Pennsylvania Family Law Blog

While questions about the Dodgers’ future still abounds, there is still much uncertainty regarding what will happen for owner Frank McCourt and chief executive Jamie McCourt. According to a latimes.com article, there has been much “buzz” in the media over how Frank allegedly fired Jamie and “branded her with a scarlet letter”. Another big issue in the divorce filings relates to the large annual expenses that Jamie is saying she needs to maintain the lifestyle of a baseball owner. While no one can really blame the questionable ownership of the dodger franchise for the team’s performance in the National League Championship Series, this separation emphasizes the many challenges a divorce may create.

Similar to the McCourts, some married couples experience long-term tension that is often difficult to hide from close friends and family, and especially children. The couple formally closed the purchase of the Dodgers from News Corp. in January 2004 for approximately $430 million. Although there has been no word on whether the McCourts will sell the franchise as a means of dividing their assets, such an option is one that they may explore. However, based on the report, Frank claims that the Dodgers belong to him and him alone, while Jamie claims that she owns part of the team.

When a couple decides to file for divorce, some of the main legal issues that arise circulate mostly around child custody and finances. According to the article, considering that Jamie and her estranged husband collected “in salary and/or distributions” between $7 million and $8 million a year, division of property and assets, and spousal support may definitely become an issue of concern for both parties.

Going through a divorce in Philadelphia does not have to turn your life upside down. At the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, our skilled Pennsylvania divorce lawyers have helped many clients obtain the amount of spousal and child support that they need. Our experienced family law attorneys have the legal knowledge and resources to assist you either through settlement or through court proceedings, based on what is best for your particular case. For more information on how the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz can assist you through your divorce or any other family law matter, please call 610-645-0100 today for a free consultation.

Source:http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-shaikin4-2009nov04,0,5095602.story

A Philadelphia man, who spent 14 years in prison for failing to pay about $2.5 million in alimony, was finally freed. The man, who requested a petition for freedom, is now 73 years old, according to this UPI news report. The man was sent to prison for contempt of court in 1995 after failing to deposit the money in a court-controlled account. The money was to be used for alimony payments to his ex-wife.

The presiding judge then apparently suspected that the man hid his funds from his ex-wife. The man on the other hand said that a poor overseas investment left him unable to make a deposit. The free man, who used to be a corporate lawyer before his incarceration, is considering trying to get his law license back and teach for a living.

Alimony usually varies depending on several types of circumstances and upon the ruling of the family court. In order to ensure that you have the best representation during an alimony hearing you should contact an experienced Philadelphia alimony attorney for assistance. If you are involved in a divorce proceeding in Pennsylvania, please call the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz for a free consultation. Our office has years of experience handling divorce cases and can assist you with all alimony issues.

Pennsylvania State Senate Democratic Leader Robert J. Mellow’s ex-wife wants a share of all the additional money he has been earning as a director on the Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania board and others since their divorce, according to this news report. Diane Mellow made the demand in a court petition asking to increase her alimony in Pennsylvania. Robert and Diane Mellow were married in August 1966 and were divorced in November 2006.

According to their divorce agreement, Mellow agreed to pay his ex-wife a monthly alimony of $2,600 with $150 a month increases on each anniversary of when the alimony payments began. However, Diane Mellow now contends that things have changed now because the senator has been earning a lot more because of his involvement with various boards. At question is whether the divorce agreement can be modified. Robert Mellow’s attorney says that cannot be done because his ex-wife signed the settlement knowing that its terms would be final. Diane Mellow’s attorney says that state law allows for an adjustment in alimony if the circumstances of either person changes substantially for an extended period.

When it comes to divorce and alimony, there are many issues that can affect your life in the long term. If you are going through a divorce, you know that alimony, property distribution, child custody and child support are significant matters. You need a skilled Pennsylvania divorce attorney to make sure you get a fair settlement whether you are the one paying the alimony or receiving it. Whatever your situation, please call the Law Office of Sheryl R. Rentz for a free consultation. Our experienced and skilled family law attorneys will work hard to make sure your case has a positive outcome.

Beaver County’s domestic relations division is apparently charging those receiving alimony payments a new $120 annual handling fee citing poor economic conditions as an excuse. According to this news article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the fee covers those receiving spousal support but not child support payments through the county. The fee went into effect after an order was signed by Beaver County President Judge John McBride in April. The new order was published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, a gazette of statewide rules and proposals, the report said. County officials told the newspaper that that they did not want to tap into the pool of those receiving child support payments because it would affect children.

