September, 2010 | Pennsylvania Family Law Blog - The Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz Archive
Children of Divorced Parents are Likely to Experience Divorce Later in Life
With some statistics showing that one out of every two marriages will fail, it’s no wonder that divorce has ingrained itself within our society. In fact, with the addition of laws that have made it much easier to file for divorce nowadays than it was 50 years ago, our society has gotten to the point where divorce is hardly out of the ordinary. Consequently, according to a recent CNN.com report, it’s this sense of familiarity that is making divorce even more prevalent, particularly among couples where either one or both spouses come from families of divorce.
The National Center for Health Statistics reports that in 2009, there were 3.4 divorces per 1,000 people in the United States. However, when you factor in whether or not an individual has divorced parents, the likelihood that the individual will eventually divorce greatly increases. That is, the risk of divorce increases by 50% when one spouse comes from a family of divorce, and an astounding 200% when both spouses do. The most basic explanation for these figures is the idea that children grow up to value the same ideals their parents did, and if divorce was factored into the familial equation, then a child will view divorce much less benignly than a child who was not exposed to a household of divorce while growing up. Read the rest »
Study Shows Daughters May Instill More Divorces than Sons
In a recent New York Times blog article, a study involving the causal relationship between a child’s gender and the likelihood that the child’s parents will divorce has provoked some interesting thoughts. According to the data gathered, parents of girls divorce 5% more than parents of boys do. In fact, the greater the number of daughters a couple has does in fact seem to have an effect on divorce. For example, parents who have three daughters are 10% more likely to divorce than couples who have three sons, according to supporting data gathered in 2003.
There are numerous theories as to why this trend occurs. Previous theories claim that men are more likely to help make a marriage work if sons are involved, although any sort of evidence for this theory is lacking. Currently, some believe that daughters may be viewed as better companions than sons are, and that mothers are more willing to depend on their daughters for the type of social support needed during a divorce. Essentially, if a woman has a daughter, then she does not necessarily need a husband, one theory states. Furthermore, daughters may be labeled as more helpful and/or self-sufficient upon reaching adulthood, while sons are considered more dependent, thus the reasoning why couples may choose to stay together rather than divorce. Read the rest »
Retirement Assets and Insurance Policies Also Need To Be Updated During a Divorce
Divorce cases are often characterized by division of assets and alimony payments. However, what many individuals filing for divorce fail to take into account are their non-probate assets, namely those which cannot be immediately divided between the two divorcing parties, but which will either mature over time or be paid out after certain events take place. Retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and last will and testaments are all classified as non-probate assets. According to a news story featured on West Virginia’s WVNS-TV, the details of these assets are often overlooked, leaving behind complicated matters even after a divorce has long been granted.
In some states, non-probate assets are immediately disassociated with an individual once the divorce process is completed, unless otherwise stipulated in the details of the divorce. However, the majority of states do not have such a policy in place, meaning that divorcing couples need to take appropriate measures in order to ensure that their future assets are distributed according to their wishes. While some divorcing couples may not feel the need to change beneficiaries of non-probate assets, it is still a good idea to draw up new documentation after a Pennsylvania divorce in order to clear up any confusion that may arise once policies mature or in the event that an individual passes away. In essence, divorcing couples should always keep in mind that officially ending a marriage does not simply involve what you have now, but also what you will potentially have in the future too. Read the rest »
Grandparents Granted Visitation Rights in Ohio Child Custody Case
We often assume that a child is best left in the care of his or her parents. However, when one or both parents has a relatively small role in a child’s upbringing, and other relatives, such as grandparents, accept the task of raising the child, the best interests of the child need to be thoroughly taken into account, particularly when it comes to custody and visitation rights. According to Ohio’s Dayton Daily News, a family law case involving a young girl, her maternal grandparents, and her father illustrates how important it is that all details are carefully examined when it comes to providing a child with a healthy home environment.
Reportedly, after the 8-year-old’s mother passed away, her grandparents, whom the girl and her mother had already been living with, were contacted by the young girl’s father, who requested that visitation with his daughter resume. The girl’s grandparents obliged, but were soon blindsided when the girl’s father acquired a court order for his daughter to begin living with him and his new wife. After much debate, the girl’s grandparents were awarded visitation rights every other weekend. Read the rest »
We know your problems are unique & special.
Call us, we will listen.
(610) 645-0100
Meet Attorney