Pennsylvania Family Law Blog

Spousal maintenance payments, also known as alimony, are payments that a spouse who made most or all of the couple’s income makes to the other spouse, who made little or none of the couple’s income. Temporary maintenance payments are intended to help a party who has little education or job prospects live until they can complete an education or find a job.

Not all divorces in Pennsylvania will include maintenance payments. In cases where both parties are employed or have a good education, the court may not order maintenance payments, instead allowing each party to go on living on their own wages.

Pennsylvania is the only state in the U.S. that utilizes mandatory guidelines to determine spousal support. The goal of the guidelines is to promote results that are reliable and consistent, which encourages settlement. These guidelines are different from the guidelines of other states in that they include a formula for spousal support, which other states do not.

In Pennsylvania, when spousal support is calculated, consideration is given to whether one party has any previous obligations in child support or spousal support of a previous spouse or other children. If there are no previous children and no prior obligations to child support, the spousal support will be 40 percent of the difference between the obligor’s net monthly income and the recipient’s net monthly income. If there are minor children involved, then the income difference is reduced by the amount of child support, with that result multiplied by 30 percent to determine spousal support. The length of the marriage is also taken into consideration, as is the amount of time an obligor spends with the children.

If you are considering divorce in Pennsylvania, please don’t hesitate to contact the highly trained and experienced Philadelphia spousal support lawyers at The Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz. We can help you ensure an equitable separation that meets your needs and allows you to move forward with your life. If you have questions about spousal support in Pennsylvania or other divorce-related issues, call 610-645-0100 today.

Supporting a family takes work, and subsequently, requires money. Parents may find this responsibility daunting when raising even just one child, let alone more than one. Such a task may become even more challenging after a divorce, or when eight children are involved. According to a seattlepi.com story, Kate Gosselin has submitted paperwork asking for child support in addition to temporary spousal support from her estranged husband, Jon Gosselin.

The Gosselin divorce has been at the forefront of family law discussion recently due to its many complexities. For instance, Kate’s lawyers claim that she is unable to pay bills due to John removing money from their joint bank account. Her attorneys stated, “She needs relief in light of the draining of substantial marital assets.” Apparently, Kate submitted petitions for child and spousal support last week at just about the same time she filed an emergency petition requesting to have a Pennsylvania judge order Jon to return the money that he took from the joint account. Reports say that these financial issues are scheduled to be addressed on Tuesday, October 13, 2009.

Although most divorces and disputes over child and spousal support are not nearly as publicized as the Gosselin’s situation, their struggles serve as a reminder of how complex family law matters can be. As experienced Philadelphia spousal support attorneys, we understand what a critical time this is for you in obtaining the financial support you need. In deciding how much spousal support a person should receive, courts in Pennsylvania will examine parental responsibilities, property holdings, length of time spent not working, the need for spousal support, age and health factors, standard of living experienced while in the marriage, as well as many other elements.

It is very common for spousal support to change over time when circumstances evolve. This is one of the many reasons why you must stay informed of your legal rights and options when it comes to spousal support, child support, and other family law issues. To learn more about how to ensure that you receive the spousal support you need, call the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, P.C. today for a free consultation at 610-645-0100.

Source Article: http://www.seattlepi.com/tvguide/411019_tvgif10.html

According to initial reports, John Travolta’s teenage son, Jett Travolta, died on January 1, 2009 as the result of an accident in a bathroom. Jett was vacationing in the Bahamas with his family when he fell. His full time nurse, Jeff Kathrein, along with the manager of the hotel, discovered Jett on the floor at approximately 10 a.m. on New Years Day. Kathrein immediately began resuscitative measures. When John Travolta discovered his son, he took over the CPR and continued for some time.

Jett was a diagnosed epileptic and had suffered numerous seizures prior to this accident. According to initial investigations, it remains unclear whether the seizure led to his slip and fall accident or whether the accident provoked a seizure. Much of the initial inside information about the case has come from Michael McDermott — a close friend of the Travoltas — as well as Michael Ossi — the Travoltas’ attorney.

The slip and fall death received sensationalist coverage in the media due both to John Travolta’s status as mega celebrity and to his affiliation with the Church of Scientology, a controversial religious organization that boasts numerous celebrity converts, including Jenna Elfman, Tom Cruise and Kirstie Alley.

Whether you are going through a divorce, undergoing a battle for custody, or hammering out a spousal support arrangement, consider working with the firm of Sheryl R. Rentz to help you reach the desired outcome. We treat every client we represent with respect and courtesy, and we have a broad understanding of how to make the Pennsylvania court system work successfully. To attain quality service, call 610-645-0100 for a free initial telephone consultation with one of our many experienced Pennsylvania family law attorneys.