Family law in Pennsylvania is a highly complex and sensitive area of law that relates to issues involving divorce, pre-marital agreements, spousal support, property division, domestic violence, child visitation, child custody, and more. When dealing with a divorce, there are several complex matters that must be handled efficiently and in a timely manner in order for a person to obtain positive results. Divorces, if not handled properly, can significantly compromise an individual’s rights to child custody, support, or visitation, as well as other financial issues. A skilled Delaware County divorce attorney will make sure that your rights are protected and work to help you achieve a successful case outcome.

Don’t leave your family law or divorce case up to chance. Contact the Delaware County family law and divorce attorneys at the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz. We are familiar with the many challenges you may be facing in filing for divorce or working through child custody, modification of child custody, and spousal support. Our dedicated attorneys have years of experience in PA family law. Call 610-645-0100 today for a free consultation.

According to statistics, the marriage rate in the United States in 2008 was 7.1 per 1,000 people, while the divorce rate was 3.5 per 1,000. This essentially supports the common adage that one out of every two marriages ends in divorce. Regardless of which reasons are cited for a divorce, a host of different elements need to be carefully examined in order to come to an agreement that is amiable for both parties. While many people hope that a marriage will inevitably improve over time, sometimes the differences are simply too great, and parties have no choice but to file for separation. For such parties in New York, declaring a divorce to be no-fault may soon be a possibility.

Divorces in Pennsylvania and throughout the United States can be complicated. While one party may feel strongly that a certain aspect of a marriage caused it to go awry, another party may not consider that aspect to have been a detriment whatsoever. In any event, the best course of action for any individual looking to file for divorce in Pennsylvania should involve retaining the services of an experienced Philadelphia divorce attorney who will fight for the best possible outcome. At the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, our Philadelphia divorce lawyers are available to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your divorce. For a free consultation, please contact us today at 610-645-0100.

Recent legislature passed in the House, and now in the hands of the Senate, seeks to create a nationwide norm in regard to considerations given to parents who are deployed by the military and how such deployment can affect child custody arrangements.

According to armytimes.com, Rep. Michael Turner, R-Ohio, sponsored the bill, which seeks to assist deployed military personnel in their child custody cases. Specifically, the bill hopes to disallow deployment (past, present, and future) from being negatively used against an individual serving in the military. While fifteen states already have legislation in place to prevent deployment from being used against military personnel, those states do not argue that the federal government should not set a precedent for how state courts must examine child custody cases. It should be noted that the proposed legislature only applies to instances of deployment related to contingency operations. The bill has previously been rejected four times in the past.

There are a variety of factors that need to be taken into account during any Pennsylvania child custody case. For individuals in Pennsylvania seeking to gain custody of their children, or hoping to maintain their current child custody arrangement, the best course of action should involve retaining the services of an experienced Philadelphia child custody attorney. For more information regarding child custody arrangements, please contact the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz today at 610-645-0100 for a free consultation.

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.

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.

Interestingly enough, as a result of the social networking phenomenon, many Philly family law attorneys are finding themselves instructing clients on what not to post on social networking profiles, even if those profiles are supposedly private, non-public sources of information. According to the report, it is a good idea to approach social networking as you would approach supplying your local newspaper with information about yourself. That is, unless you’re comfortable posting your personal information on the front page of a newspaper, you should be hesitant in posting that information on a social networking profile page.

In the article, clinical psychologist Dr. Erin Alexander reasons that “you may have individuals within the couple who have very different personal boundaries and don’t mind sharing personal information but as it affects their partner, that’s something that you need to reconcile and be on the same page about.” Per fair warning, be careful about the information that you make public, because it may lead to complicated matters that can include divorce.

In all divorce cases, it is extremely important that all details are carefully examined. The skilled Pennsylvania divorce lawyers at the Law Offices Sheryl R. Rentz have experience handling a variety of divorce cases, and are prepared to ensure that the rights of their clients are not infringed upon in a court of law. For more information and a free consultation, please contact the Philadelphia divorce attorneys at the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz by calling 610-645-0100 today.