Alimony, maintenance or spousal support is an obligation established by divorce law that is based on the premise that both spouses have an absolute obligation to support each other during the marriage unless they are legally separated. In some cases, this obligation may continue after the separation or divorce. There are many different types of alimony in Pennsylvania, which would depend on the circumstances of the divorce, the length of the marriage and the duration of the spousal support. Alimony is often a hotly contested issue in divorce cases.

The outcome of your divorce case could alter your financial situation for the long term, possibly for the rest of your life. If you are going through a divorce and need legal representation to make sure that your rights and interests are protected, please contact skilled Pennsylvania divorce attorney and alimony lawyer, Sheryl R. Rentz for a free consultation. Our office has years of experience handling divorce cases and can assist you in any of your alimony issues. Please contact us today to have qualified and aggressive legal representation on your side immediately.

A law, which passed recently, revises New Jersey alimony and inheritance laws to make sure people found guilty of abuse, murder and other crimes are not able to receive alimony and inheritance benefit payment. According to this news report, the bill is broken into two sections. With regard to alimony payments, the bill prevents anyone convicted of an attempted murder from receiving alimony from their intended victim. Such victims will also not be responsible for covering the cost of divorce court fees. Prior to this bill’s passage, the divorcing spouse must cover the expense of the other person’s attorney’s fees.

This New Jersey law also eliminates a parent’s right to inherit from their deceased child’s estate if they were found guilty of abandonment or of refusal to acknowledge, sexual assault, endangering the welfare of that child or attempted murder. This law needed to be passed in the interest of fairness and justice. To think that a person can physically harm or try to kill a spouse and then expect to receive alimony payments or an inheritance from that person goes beyond unfair. It is unconscionable.

There are many issues to be factored in with regard to a Pennsylvania divorce case. This is a complex area of the law and if you are going through it, it is a complicated and stressful time for you. An experienced Philadelphia divorce lawyer from the Law Office of Sheryl R. Rentz can help you compile the evidence, arguments, demands, investigations and other papers needed to file for your divorce. Whatever issues are involved – be it child custody, child support, alimony or any divorce-related issue – we can help. Call us today for a free consultation.

A New Jersey appeals court has ruled that New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur must pay his ex-wife $500,000 in alimony until the year 2020. According to an Associated Press news report, Brodeur had appealed, asking that he only be required to pay the alimony until his projected retirement date in 2021. His ex-wife, Melanie DuBois, had asked for alimony payments until 2024, when their youngest child is anticipated to graduate from college. The appellate court ruled that Brodeur should pay alimony until 2020, when the youngest child will graduate high school.

A lower court had originally awarded DuBois permanent alimony. In addition, she was also awarded $132,000 in annual child support and more than $9 million in other assets. The couple married in 1995 and had five children. DuBois filed for divorce in 2003 after Brodeur admitted to having an affair with his sister-in-law, who was living with the Brodeurs to help care for the children.

In most cases that involve celebrities, lawyers for the celebrity’s spouse argue that the alimony is needed to preserve a lifestyle that was created during the marriage. That “lifestyle” could involve paying for and maintaining a big house, which may be a necessity more than a luxury when you have four or more children living with you. The bottom line is that there is no formula when it comes to alimony. Whether or not you are involved in a contentious divorce proceeding, it is imperative that you consult with a top Pennsylvania divorce lawyer and family law attorney to make sure that your legal rights are protected. If you are going through a divorce, please call the Law Office of Sheryl R. Rentz at 610-645-0100 for a free consultation.

New York Times reporter Mitchell L. Blumethal reported on August 8, 2008 that a judge ruled that former New Jersey Governor James E. McGreevey will not have to make alimony payments to his former wife. McGreevy resigned from office after admitting he had an affair with a male aide. Wife, Dina Matos was married to McGreevey for eight years.

State Superior Court Judge Karen Cassidy granted the couple a divorce after McGreevey announced on national television that he was “a gay American.”

“No alimony — that’s what I’m talking about,” Mr. McGreevey’s lawer, Stephen Haller, said after the decision was read in court, the Star-Ledger of Newark reported on its Web site. Ms. Matos was seeking four monthly payments of $2,500 which Judge Cassidy ruled out. Judge Cassidy also lowered McGreevey’s child support payments from $1,750 to $1,075 a month.

After a very public and bitter court battle, Ms. Matos was stunned to find out that she would receive no proceeds from McGreevey’s book “The Confession,” that portrays his side of the story that led to his resignation in August 2004. Ms. Matos also released her version of what happened in a book entitled “Silent Partner.” Child custody of their 6 year old daughter will be shared between the couple. Presently McGreevey is enrolled as a seminary student in New York and will earn $48,000 this year making him to poor to pay alimony. Ms. Matos, who lives in Springfield, told the Associated Press “Although the victimization continues, I am stronger for the experience.”

