Pennsylvania Family Law Blog – The Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz
Divorce in the Digital Age: How Technology Can Help You through Your Divorce
Coping with a divorce is always an exceptionally difficult thing, but with the help of friends and family, a counselor or support group, and even an experienced divorce attorney, you can move forward with a new chapter in your life and write your new happy ending. However, divorcing in the 21st century offers divorcing couples and parents some digital aids, which may also help you smoothly get through a divorce and offer co-parenting tips to help you raise your child after a split.
Courtesy of The Huffington Post, the following are five apps that can help you both during and after your divorce: Read the rest »
Divorce Abroad: The Difficulties of Divorcing in Two Different Countries
Financial obstructions, red tape, and cultural differences are simply a few of the challenges one might encounter if they are divorcing a citizen of another country, an American who is a dual citizen, or someone who lives abroad. According to a Reuters news report, there are no statistics as to how many Americans have had to deal with divorce and dual citizenship, but the president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) states that it is a growing trend due to custody issues. He adds that they are “seeing more parental kidnappings, more conflict, more litigation, and simply more to fight about” in the event of a dual citizen or “international” divorce.
For U.S. citizens who may find themselves in a bi-country divorce situation, one must consider where they live in order to determine where to file for divorce. Simply because you or your spouse is American, one cannot assume that he or she can file for divorce in the U.S. A New York matrimonial lawyer explains that “It doesn’t matter where you were born, it’s where you live that’s going to determine which court has the jurisdiction.” As such, it may not ultimately be a decision as to which country is easier to divorce in, as divorce laws and outcomes certainly vary from country to country. Read the rest »
Officials and Advocates Hold Ceremony in Montgomery County in Honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month
First observed in October of 1987, October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which was created to raise awareness of the “silent epidemic” of domestic violence and promote prevention of this significant national problem. Nationally, domestic violence affects one in four women, and an estimated 91,000 Pennsylvanians were affected by domestic violence in 2011.
In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, victim’s advocates, law enforcement, and court officials gathered recently in Montgomery County to support survivors and honor those who have shared the expertise to help victims. Read the rest »
Divorce and Children: Tips to Celebrate Halloween with Your Family Post-Split
Both during and after a divorce, it is essential for parents to make the major new transition as seamless as possible to ensure the emotional and mental well-being of their children. The holiday season can be an especially difficult time for both parents and children, but as with many post-divorce situations, attitude and how parents handle family matters is key; if each parent is willing to work together, it can make a significant difference in how the holidays play out.
With the most frightening holiday of the year approaching, Halloween is certainly one of the most fun for a child to celebrate and share with parents. As such, parents should remember to put their child first when trick-or-treating on October 31 and follow these simple tips to make Halloween a memorable one for their child: Read the rest »
Bankruptcy During Divorce: What You Need to Consider Before Filing
Financial matters are one of the most significant issues that will arise, and need to be settled, in a divorce. Financial problems are certainly one of the leading causes of divorce in the U.S.; as such, managing one’s finances post divorce can often be complicated, and a practical solution for some may be considering filing for bankruptcy during the divorce process to avoid any further monetary troubles. However, there are several important things any Pennsylvanian considering filing for bankruptcy should take into account before making the official decision to do so.
The following are four essential things to consider if you are thinking about filing for bankruptcy during a divorce: Read the rest »
Registry Available for Adoptees, Birth Parents in Pennsylvania
The 2010 law passed in Pennsylvania, formally called Pennsylvania Act 101, makes it easier to for Pennsylvania residents involved in adoptions to request information about the adoptee or birth parents. As reported by Montgomery News, this law allowed the state Department of Public Welfare to create the Pennsylvania Adoption Information Registry (PAIR), which keeps confidential information related to the social and medical history of children adopted in the state. Birth parents, adoptive parents, or adoptees can make updates to the registry at any time.
A Pennsylvanian can reach PAIR by calling (800) 227-0225, but the information is shared only if both parties agree to it. This can eliminate the uncomfortable situation that may occur when an adoptee calls a biological parent that does not wish to be contacted. At the request of the adoptee, an authorized representative is appointed to search for birth parents or relatives, and the birth parents must provide written consent. Under PA law, a “birth relative” can refer to a parent, sibling, grandparent, stepparent, uncle, or aunt of the child’s birth family. Read the rest »
How to Help Your Children Understand Your Divorce
The decision to divorce is one of the most difficult and life-changing choices an individual will have to make, and the emotional toll it can take on a person can be overwhelming. However, if a couple has children, one must also worry about the emotional well-being of their family; as such, it is important for a parent to determine how to properly discuss with children this significant decision. As the concept of divorce will likely be difficult for children to understand, an article from KSL.com offers the following suggestions for discussing your divorce with your children:
- Be honest and open with your children. This will help keep the lines of communication open, but experts suggest leaving out the details. Simply express clearly to them that both of you will still be there for them and can count on you to be their mom/dad. Read the rest »
Reasons to Hire a Pennsylvania Family Law Attorney for Your Divorce
Couples who have decided to end their union will likely tell you that, even though the decision to split was extraordinarily difficult, the process of obtaining a divorce can be lengthy, stressful, and overwhelming. Obtaining a divorce is unfortunately not as easy as signing a piece of paper and a number of issues need to be agreed upon and settled before the divorce can be finalized. Thus, without proper legal representation, your rights may not be protected.
With this in mind, it is important for anyone filing for divorce or in the midst of divorce proceedings to understand the importance of hiring an experienced PA family law attorney to assist them through the entire divorce process. Find Law explains the following reasons why a family law attorney can help: Read the rest »
Pennsylvania Observes August as Child Support Awareness Month
As reported by U.S. Politics Today, August is Child Support Enforcement Awareness Month in Pennsylvania, and the state’s Child Support program continues to exceed federal standards designed to ensure children get the financial support they need. The Department of Public Welfare’s Bureau of Child Support Enforcement administers child support collection and enforcement efforts through “cooperative agreements with the 67 county Courts of Common Pleas’ Domestic Relations Sections.” Per federal rules, five measures must be successfully met, including collecting current and overdue child support and being cost-effective in the administration of child support collection.
From 2010 through 2011, Pennsylvania disbursed $1.55 billion in child support collections to custodial parents. The State Secretary notes that through the committed efforts of welfare department employees and county court workers, custodial parents are receiving the child support they need so their children can live in a more secure environment. Read the rest »
Five Lessons Divorced People Learned from their Marriage
As reported by The Wall Street Journal, a new study reveals five common themes that underlie most divorces. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, collected data periodically from 373 same-race couples who were between the ages of 25 to 37 and in their first year of marriage when the study began in 1986. Of the couples included in the continuing study, 46 percent divorced, and the conductor of the study asked a portion of these individuals who went into a new relationship what they learned from their divorce.
The following are five of the lessons revealed from the study: Read the rest »
We know your problems are unique & special.
Call us, we will listen.
(610) 645-0100
Meet Attorney