Pennsylvania Family Law Blog

Anyone who has gone through a divorce and has children is likely to tell you that it takes a lot of heart and courage to fight for what is best for your child. Even when a parent does not receive primary physical custody for their child or children, obtaining visitation rights or joint custody are both very important issues of concern.

A recent article from the New York Times discusses a collection of articles from Working Mother Magazine that address a new and heightened tendency for fathers to be given custody of children over the children’s mothers. Interestingly, as more women have become primary earners in a marriage, more women have seen their husbands receive primary physical custody of their children when a divorce takes place. According to the article, there are approximately 2.2 million divorced women in the U.S. who did not obtain primary physical custody of their children during their custody hearings. Furthermore, at this point, about 50% of fathers who seek primary custody in such divorce cases are granted it.

As numerous social viewpoints about parenting shift, our standards evolve, and the economy fluctuates, the percentage of fathers granted primary custody will rise and will very likely continue increasing in the years to come. The article certainly raises the question as to whether a parent should be granted full custody based predominantly on the idea that the parent who works less is able to spend more time with the children. Consequently, the question as to whether or not the adage “the parent who works more, parents less” is actually true also arises, and needs to be carefully examined in a family court to determine if such an idea is truly in the best interest of the child.

Determining child custody is not taken lightly by either parents or the court system. In fact, there is much to take into consideration when deciding which parent should be granted primary physical custody. Both maintaining employment in order to provide financial support and being available to care for children are a few of the important factors taken into consideration in family law cases.

If you are currently going through a divorce or are thinking that a divorce may be an option for you and your spouse, the Pennsylvania family law attorneys at the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz can ensure that your child receives the custody that is best for his or her well being. For more information about the legal matters surrounding your particular situation relating to child custody, child support or spousal support, please contact Sheryl R. Rentz. Call us today at 610-645-0100 for a free consultation.

Source:http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/more-fathers-getting-custody-in-divorce/

According to a recent huffintonpost.com article, Jim Nantz, a well-known CBS sportscaster, faces some newfound issues regarding his divorce. Apparently, Mr. Nantz is now required to pay an annual sum of $916,000 to his ex-wife for alimony and child support, both in addition to surrendering his home in Connecticut.

Based on the report, the Judge decided that neither Mr. Nantz nor Ann-Lorraine “Lorrie” Carlsen Nantz was solely at fault for their 26-year marriage ending. Instead, it seemed to be more a case of two people drifting apart over the years. Often referred to as “our nation’s most prominent sportscaster,” Mr. Nantz filed for the divorce about a year ago after he and Lorrie tried years of marriage counseling.

The final decision of the divorce proceedings resulted in Nantz having to pay $72,000 in monthly alimony payments to his ex-wife until either he dies or she remarries. Additionally, Nantz is also responsible for a $1,000 weekly child support payment benefitting his daughter for the next two years. According to Nantz’s attorney, he will not be fighting the terms of the divorce decree because he wants what is best for his daughter.

This divorce case demonstrates that even when divorcing spouses seem to be on somewhat agreeable terms and emotions do not seem to be running high, the legal matters surrounding alimony and child support are still very serious and often complex. If a divorce case goes to court, a judge will base the amount of child support on a variety of factors, as is similar when calculating alimony. To ensure that you receive the proper amount of either payments, or to make sure that you do not end up paying more than you should, the services of a skilled Pennsylvania divorce attorney may be obtained.

At the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, our experienced PA family law attorneys have the legal knowledge and resources to handle a wide-range of cases, whether it is pertaining to divorce, domestic violence, property division, alimony, child support, or much more. We are dedicated to assisting our clients in an efficient and effective manner while also providing the moral support necessary to get through such a challenging time. Visit www.srrentzlaw.com for more information or call the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz today at 610-645-0100 for a free consultation of your divorce or family law case.

Source:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/03/jim-nantz-forced-to-pay-w_n_344364.html

Mississippi has recently taken efforts to receive federal funding to help children. Based on a 2.wjtv.com report, Mississippi’s Department of Human Services is hoping that offering free paternity tests will motivate more potential fathers to take responsibility for helping support their children, if that responsibility is in fact theirs to uphold.

According to the report, the state’s main goal is to obtain more child support payments, which will ultimately assist Mississippi federal funding for the new fiscal year. Therefore, the Department of Human Services is providing DNA tests, which can amount to costs between $300 and $500. This initiative may even be something that Mississippi prolongs or that other states adopt to further help parents who can’t afford a paternity test.

Paternity tests are provided to outweigh any doubt when it comes to questioning who the father of a child is, and are especially sought after when child support is in high demand. These tests are usually administered when issues pertaining to child custody and child support arise, and are known to be over 99% accurate in comparing the DNA of a child to a potential father.

The skilled Philadelphia family law attorneys at the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz are highly familiar with the complexities surrounding child support and many other family law issues. In our many years of experience assisting parents in receiving the accurate child support they need, we have also helped parents in modifying their child support when such action applies to their particular situation. To learn more about how the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz can help you with all of your child support or family law matters, please call 610-645-0100 for a free consultation.

Source article: http://www2.wjtv.com/jtv/news/local/article/dhs_offering_free_paternity_tests/20038/