Reportedly, one such couple - two women who were legally married in Massachusetts, but who reside in Pennsylvania - were denied their request of a divorce in Pennsylvania. While states typically recognize the laws of other states, and act accordingly when making their own decisions, the issues of same-sex marriage has many state legislators confused as to how to proceed with divorce cases. One point of concern revolves around the idea that, if a state that opposes gay marriage signs off on a gay divorce, then that state may in essence be recognizing gay marriage as legal, despite state laws that say otherwise.

While any Pennsylvania divorce case is complicated, matters become much more exasperated when state law begins to be interpreted in a variety of ways. When this type of complication takes place, there may be the potential for multiple appeals and much debate to take place. However, regardless of the circumstances, the skilled Philadelphia family law attorneys at the Law Offices Sheryl R. Rentz have experience handling a variety of divorce cases. Our dedicated and knowledgeable divorce lawyers in Philadelphia are prepared to ensure that the rights of our clients are not infringed upon in a court of law. If you are thinking of filing for divorce, please don’t hesitate to contact the Philadelphia divorce attorneys at the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz for more information and a free case consultation. Call 610-645-0100 today.

When the couple initially separated in 2006, the mother was granted primary custody and the father was given visitation rights. Later that year, the mother took their son to Turkey for a vacation but did not return, despite a court order that stipulated they had to be back by the end of summer.

Subsequently, courts in both Pennsylvania and Turkey ruled that she was in violation of the custody order and was required to return to Beaver County with her son. She and the boy returned in late January 2010 so that she could attend a contempt hearing. The judge granted the father temporary primary custody and the mother was sentenced to jail.

It is not uncommon for parents to want sole custody of a child after a separation. There are many reasons a parent might be compelled to keep a child away from the other parent. If domestic violence or child abuse is a factor, there are legal avenues to pursue to protect the child. Whatever the case, spiriting a child out of state or out of the country only complicates the matter, and as in this case, may work against the parent who is trying to maintain full custody.

While all custody disputes have a measure of complexity, cross-state and international cases are particularly difficult. The experienced Philadelphia child custody family lawyers at Sheryl R. Rentz are equipped to defend your rights as a custodial parent and to safeguard the well-being of your child. Please call the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz for a free and confidential evaluation.

Source:http://www.timesonline.com/bct_news/news_details/article/1504/2010/february/02/mom-jailed-over-custody-dispute-could-be-released-friday.html

The child was born in Colorado but has lived with his paternal grandmother in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania for the last four months. In a special arrangement between the grandmother and mother, the child was to stay temporarily while the mother was on bed rest due to her current high-risk pregnancy. When the mother came to get her son last month to take him home to Colorado, the grandmother refused to turn him over. The father then filed for custody. The father acknowledged that he was not named on the child’s birth certificate and did not have custody of the child. Under the temporary order, the child will be turned over to his mother when she arrives back in Pennsylvania. The article states that a final appealable custody order is expected to be issued August 6, 2010.

If you or someone you love is involved in a custody dispute, we understand that these family matters are almost always emotionally charged. Parents usually need help navigating through Pennsylvania child custody laws. All parties involved in a custody dispute typically need legal counsel and representation. Often, as it is with the child custody case above, paternity issues arise as well. The law offices of Sheryl R. Rentz can facilitate the establishment of paternity as well as the custody agreement. With our many years of experience in Pennsylvania family law and child custody, we have the necessary skills and knowledge for a successful outcome in your custody efforts. Call the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz at 610-645-0100 today for a free consultation.

Source:http://www.publicopiniononline.com/ci_14362629

According to The New York Times, the Virginia woman was first awarded custody of the couple’s daughter and her former partner was granted liberal visitation rights. After she repeatedly denied her former partner those visitation rights, a Vermont judge found her to be in contempt of the court and awarded full custody to the former partner in Nov. 2009.

Same sex custody cases have been rare in Pennsylvania, but they do come up from time to time. Same-sex custody cases are handled the same way as when a non-biological parent seeks shared custody. If it is in the best interest of the child, the parent will end up getting some measure of custody.

Child custody issues are extremely complicated. It takes an experienced Pennsylvania child custody attorney to guide you through the legal process and protect your rights. If you are facing child custody issues, please call Philadelphia child custody lawyer Sheryl R. Rentz at 610-645-0100 for a free consultation and case evaluation. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz are here to help.

Source:http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jan/02/fairfax-woman-fails-surrender-child-ex-partner/