Pennsylvania Family Law Blog

A Virginia woman failed on Friday to surrender custody of her 7-year-old daughter that she shares with a former lesbian partner of over 4 years, defying a Vermont court’s order. The New York Times reports that the woman was ordered by a Vermont judge to surrender custody of her daughter to her former partner at 1 P.M. on Jan. 1, 2010 at the home of the woman’s parents in Falls Church, VA. However, the Virginia woman failed to show up at that time. The whereabouts of the woman and the girl are unclear at this time and Vermont police will likely issue a warrant for her arrest.

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/

Anyone who has gone through a divorce and has children is likely to tell you that it takes a lot of heart and courage to fight for what is best for your child. Even when a parent does not receive primary physical custody for their child or children, obtaining visitation rights or joint custody are both very important issues of concern.

A recent article from the New York Times discusses a collection of articles from Working Mother Magazine that address a new and heightened tendency for fathers to be given custody of children over the children’s mothers. Interestingly, as more women have become primary earners in a marriage, more women have seen their husbands receive primary physical custody of their children when a divorce takes place. According to the article, there are approximately 2.2 million divorced women in the U.S. who did not obtain primary physical custody of their children during their custody hearings. Furthermore, at this point, about 50% of fathers who seek primary custody in such divorce cases are granted it.

As numerous social viewpoints about parenting shift, our standards evolve, and the economy fluctuates, the percentage of fathers granted primary custody will rise and will very likely continue increasing in the years to come. The article certainly raises the question as to whether a parent should be granted full custody based predominantly on the idea that the parent who works less is able to spend more time with the children. Consequently, the question as to whether or not the adage “the parent who works more, parents less” is actually true also arises, and needs to be carefully examined in a family court to determine if such an idea is truly in the best interest of the child.

Determining child custody is not taken lightly by either parents or the court system. In fact, there is much to take into consideration when deciding which parent should be granted primary physical custody. Both maintaining employment in order to provide financial support and being available to care for children are a few of the important factors taken into consideration in family law cases.

If you are currently going through a divorce or are thinking that a divorce may be an option for you and your spouse, the Pennsylvania family law attorneys at the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz can ensure that your child receives the custody that is best for his or her well being. For more information about the legal matters surrounding your particular situation relating to child custody, child support or spousal support, please contact Sheryl R. Rentz. Call us today at 610-645-0100 for a free consultation.

Source:http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/more-fathers-getting-custody-in-divorce/

A Pennsylvania group is lobbying for a change in state law saying courts should choose joint physical custody of children by both parents as the first option during a divorce proceeding. According to an article in the Patriot News, the Pennsylvania Families Association is supporting House Bill 463, which would require judges to first consider joint custody unless there is evidence that one of the parents is not suitable to have custody of the child or it is not in the child’s best interest to do so.

According to this new law, parents would have to submit a “parenting plan” to the court with mediation provided if needed. However, the Pennsylvania Coalition against Domestic Violence states this law would place emphasis on parents’ desires rather than the best interest of the children. Under current Pennsylvania law, the guiding principle for judges is to consider what is in the best interest of the child during a PA child custody dispute.

Joint custody can sometimes be the ideal situation, but in many cases, it is not the best solution. This is especially true in cases where one parent has a job and is stable while the other is not. Whatever your situation, when you are negotiating something as crucial and sensitive as child custody during a divorce proceeding, you need the advice and guidance of an experienced and knowledgeable Pennsylvania child custody lawyer, who knows the ins and outs of the law and can work the situation to your advantage.

Skilled Philadelphia child custody attorney, Sheryl R. Rentz, has years of experience and can handle almost any child custody issue throughout Pennsylvania. You would be well-advised to move forward in making your legal claim in family court after learning about your specific rights and the complex laws surrounding child custody in Pennsylvania. For more information, contact the law offices of Sheryl R. Rentz today.

A Hustontown man is accused of assault after an incident with a woman during a child custody exchange, according to this news report. Edward Eugene Saylor, 51, was charged with simple assault and two counts of harassment. Pennsylvania State Police officials say Saylor grabbed 26-year-old Misty Dawn Saylor around the neck with both hands and lifted her off the ground. He then allegedly carried her into a car wash and slammed her head against a brick wall three to five times before letting her go. She complained of head, neck and back pain. Saylor also allegedly assaulted a 40-year-old man as he attempted to call 911.

Child custody issues can be extremely contentious and sometimes it can get violent, as it apparently happened in this case. It is not too clear what happened in this particular Pennsylvania child custody case. But if you are going through a divorce that involves children, it is very important you understand that obtaining a custody order by a court in Pennsylvania can save you a lifetime of insecurity regarding your children’s security and upbringing. The only way to get that order is by filing a successful legal pleading in family court in your home state.

In most cases involving child custody, parents may be granted sole custody or joint custody of their children. In some cases both parents could be denied custody by the state if they are deemed to be “unfit.”

Whatever your situation, please contact the Law Office of Sheryl R. Rentz for a free consultation with a skilled Philadelphia child custody attorney. We will inform you about your specific rights and child custody laws in Pennsylvania. We will help take that step to make your legal claim in family court. Call us today to find out how we can help with your Pennsylvania child custody case.