Child Custody | Pennsylvania Family Law Blog - The Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz
Autumn Challenges for Separated Parents
Autumn is a beautiful time of year, full of changing leaves, sweater weather, and plenty of holidays for visiting family and eating great food. However, Autumn also comes with parental challenges that can further drive a wedge between divorced or divorcing parents of young children. There are decisions to be made concerning your child’s schooling, extracurricular activities, and holiday plans, and it is unlikely that separated parents will each get exactly what they want out of this time of year with their children, so compromises will have to be made. Read the rest »
How Does Your Income Level Affect Custody Cases?
When you are going through a divorce in Pennsylvania, you might be concerned about how your income from work could affect the child custody and visitation issues that remain to be sorted out as you head for your final divorce settlement. Whether you earn more or less than the spouse that you are divorcing, even if you were the stay-at-home parent with zero income during the duration of the marriage, life as you know it has been disrupted and will look different. Now, among all the concerns that you have, the future of your children is a top priority for you as they too will be affected by the coming changes resulting from your divorce.
Donor Offspring Custody During Divorce Proceedings
Couples have a variety of reasons for choosing a sperm donor to bring a child into this world and build their families. The most prominent reasons among couples for selecting sperm donors include instances of infertility and trying out new methods for having children. With reproductive choices like artificial insemination and in-vitro fertilization, even the method for reproduction can vary among couples.
The Role of a Parenting Coordinator in Your Custody Dispute
Coming to terms on a custody plan and sticking to an agreement requires a lot of planning, commitment, and compromise. But the stresses of a divorce can easily weigh on these agreements and bar parents from resolving disputes cordially. In order to avoid having parents take every matter to court, Pennsylvania utilizes parenting coordinators to process high-conflict cases.
How Vaccination Disputes Are Resolved for Divorced Parents
While Pennsylvania is still in the early phases of COVID-19 vaccine distribution, the debate rages on regarding vaccines. Despite significant scientific evidence that shows that vaccines have few side effects and the benefits far outweigh the risks, many people still refuse to get vaccinated and even prevent their children from receiving this life-saving immunization. This debate can be handled in private between parents, but after a divorce, it may impact a custody battle.
How Pennsylvania Courts View Medical Marijuana in Custody Cases
As public views of marijuana shift across the United States, over the past decade several states have voted to decriminalize marijuana, legalize it for medicinal purposes, or allow recreational use. Here in Pennsylvania, since 2016, doctors have been able to prescribe medical marijuana cards to patients to allow them to purchase small amounts to help with chronic pain and other conditions, but anyone can still be charged with criminal penalties for possession or use. This blend of legalization and criminalization can complicate matters, especially when it comes to a family law dispute, especially involving child custody and visitation.
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?
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.
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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