Pennsylvania Family Law Blog – The Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz
How Technology Has Made It More Difficult to Hide Money from your Spouse
An unfortunate part of marriage is the deceit that occurs when a twosome hides money from one another, either to splurge on extramarital mischief or simply to keep from sharing it in the event of a divorce. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, electronic discovery has made the hiding of monetary assets much harder for a deceiving spouse or partner to do. Financial mischief is a very common problem in relationships, and a survey conducted by the National Endowment for Financial Education shows 31 percent of U.S. adults who combined assets with a partner or spouse say they have been dishonest about money. More than half of the adults surveyed say they hide cash from their significant other.
With financial deceit being such a common part of unions, electronic discovery, or the use of technology to uncover hidden assets, can help a person unearth any wrongdoing. A part of the reason electronic discovery is increasingly popular is because more people are using technology to hide assets to begin with. Spouses or partners who may be suspicious of their loved one’s activities can investigate their social networking accounts or their web viewing history to find signs of a hidden business deal or bank account. In addition, forensic experts and divorce attorneys are now using advanced search tools to swiftly analyze things such as credit card bills or online bank statements. Read the rest »
Sheryl R. Rentz Explains the Difference between Community and Separate Property in a Divorce
Throughout the divorce process, a number of issues are sure to arise that need to be resolved before the final divorce settlement agreement is signed, such as spousal support or child custody. Family law attorney Sheryl R. Rentz has extensive experience aiding divorcing couples and understands the importance of efficiently handling any and all divorce-related issues with skill and compassion. One of the primary issues in a divorce is the division of property, and there are two different types of property for twosomes to be aware of and understand: community property and separate property. The following is essential information on each.
Community Property
An essential matter in a divorce is how to split up community property assets, which are everything that spouses own together. Pennsylvania is not a community property state, however, which means as an equitable distribution state all property acquired during the marriage, regardless of whose name it is in, is part of the marital estate and is subject to equitable distribution in a divorce. To fairly divide the assets, the court takes into consideration several different factors. Read the rest »
Frozen Pre-Embryos Awarded to Wife in Pennsylvania Court Case
The Superior Court of Pennsylvania recently awarded frozen pre-embryos, created from the former husband’s sperm and the wife’s eggs, to the woman in a very interesting legal case. In order for the woman in this case to preserve her ability to have a child after being diagnosed with breast cancer, she was advised to undergo IVF (in vitro fertilization). Following the fertilization, the pre-embryos were then cryopreserved. The husband and wife later separated, and the husband then biologically conceived a child with another woman. Read the rest »
Pennsylvania Family Law: Paternity by Estoppel
In a recent ruling in a family law case, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania deemed that paternity in Pennsylvania by estoppel will continue in the state. Paternity by estoppel acts to impose an obligation on the party who holds himself out as the father of a child and continues to provide support for the child as well. The mother in this particular case acknowledged that she had an extramarital affair with the alleged father during the course of her marriage to her husband. Testing did establish that her husband was not the biological father of the child.
The alleged father asserted paternity by estoppel to defeat the child support claim and argued that the husband had established the father relationship with the child, adding that his involvement in the child’s life had been insignificant. Also, the mother and her husband remained married even though they were separated. Read the rest »
Practical Solutions to 3 Financial Fights Couples Have
Marriage is certainly difficult, and a number of things may put a strain on an otherwise happy twosome. Newlywed or not, one of the most common things for a pair to fight about is finances, which is also one of the primary reasons a couple may get a divorce. In recognition of this unfortunate fact, Creditcards.com offers their assistance by providing solutions to several financial problems couples frequently fight about. After interviewing relationship and financial experts, here is the information that can help you avoid a future money-related spat with your partner: Read the rest »
Dennis Rodman Back in Court, Allegedly Owes More Than $800,000 in Child Support
Former NBA basketball star Dennis Rodman is again in legal trouble for purportedly owing his ex-wife $860,000 in child and spousal support, according to a report by the Associated Press. The 50-year-old was found in contempt of court in November for failure to pay child support for his two children, and he appeared in an Orange County court recently for sentencing but the hearing was postponed until May 29. The former NBA star may face up to 20 days in jail unless he pays the amount that his ex-wife contends he owes.
Rodman’s attorney asserts that her client owes far less than $860,000 and will provide evidence of his payments to the family court judge. She also aims to have his contempt of court finding overturned. His attorney also claims Rodman is “broke” and is barely able to keep up with his living expenses, let alone the $5,000 in child support he pays for a son from another relationship and the $4,500 a month in spousal and child support he is supposed to pay to his ex-wife in this case. Read the rest »
“Women Unchained”: Jewish Women Denied a Religious Divorce by their Husband
Beverly Siegel, a Chicago-based filmmaker, made a documentary about Jewish women whose husbands refuse to grant them a religious divorce, known as a GET. The film, entitled “Women Unchained,” explores this phenomenon, which occurs because in traditional Judaism a husband may withhold a divorce. If this happens, the women seeking the divorce are then considered agunot, or “chained wives,” and between 2005 and 2010, a total of 462 cases existed in the U.S., according to a recent survey.
Secular courts in the U.S. cannot interfere in a religious divorce, which further complicates matters for the women, and violence may occur as a result. For example, a New Jersey couple was apprehended for arranging the kidnapping and beating of a man who refused to give a GET. Thus, some are promoting more civilized solutions to this problem. Read the rest »
Divorce in the Military: How to Divide a Pension
During a divorce, there are a number of financial issues that may further complicate an already difficult process. One such financial problem is dividing a retirement plan, which becomes a more complex matter when one spouse is in the military. For someone who has served in the military, a pension is typically their largest asset, so the issue of dividing the retirement plan during a divorce affects million of military couples. Read the rest »
Post-Divorce Financial Issues to Be Aware of This Tax Season
A number of complicated issues can arise both during and after a divorce, and if the matters aren’t appropriately addressed and resolved, the problems can continue for years after the divorce is final. With tax season in full swing and the April 15 deadline fast approaching, it is important for couples who may have made the decision to part to understand the financial issues that should be addressed during the divorce process to help avoid problems in the future. Marketwatch.com offers these thoughts: Read the rest »
The Business Side of Marriage: Is a Prenuptial Agreement Right for You?
When a couple gets engaged, it is a time to celebrate and eventually begin planning for the big walk down the aisle. This can include decisions on where the wedding will be held, what flowers to display, the kind of cake that will be eaten and … whether or not to get a prenuptial agreement? Though discussing a prenuptial agreement, also known as a premarital agreement or prenup, seems very unromantic and can make a partner feel like the other thinks the relationship will end, having one drafted may actually be quite sensible and is growing in popularity.
A recent poll indicates that three-quarters of divorce lawyers reported an increase in prenuptial agreements over the last five years, according to Theindychannel.com. With an estimated 40 percent of marriages ending in divorce in the U.S., discussing this option with your future spouse may help avoid a great deal of stress in the future. Read the rest »
We know your problems are unique & special.
Call us, we will listen.
(610) 645-0100
Meet Attorney