsylvania Family Law Blog

On July 25, 2008, Britney Spears filed a settlement at the Superior Court in Los Angeles to finalize her child custody agreement with ex-husband, Kevin Federline. A week prior, Spears had consented to give her ex custody — both physical and legal control — of Jayden James and Sean Preston, their two children. Per the agreement, Spears would retain the right to visit her children. According to sources like E! and TMZ.com,

Spears has had to pay out more than $2.5 million in legal fees in 2008 — nearly ¾ of a million of which went to Mark Kaplan, a lawyer representing Kevin Federline. She also had to pay nearly the same amount to assemble a team to hammer out the conservatorship of her estate. In February, 2008, Spears’ dad and her lawyer, Andrew Wallet, were named co-conservators of the pop star’s assets and estate, and according to arrangements made on July 25, 2008, that conservatorship should be extended at least another half a year. On October 28, 2008, a hearing was held to review the progress of the conservatorship.

Britney Spears and Kevin Federline’s public, salacious, and unfortunate divorce has played out over the last several years to an audience of millions of tabloid readers and E! entertainment viewers. Outlandish anecdotes about Spears’ behavior during and after the divorce and custody battles abound. In one highly publicized incident, Spears suffered what appeared to have been a nervous breakdown and shaved off all of her hair. She has been hospitalized multiple times for nervous conditions over the past two years and has seen her status as a pop princess falter. Particularly embarrassing was her performance at the 2007 Video Music Awards.

Anyone who has gone through a divorce or child custody battle in Pennsylvania can sympathize with people like Britney Spears and Kevin Federline. Doing legal battle with people close to you can be involving, elaborate, and emotionally traumatic. Fortunately, Pennsylvania clients in need of representation can contact the firm of Sheryl R. Rentz to explore their options. Whether you are dealing with a real estate related family law issue or a complicated child custody case, we can provide assistance. Discuss your matter with our skilled divorce attorneys at 610-645-0100 for a free initial telephone consultation.

On November 22, 2008, a London Court unceremoniously dissolved the marriage of British film director Guy Ritchie and American pop superstar Madonna. Madonna had filed for the separation, claiming that Ritchie had exhibited unreasonable behavior. The court took all of a minute to dissolve the marriage, and neither Madonna or Ritchie nor their attorneys were around to hear Judge Reid deliver the decree nisi.

The Madonna-Ritchie separation was a remarkably low-key affair — especially when compared to the bloodbath that was the divorce of former Beatle, Paul McCartney, and his ex, Heather Mills.

All told, it’s estimated that Madonna’s personal fortune is worth nearly half a billion dollars, while Ritchie’s assets total nearly $50 million. The couple will share custody of their two boys, an eight year old son named Rocco and a three year old adopted son named David Banda. Madonna also has a 12-year-old daughter with an ex-boyfriend, Carlos Leon. The Friday afternoon court hearing in which the decree nisi was pronounced also featured the dissolution of 17 other marriages.

The couple married at a Scottish Castle in late 2000 but encountered problems stemming from the fact that — at least according to Madonna — Ritchie spent his time at the bar with his friends and proved to be generally “indolent.” Ritchie suggested that for her part, Madonna was unhealthily obsessed with Kabbalah and was very controlling and OCD.

The couple shared substantial assets, including properties in London, New York, and Beverly Hills, which their property division lawyers will have to discuss.

To get assistance with your Pennsylvania divorce matter, you can turn to the reliable and experienced representatives here at Sheryl R. Rentz. Our firm has worked on hundreds of high profile cases involving child support, child custody, spousal support, and divorce. We offer quality service in providing legal advice and moral support during these difficult times for you and your family. Let us show you how dedicated we are by calling 610-645-0100 for a free initial telephone consultation with one of our skilled Philadelphia divorce attorneys.

On June 30, 2008, the LA Times featured an article about an unusual child custody battle between a Mexican national named Carlos Alvarado and his ex-wife, Marla Campo, a US citizen. Alvarado arrived on US soil in early 1990s and later met and courted Campo. In 1997, Campo gave birth to their son, Michael. The couple then split up a few years later. A court decreed that Campo would retain primary custody of Michael. However, in 2003, the situation dramatically changed when Campo absconded with their son because — she claimed — Alvarado was not paying his fair share of child support costs. The parents went back into family court, where a judge ruled that Campo and Alvarado had to share custody. Complicating this relatively ordinary seeming custody battle, however, was the fact that Alvarado was doing battle in another court — Immigration Court.

Both Campo and Alvarado have made peace since their battles in 2003, but the fact that both parties have since had children with other partners (Alvarado’s partner is a woman from Brazil here in the United States illegally) suggests that their issues won’t be simple to resolve — legally or emotionally.

Whether you are dealing with a simple child custody case or a complex, multi-dimensional family law struggle, you need good representation by your side. Sheryl R. Rentz Pennsylvania law firm, can prepare you for legal issues ahead. You need a skilled Pennsylvania divorce lawyer who will find the most effective and efficient course of action to achieve your desired outcome. Call us today at 610-645-0100 for a free initial telephone consultation.

On Christmas Eve 2008, a man deranged from what he perceived to be an unfair divorce settlement went on a rampage in Covina, California. He killed eight relatives of his ex-wife before fleeing and then shooting himself in the head. According to the facts as investigators have pieced them together, the shooter, a man named Bruce Pardo, had recently completed his divorce settlement with his estranged ex, Silvia Pardo. Having been fired from his job in July, Pardo had fallen behind on his child support payments. He showed up to the home of Alisha and James Ortega dressed as Santa Claus carrying a gift box that contained an explosive liquid, which he used to light the Ortega’s house on fire. Bruce Jeffrey Pardo began his rampage by shooting an eight year old girl in the face. He then went on a gun slinging, fire starting rampage that ended with eight dead and several injured. Among the victims medical authorities expect to survive are two young women, ages 16 and 20, and the 8 year old victim who was shot in the face.