These cases dealing with former public officials must be treated with dignity and sensitivity just like any other case. The Philadelphia divorce attorneys at the Law Office of Sheryl R. Rentz have years of experience in successfully handling spousal and child support cases as well as alimony cases. We will help you sort through the legal process and paperwork at a time when sorting and putting your life back on track is a priority. Please do not hesitate to call us today at 866-290-9292 for a free and confidential consultation.

Former New Jersey Governor James E. McGreevey will not owe his ex-wife, Dina Matos-McGreevey, any alimony, a judge has ruled, according to an Associated Press news report. The couple’s divorce is through after an eight-year marriage, which collapsed when McGreevey announced that he was gay. McGreevey resigned in 2004 after he admitted to having an affair with a male staffer, although the staffer alleged that he was sexually harassed by the governor. The couple separated the following year.

A superior court judge ruled McGreevey must pay $250 a week or $1,075 a month in child support for their 6-year-old daughter. The couple has shared custody of the child. Matos has asked for $2,500 a month in alimony for four years and $1,750 a month in child support. McGreevey, who is now a student, testified during the divorce trial that he is now too poor to pay alimony.

Alimony, child support and child custody are the most contentious issues in any divorce proceeding. Each couple’s divorce is different, the circumstances are different as are their economic standings and assets. How much alimony is paid and who pays whom hinges on these factors as well the determination made by the family court.

Whatever your situation may be, the success of your divorce case depends on the experience and competence your divorce and alimony lawyer brings to the table. If you or someone you know is going through a divorce and needs legal representation, please call the Law Office of Sheryl R. Rentz for a free consultation.

A Florida Judge has ruled that celebrity wrestler Hulk Hogan must pay his estranged wife, Linda Bollea, $40,000 a month in alimony while their divorce is pending. According to this Associated Press news report, the judge also allowed Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, to take $500,000 out of the couple’s assets for himself and use up to $400,000 for legal fees in their son’s criminal case. Nick Bollea is serving an eight-month jail sentence for causing an auto accident that left a passenger severely injured.

The judge also allowed Hogan to proceed with buying a Las Vegas condominium, a transaction that was in motion before the divorce proceedings began. These are of course celebrity cases that involve a lot of money and are usually well-publicized. But normal alimony hearings in Pennsylvania involve ordinary people who are going through a very tough time in their lives.

Alimony is defined as the amount of payment by one spouse to another following a divorce. The amount depends on different circumstances such as employment, assets and number of years the couple has been married. It also depends upon the ruling of the family court. It is very important to make sure that you have the best legal representation during an alimony hearing, which is why you should contact an experienced Pennsylvania divorce and alimony lawyer for assistance.

If you are involved in a divorce proceeding in Pennsylvania, please call the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz for a free consultation. Our office has years of experience handling divorce cases and can assist you in any of your alimony cases. Contact us today to get our qualified and aggressive attorneys on your side, fighting for your legal rights.

The New Jersey Supreme Court recently ruled on the question of Palimony and when it is deemed ‘appropriate’ in the eyes of the law. The court ruled that two people don’t have to live together for one to receive palimony when the relationship ends. Specifically, the court determined that living together is not essential, rather, “it is the promise to support, expressed or implied, coupled with a marital-type relationship, that are the indispensable elements to support a valid claim for palimony.

The court rejected the bid of a woman to collect from a married man with whom she had a 20 year affair, finding they did not have a marital-type relationship. The pair was found to have more of a ‘dating relationship’, since they didn’t share housing, finances or property or ever present themselves as a couple in public. The ruling was made despite the fact that during the affair, the man promised to divorce his spouse and even have a child with the woman he was having the affair.

Undoubtedly, this question will be debated in state courts throughout the country. As each state decides when and where the confines of a ‘marital type’ relationship are defined, the need for a competent divorce and palimony law attorney will become even greater. Sheryl R. Rentz, divorce law attorney, has offices in Pennsylvania. We offer a free consultation with Sheryl R. Rentz regarding any divorce related matter. We have years of experience dealing with Pennsylvania law when it comes to the issue of divorce and alimony.

Whatever your situation, if you are involved in a divorce proceeding in Pennsylvania or require the assistance of an attorney for any of your family law needs, do not hesitate to contact the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, PC for a free consultation. Our office has years of experience handling divorce cases and can assist you in any of your alimony issues. Please contact us today to have qualified and aggressive legal representation on your side immediately.