blog home archives May, 2010 | Pennsylvania Family Law Blog - The Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz

May, 2010 | Pennsylvania Family Law Blog - The Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz Archive

Social Networking Sites Cited in Divorce Court

By Sheryl Rentz on May 26, 2010

With the growing popularity of social networking sites, couples who are experiencing marriage difficulties need to be aware that what they post on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace can be held against them in a court of family law. Chicago’s local ABC affiliate, WLS-TV, recently ran a news story discussing the growing reality that the information we post in cyberspace is just as real as any other information we choose to divulge. Reportedly, one couple’s divorce, like many couples throughout the country, was the direct result of using a social networking site, which ultimately led to their separation after 26 years of marriage.

Interestingly enough, as a result of the social networking phenomenon, many Philly family law attorneys are finding themselves instructing clients on what not to post on social networking profiles, even if those profiles are supposedly private, non-public sources of information. According to the report, it is a good idea to approach social networking as you would approach supplying your local newspaper with information about yourself. That is, unless you’re comfortable posting your personal information on the front page of a newspaper, you should be hesitant in posting that information on a social networking profile page. Read the rest »

Divorce Poses New Challenges for Same-Sex Couples

By Sheryl Rentz on May 20, 2010

Entering into marriage is proving much easier than walking away from it, as many same-sex married couples are finding out. According to a recent CNN.com article, a new issue is starting to manifest itself, posing an interesting dilemma that has some states at odds over what to do. That is, while same-sex marriage may be legal in a handful of states across the country, those states who oppose such unions are now at the center of a new issue – divorce involving same-sex couples.

Reportedly, one such couple – two women who were legally married in Massachusetts, but who reside in Pennsylvania – were denied their request of a divorce in Pennsylvania. While states typically recognize the laws of other states, and act accordingly when making their own decisions, the issues of same-sex marriage has many state legislators confused as to how to proceed with divorce cases. One point of concern revolves around the idea that, if a state that opposes gay marriage signs off on a gay divorce, then that state may in essence be recognizing gay marriage as legal, despite state laws that say otherwise. Read the rest »

Posted in: Divorce

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