Following the shootings and torching of the Ortega’s house, Pardo escaped to the home of his brother in Sylmar. By the time police arrived on Thursday morning, Pardo had shot himself in the head.

Not all Divorce and Family Law disputes end as dramatically and horribly as the Pardo case. However, even a so-called “amicable” divorce can involve significant legal maneuvering and wrangling. To protect your rights as you go through this difficult transition, you need a skilled  Pennsylvania divorce attorney who can look after your interests. Here at Sheryl R. Rentz divorce attorneys, one of Philadelphia’s most trusted Pennsylvania Family Law firms, we can provide superior representation for you. We understand that each case is unique and requires the most effective and efficient course of action to reach the desired outcome. Call for a free initial telephone consultation with one of our experienced and attentive divorce lawyers at 610-645-0100 today.

On January 7, 2009, LAPD Police Chief Bill Bratton lashed out against the Los Angeles Times for implying that Bratton’s department had been unethical while investigating the 2005 shooting of a one year old girl, Susie Pena. Bratton’s tirade against the Times came on the heels of an article that suggested that the department had made both scientific and ethical lapses during an autopsy investigation for this family law issue.

The feud can be traced back to July 2005, when José Pena, Susie’s father, went on a cocaine binge and got into an armed standoff with police and SWAT officers. The SWAT team believed they had neutralized Pena and stormed his position, but Pena was not disarmed, and he fought back. In the ensuing gun battle, both Pena and his one year old baby were killed. At question during the investigation was whether Susie Pena had been killed by a SWAT team member’s bullet or by a bullet from the gun of her own father. During initial examination at the coroner’s office, it appeared as if a SWAT team bullet has been responsible. However, a crime lab staffer named Amy Driver later reviewed all of the coroner’s evidence and developed a theory that the bullet came from Pena’s gun instead. These competing forensic analyses led to multiple levels of accusations and recriminations. Dr. James Ribe, the top medical examiner for the city, called Driver’s interpretations and credentials into question, while others accused the LAPD of conspiracy and trying to undermine the investigation.

Divorce cases can often become incredibly emotional and fraught with technical complexity. Acrimonious divorce settlements or child custody hearings can lead parents to do dangerous things. To protect yourself and your children in a dangerous custody situation, you need solid representation from an experienced Pennsylvania divorce lawyer who can get you results fast. The quality services of our dedicated lawyers of Sheryl R. Rentz would like to discuss your case with you at your earliest convenience. Please call us at 610-645-0100 for a free initial telephone consultation.

On November 25, 2007, distressing news broke for WWF legend Hulk Hogan. His wife of many years, Linda Hogan, had filed for divorce through the Pinellas County Court in Florida. Hulk (whose legal name is Terry Bollea) and Linda had starred in their own reality television series on the VH1 Channel called Hogan Knows Best. Towards the end of the season, the show featured Linda and Hulk attending counseling sessions together, but the show concluded with the couple finding common ground.

Some speculate that a deep emotional rift ripped the couple after Hulk Hogan was sited on August 26, 2008 for a drag racing accident which severely injured a passenger in his vehicle. Although the Hulkster himself wasn’t seriously hurt, the incident touched off new tensions within the Hogan household. Fewer than three months later, Hulk’s son, Nick Bollea, got into a car crash himself.

At the time of Linda Hogan’s surprise divorce filing, the Hogans were living together in a Miami Beach estate estimated to be worth more than $10 million, which is a substantial amount to be discussed with their property division lawyer. Hulk Hogan gained fame as a “professional” wrestler in the 1980s, during which time he battled against such high profile “bad guy” wrestlers as Rowdy Roddy Piper and Junkyard Dog.

Whether you are dealing with a high profile colorful divorce like Hulk and Linda Hogan’s or an intimate family law struggle, get in touch with the experienced Philadelphia divorce lawyers of Sheryl R. Rentz. Our attorneys provide quality service throughout Pennsylvania and Philadelphia and we want to make the process of building a case as effective and efficient as the system allows. We pride ourselves in being thorough and dedicated when giving legal advice and moral support to each and every client. To get your free initial telephone consultation, please call 610-645-0100 today. We will listen.

A Pennsylvania father, who spent four years and most of his money to fight a child custody battle, is lobbying for House Bill 2825 that would award joint custody to couples unless the court finds that such joint custody would not be in the child’s best interest. A report says that Jesse Storm thinks parents should not have to “go through a divorce and split your property and assets up 50/50 between mom and dad” and still end up spending an additional $20,000 to $80,000 on a child custody battle. Storm says he should have spent that kind of money on his child’s college tuition rather than battling to spend a weekend with his child.

Storm has started a group called Pennsylvania Families Association to fight the court system, which he says benefits only one parent. It is an unfair system, he says, where 91 percent of child custody cases are settled with a primary custodian where one parent has the majority of the custody of the child.

In Pennsylvania, there are two main types of child custody: legal custody and physical custody. Legal custody means that you have the right to make all decisions about your child’s education, healthcare and living arrangements. Physical custody means where the child or children reside and when. No matter what your situation, you must be represented by a child custody lawyer who has years of experience and an excellent track record trying similar cases.

If you are struggling with a divorce and dealing with child custody issues, please contact the Law Office of Sheryl R. Rentz to find out about your rights and legal options. Your time with your child is too precious to give up without a fight. Please call us today at 610-645-0100 to schedule your free consultation with a Pennsylvania child custody attorney.