Pennsylvania Family Law Blog – The Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz
Addendum to Natalie Wood’s Autopsy Report—Bruises May Have Occurred before She Entered the Water
Although many unanswered questions remain, more details were recently revealed surrounding actress Natalie Wood’s death. As reported by the Associated Press and published in The Philadelphia Inquirer on January 15, 2013, a report just released reveals that Natalie Wood’s death certificate was amended to deal with questions about bruises on her upper body.
In a ten-page addendum to the actress’ autopsy, officials from the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office say that some of the bruises on Natalie Wood’s body may have been put there prior to her entering into the water and drowning. Coroner’s officials could only conclude that Ms. Wood “drowned under undetermined circumstances.” Officials noted in the amendment that Wood had no history of attempting suicide, did not leave a suicide note, and did not have on a life jacket. Read the rest »
The Truth about Pre-marital Agreements
Romantic love is not a guarantee of future happiness. Pre-marital agreements may not be romantic, but they can protect assets of couples entering into a marriage or a cohabitation arrangement. Family law attorneys are not match makers. What they can do is safeguard one’s assets should the romance end.
What is a Pre-marital Agreement?
Pre-nuptial agreements can also be called pre-nuptial agreements or ante-nuptial agreements. A pre-marital agreement is a legal document agreed upon, signed, and entered into prior to a couple’s marriage. Legal pre-cohabitation agreements can also be legal contracts that work in much the same way for couples who do not plan to be married. Read the rest »
Issues of Middle-Age that May Lead Women to Divorce
As women reach age 50-something, they may start to wonder if this is all there is to life. Whether or not this is a mid-life crisis, middle age is a time of questioning whether women are where they want to be. As was reported in The Huffington Post, many married middle-aged women said they no longer wanted to be married to their husbands. They were finished with marriage. They were not happy. They felt doomed to live the rest of their lives the way they had up to the present.
Midlife Changes
Midlife is an anxiety-filled time for women. Family law attorneys are familiar with just how difficult making the decision of whether or not to divorce can be. Read the rest »
Beginning Your New Year with Divorce: Why Couples May Divorce in January
As reported by Divorce360.com, a number of couples across the nation make the difficult decision to divorce at the beginning of the new year, but why is January a popular month to make a split official? The increased filings in the beginning of the New Year may be in response to the need for “self-improvement” that many feel during the start of a year. One woman, the operator of FamilyLawCourts.com, jumped at the chance to finalize her divorce from her husband in January with thoughts of “new year, new life.”
However, the woman regrets the decision she made to do a bifurcated divorce suggested by her attorney, which speeds the finality of divorce before custody or financial issues are negotiated. Read the rest »
PA State Representative Daryl Metcalfe to Reintroduce Gay Marriage Ban
According to an On Top Magazine report, Pennsylvania State Representative Daryl Metcalfe recently announced that he will reintroduce a resolution that aims to ban gay marriage in the state. Presently, state law prevents same-sex marriage, as do laws in 30 others U.S. states, though there are a number of states that do allow gays to marry or are in the process of changing their laws, indicating a significant political shift in the country. However, Metcalfe states that it is important to “support traditional marriage” and the proposed amendment would eliminate confusion as to what constitutes a legal marriage in Pennsylvania. Read the rest »
Mistakes to Avoid When Divorcing After Age 50
Deciding to divorce at any age is always a hard choice to make and a difficult experience, but getting divorced over the age of 50 can be especially complicated and can be filled with pitfalls and rules that younger couples may never have to consider. According to a SmartMoney.com news report, the overall divorce rate has decreased slightly over the past two decades, but data from the National Center for Family & Marriage Research at Bowling Green State University reveals that the rate for couples over 50 has doubled.
As the stakes are likely to be higher for divorcing couples over 50 for several reasons, such as a pair having more assets like real estate, obtaining a favorable settlement is particularly important. As such, here are some common mistakes for the over-50 set, which may lead to a lower settlement or you having to pay your ex more than you should. Read the rest »
How to Survive the Holidays Both During and After Divorce
For many, the holiday season is a festive and joyous time of year. However, if you are getting divorced or your divorce was only just finalized, the holidays may not help with easing the pain of your split and you may feel overwhelmed with whatever you may be feeling as a result of the divorce, such as stress, loneliness, or sadness. A newly divorced person may not look forward to this time of year, but while there is no magical solution for your holiday blues, Montgomery County divorce attorney Sheryl R. Rentz knows that there are certain things you can do to make this season easier to cope with.
Courtesy of DivorceWizards.com, consider the following tips to help you survive the holiday season: Read the rest »
National Adoption Month in November Highlights Need for Adoptive Families
National Adoption Month has been celebrated in the month of November with events, campaigns, and activities to help build awareness of adoption and adoption-related issues. The specific focus this November is the adoption of children who are currently in foster care, and the focus was to find loving, permanent homes for foster children awaiting adoption. An Examiner.com news report states that presently there are more than 100,000 children in the foster care system in the U.S. waiting for permanent families, with 3,000 children in Philadelphia alone in need of permanent homes.
To celebrate National Adoption Month, a free event was held on November 19 in Philadelphia intended to be a public awareness campaign to underscore the need for children who need adoptive families. The event was a collaboration between the Philadelphia-based National Adoption Center and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, and the event featured games, entertainment, interactive activities, and resource information for prospective families. Read the rest »
Tips for Saving Money during Your Divorce
Divorce is an exceptionally difficult thing to deal with in more ways than one. Divorce proceedings can be especially challenging, but making the decision to control your divorce and not let it control you can empower you to make practical, effectual decisions to help you get through the process as smoothly as possible. One essential part of controlling your divorce is managing the cost, and The Huffington Post offers the following tips on how you can save money during this costly process:
- Manage your communication: Don’t make your divorce attorney the primary means of communication between you and your ex in order to understand where your money is going. The attorney should do things such as inform you of laws and how it applies to your divorce, not ask your former spouse who will be picking up the kids from school. Read the rest »
Coping with Divorce during Thanksgiving
Beginning a new chapter of your life after a divorce and moving forward can be difficult, but it can be exceptionally challenging during Thanksgiving and the holiday season. Feelings of sadness or distress are certainly common if you are newly divorced, but with the following tips and support from loved ones, the Thanksgiving holiday can be a happy one and you can create new traditions to celebrate year after year. Courtesy of WomansDivorce.com, here are some tips to make your holiday a festive one:
- Talk to supportive friends and family: Do your best to strive for a holiday atmosphere, free from unhappy feelings. If you need to vent or need a shoulder to cry on, try and grab a friend or family member and let it all out! This will help you try and enjoy the holiday. Read the rest »
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