Pennsylvania Family Law Blog

Philadelphia County is situated in Pennsylvania and shares similar boundaries with Philadelphia, which holds the county seat. As one of the first three counties established in 1682 along with Chester and Bucks counties, Philadelphia County is now the most populous county in Pennsylvania with an estimated population of 1,540,351 in 2008. In an area that encompasses 142.6 square miles, according to the United States Census Bureau, tons of families choose to call Philadelphia County home. With so many families inhabiting Philadelphia County, it is no wonder that family law issues often arise, especially when it comes to divorce.

Divorce in Philadelphia County may take place for a variety of reasons. While every divorce case is different, these types of family law issues typically involve several complex and detail-oriented factors that can influence a person’s financial stability and rights to spousal support, child support, child custody, and child visitation. A skilled Philadelphia County divorce attorney assists those seeking a divorce in many different ways. By making sure that every detail of a divorce case is thoroughly examined, an experienced lawyer will help you obtain a positive outcome while making the process as smooth as possible.

Family law in Pennsylvania covers a wide range of life-altering circumstances. At The Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, our Philadelphia County family law lawyers understand the challenges you may be facing in filing for divorce, child custody, modification of child custody, and spousal support. Our skilled attorneys handle many other family law issues in Pennsylvania and can help you get your life back on track. Call 610-645-0100 today for a free consultation of your PA divorce or family law case.

Whether you are currently thinking about filing for divorce and children are involved, or are presently receiving or paying child support in Pennsylvania, you should be aware of the new PA child support guidelines that went into effect on May 12, 2010.

One of the main child support guideline changes relates to the increase of the Basic Monthly Child Support Schedule. According to a Main Line Media News report, the Basic Monthly Child Support Schedule, which is a chart that determines the basic child-support amount based on the parents’ combined monthly net incomes and number of children, has been altered at all income levels.

The revision of the Schedule will pertain to all cases in which the parties’ shared monthly net incomes are less than $30,000. This means that for cases involving parties that have shared monthly net incomes above $30,000, an income-based formula will be utilized to determine child support payment amounts. That being said, high-income child-support cases in Pennsylvania will now be centered almost exclusively on income instead of expenses for a child’s “reasonable needs”.

The new schedule also contains an assumption that the parent paying child support has overnight visits with the child or children at least 30% of the time. If this does not apply to your particular situation, the other parent may request that the court issue a higher child-support amount. Moreover, the new guidelines have raised the “Self-Support Reserve” (minimum income level of the individual disbursing support) from $748 to $867 per month to match the 2008 federal poverty level for one person.

In order to calculate whether these new guidelines will contribute to an increase or decrease in child support payments, specific incomes and family situations must be examined on an individual level.
Most importantly, parents must realize that the new guidelines do not automatically modify child support orders. If you wish to file a Petition to Modify, it is recommended that you consult with a Pennsylvania child support attorney who will systematically examine how the new guidelines will affect your specific situation before you file. If you have any questions regarding the status of your Pennsylvania child support payments, please contact experienced Philadelphia family law attorney, Sheryl R. Rentz, for a free consultation. Call 610-645-0100 today.