Pennsylvania Family Law Blog

Every day in Philadelphia hundreds of victims of domestic violence turn to one of the four main domestic violence agencies in the city. These include Women Against Abuse, Women in Transition, Congreso de Latinos Unidos, and Lutheran Settlement House. On some days, the number of victims seeking assistance in Pennsylvania is nearly 2,500. You can visit this website for more information: http://www.helpwomen.org/pr/DV08Sum.pdf.

The Philadelphia Police Department is investigating new ways of strengthening their partnerships with the agencies mentioned above by scheduling follow-up visits and making referrals after 911 calls. Help is available to victims, but services are also offered to abusers as well. Most abusers were victims in their lifetime, and counseling and education are available to help break the vicious cycle.

The Philadelphia Police Department estimates that nationally, nearly 4 million women suffer some kind of domestic violence by an intimate partner every year. The Philadelphia PD has a very informative website at http://www.ppdonline.org/prev/prev_pers_dom.php on personal safety and crime prevention that identifies domestic abuse clearly.

Domestic violence is a complex issue with many facets. It is not something just between couples, but also can have drastic influences on children and siblings. Though it is less common, men are battered by their female partners as well. Same-sex couples also experience a high rate of domestic violence.

If you or a loved-one has suffered from domestic violence, the experienced Pennsylvania domestic violence attorneys at the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz know how overwhelmed you may feel. Our skilled lawyers will be able to assist in navigating through the legal system so that you may end the abuse and have a safer home. Call 610-645-0100 for a free consultation of your case.

Source:http://www.philly.com/philly/health_and_science/20091229_Phila__rethinks_how_police_probe_domestic_abuse.html

Mississippi has recently taken efforts to receive federal funding to help children. Based on a 2.wjtv.com report, Mississippi’s Department of Human Services is hoping that offering free paternity tests will motivate more potential fathers to take responsibility for helping support their children, if that responsibility is in fact theirs to uphold.

According to the report, the state’s main goal is to obtain more child support payments, which will ultimately assist Mississippi federal funding for the new fiscal year. Therefore, the Department of Human Services is providing DNA tests, which can amount to costs between $300 and $500. This initiative may even be something that Mississippi prolongs or that other states adopt to further help parents who can’t afford a paternity test.

Paternity tests are provided to outweigh any doubt when it comes to questioning who the father of a child is, and are especially sought after when child support is in high demand. These tests are usually administered when issues pertaining to child custody and child support arise, and are known to be over 99% accurate in comparing the DNA of a child to a potential father.

The skilled Philadelphia family law attorneys at the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz are highly familiar with the complexities surrounding child support and many other family law issues. In our many years of experience assisting parents in receiving the accurate child support they need, we have also helped parents in modifying their child support when such action applies to their particular situation. To learn more about how the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz can help you with all of your child support or family law matters, please call 610-645-0100 for a free consultation.

Source article: http://www2.wjtv.com/jtv/news/local/article/dhs_offering_free_paternity_tests/20038/

As an experienced Philadelphia pre-marital agreements lawyer, I have always emphasized the importance of a prenuptial agreement. A pre-marital agreement, also known as a prenuptial, ante-nuptial or a pre-nuptial agreement, is a legal document that is signed and agreed upon by both parties before legally entering into marriage. These documents are in no way mandatory to get married, but many couples are increasingly entering into such an agreement so that there is a strong safeguard in place should anything happen.

A recent article by Associated Press writer Candice Choi beautifully explains why a prenuptial agreement, or a “prenup” as it is commonly known, is a smart money move. Choi explains that with so many more blended families and dual income households these days, family finances have become an extremely complex issue. A prenuptial agreement, says Choi, can minimize the potential for a messy divorce by spelling out each party’s rights to assets brought into the marriage as well as those acquired as a couple.

Although the last thing a couple wants to think about is a Pennsylvania divorce, statistically, the odds are stacked up against marriage. About 40 percent of marriages in recent years have ended in divorce. So, if you are getting married, here are some things to consider:

• Is a prenup right for you?
• Do you need one?
• How much will it cost?
• What are the areas a prenuptial agreement should cover?
• Is there anything a prenup cannot or will not cover?
• How easy is it to invalidate the agreement?
• How often should you update a prenup?

There are many more questions that will arise when the time comes. If you are looking to draft or enter into a prenuptial agreement, please remember that it should be drafted and filed by an experienced pre-marital agreements lawyer. Each member of the relationship should be represented by such an attorney. If you have any questions regarding prenuptial agreements or the process, please contact the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz. We are fully familiar with the particulars of each state’s premarital and co-habitation agreement laws. We offer free, comprehensive and confidential consultations.