Pennsylvania Family Law Blog

When two people get engaged, plan out a wedding, and officially become a married couple, they often do not take into consideration the repercussions that may result from a divorce. For many couples, the mere mentioning of a pre-marital agreement can be rather offsetting, particularly if its mentioning comes at an inopportune time. However, even if a pre-marital agreement was not decided upon prior to saying “I do,” a post-nuptial agreement can always be drawn up after the wedding.

Like a pre-nuptial agreement, post-nuptial agreements are legally binding contracts that stipulate the allocation of goods or assets in the event a marriage ends in divorce. These agreements should not be considered evidence of bad things to come, but as safeguards in the event that a marriage unforeseeably must come to an end. Post-nuptial agreements protect property acquired prior to and during marriage, assets and monetary accounts that a couple does not want to be considered communal, and can even stipulate power of attorney in the event of harm befalling one or both married individuals. If a couple is contemplating having children together, a post-nuptial agreement can also stipulate custody arrangements and other matters pertaining to those children. (However, it should be realized that in family court, the best interests of a child are always given top priority, and all decisions made regarding children are at the discretion of the court.)

Having any type of legal documentation drawn up should best be accomplished with the assistance of an attorney who has experience dealing with such matters. At the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, our Pennsylvania family law attorneys can assist individuals with a variety of legal matters pertaining to protecting one’s assets, including post-nuptial agreements, pre-marital agreements, and even co-habitation agreements. For more information and a free consultation, please call our offices today at 610-645-0100.

Officials in Montgomery County are cracking down on parents – deadbeat dads and moms – who owe back Pennsylvania child support payments, according to this news report. If parents don’t pay their child support arrearages by the deadline, Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputies will actively go after parents who owe the money, officials say. The Sheriff’s Department says it could get ugly. Deputies won’t just contact the parents, but also their employers and basically “do whatever it takes to these people that owe child support to get them to pay it and stand up to their responsibilities.”

In Pennsylvania, failure to comply with a child support order is punishable by up to six months in jail. Those living outside of Pennsylvania who owe money can expect to be contacted by federal agents. There is about $9 million in outstanding child support payments just in Montgomery County, officials say.

If you are a parent in Pennsylvania who wants to pay these child support dues after not making them for a while or if you are a parent who would like to collect what is owed to you, please consult an experienced Pennsylvania child support attorney for free advice. If you owe child support arrearages, you could face several serious consequences including jail time, driving license and passport suspension, bank account seizure, seizure of certain incomes and assets in addition to the embarrassment of it all.

The Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz has handled child support cases in Pennsylvania for years. We offer free and confidential consultation on any potential case regarding child support, child custody or divorce issues. Call us today to find out more about your legal rights and options.