Pennsylvania Family Law Blog

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.

While divorce is certainly hard on any family, there are ways to ensure that children of divorce are not negatively impacted because of it. As far as marriage is concerned, the study alludes to the idea that children tend to emulate the actions of their mother and father. Therefore, if parents work towards an amiable divorce process, then their children may develop a more positive view of relationships in the long run and may be less likely to view divorce as both an easy option and negative process later on in life.

For more information about divorce in Pennsylvania, please contact the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz. Our Pennsylvania family law attorneys assist individuals with a variety of legal matters including divorce, parental visitation rights, and spousal support. If you are thinking about filing for divorce, please call an experienced Pennsylvania divorce attorney today at 610-645-0100. We offer free telephone consultations.

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.

Regardless of what the reasoning may be, divorce is a complicated matter than can become problematic very quickly. When filing for divorce in Pennsylvania, it is important to have someone on your side who has your best interests in mind at all times. At the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, our experienced Philadelphia divorce attorneys assist with a variety of legal matters surrounding divorce, including child custody and separation of assets. If you’re thinking of filing for divorce and would like a free consultation, please call our office today at 610-645-0100.

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.

In any event, filing for a Pennsylvania divorce can be rather complicated, and it is always a good idea to retain the services of a skilled divorce attorney who will fight to ensure that your rights are protected during the process. The experienced Pennsylvania divorce attorneys at the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz offer assistance with all divorce matters, including financial and tax issues, as well as division of property. For more information about filing for divorce in Pennsylvania, please don’t hesitate to contact our office today at 610-645-0100. We offer free consultations.

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.

Unfortunately, this story represents how difficult it can sometimes be for grandparents or other relatives to attain custody of a child when a birth parent is alive and capable of taking care of the child, regardless of whether or not the birth parent had been a major part of the child’s life up to that point. In Pennsylvania, laws surrounding visitation rights are very complicated, and it is advised that those seeking such rights seek out assistance from an experienced family law attorney.

At the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, our skilled Pennsylvania visitation rights attorneys will fight to ensure that your rights are not neglected in a court of law. The best interests of a child are of the utmost importance and those interests will be protected at all times. For more information about visitation rights, call 610-645-0100. Contact us today for free consultation of your Philadelphia visitation rights case.