RSSPennsylvania Family Law Blog – The Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz
What If We Don’t Agree on the Date of Separation?
When a client steps into our office to discuss a looming divorce, one of the most important matters we will discuss is the date of separation. Many assume that is the date that one spouse or the other officially said, “I want a divorce.” However, in Pennsylvania, this not in fact the date of separation, and disagreements about this date can severely impact your divorce proceedings, including when one spouse can receive spousal support or how debt is assigned.
Gift-Giving and Avoiding Parental Alienation
For many of us, gift-giving is our love language. It is how we show appreciation for coworkers, how we show affection to our partners, and how we reward our children. However, gift-giving is not always innocent. We have all known someone who lords a gift over someone else or expects something in exchange. This behavior can be especially troubling after a divorce as a seemingly affectionate gift to a child may come under scrutiny.
Schools Reopening and Getting Back to Custody Schedules
As Pennsylvania counties have reached the green phases of reopening, serious discussions are being had about students returning to school and how to move forward. Some have chosen to implement hybrid models or maintain the virtual learning programs from the Spring semester, while others have reopened fully with new heatlh standards. For divorced parents, this may mean returning to a pre-COVID custody plan and normal schedule. However, what if one parent disagrees with a child returning to school? What if one does not want the plan to go back to normal?
Adjusting Child Support After COVID-19 Lay-offs
Many parents have been laid off due to the Pennsylvania Stay at Home Order and, while some businesses are slowly reopening, many remain closed or have reduced hours for employees. As a result, it may be extremely difficult for some parents to make child support payments during the phased reopening period. However, that does not mean you do not have options, and there may be legal help out there.
How Isolation Can Affect Your Relationship
In normal times, many working couples may only see each other after work, on holidays, and on weekends. Even when brief, these periods may prove invaluable to growing and strengthening a relationship. But, with the effect of the Pennsylvania Stay at Home Order, many couples may have experienced more “togetherness” than they needed or wanted. When both partners are forced to work at home, isolated, and essentially quarantined within the same four walls, the stress can put a strain on the relationship.
Is Your Custody Plan Disrupted by COVID-19?
Pennsylvania, like many other states, has enacted a Stay at Home Order for Montgomery County residents to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, which includes closing business and government institutions and advising residents to remain at home. While this order is necessary to ensure the safety and wellbeing of every resident, including the elderly, children, and the immunocompromised, it has resulted in serious financial difficulties for Pennsylvania residents.
Congratulations to the Winners of the 2020 Key to the Bright Future Scholarship!
Two weeks ago, we announced the finalists for the Key to the Bright Future and began the great endeavor of selecting one winner to receive a $1,000 scholarship. After a long and difficult debate, the Law Office of Sheryl Rentz, P.C., have come to our climatic conclusion and a sudden surprise: two winners! Read the rest »
Pennsylvania Court Closures During COVID-19 Outbreak
Pennsylvania courts will remain closed to the public through April 30, 2020, with exception to specific cases, per an order by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. The order includes Montgomery County Courts, which will also remain closed until the end of April and is open for emergency purposes from 9:00am to 2:00pm. This closure period does have the potential to be extended, depending on instructions from Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Health and further orders by the state of Pennsylvania.
Meet the Finalists for Our 2020 Scholarship!
Another year, another amazing round of applications. Ever since the deadline for our Key to a Bright Future Scholarship passed on April 7, 2020, Sheryl R. Rentz and her staff have been hard at work reading through your applications. In that time, we’ve been inspired and intrigued at how students balance school, work, and life in the modern age – especially with the rise of social media and online life.
How to Deal with Parental Alienation
After a divorce or separation, it is a terrible feeling to be aware that the other parent is turning your child against you. You may dismiss it as the growing pains of child custody, but it can quickly damage your relationship with your child. If you believe you have been a victim of parental alienation, the court may choose to reverse custody, but there are also steps you can take to repair the relationship without getting the court involved.
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