Pennsylvania Family Law Blog – The Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz
How Can Non-Biological Parents Gain Custody of Their Children?
It is common practice in Pennsylvania custody cases to give preference to the rights of biological parents. This is especially relevant in cases where custody is being decided between one parent and one non-parent, whether it is a more distant relative, such as a grandparent or aunt, or a non-related caregiver who has some interest in the child’s welfare. One situation that is particularly challenging involves a stepparent—who has been involved in the child’s upbringing from a very young age—asking for custody. Read the rest »
How Is Pet Custody Decided in a Divorce?
We are all aware of how stressful and traumatic a divorce can be and the severe impact it can have on our families. One aspect of divorce often gets overlooked: what happens to our pets? In the event of a marriage’s dissolution, this question has many divorcing couples scrambling for an answer. Read the rest »
Can My Child Support Orders Be Modified?
Usually, when a judge settles a case, the ruling he or she makes is permanent. And it can only be appealed with great expense and difficulty. However, when it comes to divorce proceedings, determinations regarding child custody, child support, and alimony are not intended to be permanent, but rather can be modified if new circumstances call for it. This is especially true when the order pertains to children.
According to Pennsylvania law, “Either party to a child support order may request an order modification any time they experience a material change in circumstances such as a change in income; child care expenses; medical coverage; custody; age of the child; incarceration; relocation; disability; death; or, special needs of the child.” This means that your child support order could be subject to a change at any time, whether requested by you or by your former spouse. Read the rest »
10 Finalists Chosen for the 2017 Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz Scholarship!
The Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz is offering a $500 scholarship to ONE worthy college-bound student. The scholarship was open to any graduating senior or current college student with a 3.0+ GPA, from anywhere in the United States. We want to reward and celebrate these hard-working students. We asked,
- How will attending college help you achieve your future goals?
- How do you plan on leaving your mark on the world, and in what way will a college education help you achieve your intended goals?
Why Would a Parent Have Temporary Custody in PA?
When you and your spouse have decided to separate, there will be many different matters to discuss and many decisions to be made, such as possession of the marital home, car, spousal support, and child custody. These issues may take months to resolve before the separation can be made legal. If children are involved in the separation, a temporary custody order is designed to address this matter to ensure that they are not adversely affected by the changes in their family situation.
Traveling Out of the Country with your Child and Post-Divorce Custody
Planning a vacation with your family is an exciting time. Everyone looks forward to getting out of town, particularly if you’ve decided to travel overseas. It can also be a great learning experience for your children. But if you have a divorced family situation, you may have certain stipulations within your custody agreement regarding guidelines you must follow before you take your children on a trip.
What Are Grounds for Divorce in Pennsylvania?
The decision to file for divorce is never easy. Even if you are sure this is the best move for you and your family, there are many life-altering repercussions of ending a marriage that must be taken into consideration. Not least of which, the actual process of going through a divorce is complicated, expensive, and difficult to navigate.
How To Legally Change Your Name in Pennsylvania
There a number of reasons why a person might want to legally change their name. The most common of course is when a person gets married. Unfortunately, when a marriage ends in divorce, many people will then need to change their name back. The process can be confusing and time consuming, and comes at a difficult time when you will have many other more pressing concerns.
Pennsylvania law governs the process under which a person’s name can be changed in the State of Pennsylvania. The Office of the Prothonotary is where you must go to submit the necessary documents to procure a name change. Depending on where you live in Pennsylvania, this office is typically located in your county’s courthouse. Depending on why you are requesting a name change and whether it involves an adult or a minor, there are different procedures to follow.
Reduced Waiting Period for Divorce without Consent Becomes Law December 3, 2016
Last month, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed a bill into law that would reduce the waiting period for those seeking divorce without their spouse’s consent from two years to one. There are, however, some exceptions. For instance, if one spouse has an abuse conviction, the other spouse only needs to wait 90 days to move forward with nonconsensual divorce proceedings. Also, a waiting period is waived if one spouse has been confined to a mental hospital for the last 18 months and is expected to remain confined for 18 more months. The law will be going into effect statewide December 3, 2016.
The Divorce Code was initially passed in 1980 and was meant to give couples time to reconcile their marriage before pulling the plug. The initial waiting period at the time was three years, but it was reduced to two years in 1988. If you are considering ending your marriage and your spouse is not cooperating, or, if you are dealing with an abusive partner, you need to speak with an experienced divorce attorney. The Ardmore Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, P.C. can answer any questions you may have and represent you during your divorce proceedings. Ms. Rentz has been successfully representing Pennsylvania divorce clients for over a quarter of a century and she will use that experience on your case. Call (610) 645-0100 today for a free case evaluation.
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