Pennsylvania Family Law Blog – The Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz
Russell Brand Files for Divorce from Pop Singer Katy Perry
Though rumors have been circulating for months that the marriage of Katy Perry and Russell Brand has been rocky, most were still surprised when Brand officially filed for divorce from the 27-year-old pop star after 14 months of marriage on December 30. The divorce papers filed by Brand’s lawyers at Los Angeles Superior Court cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the split, according to ABC News. The first public signs of difficulty in the relationship came around Christmas when the two were spotted thousands of miles apart; Brand was with family in Britain and Perry was spotted in Hawaii.
Brand released a statement Friday announcing the divorce and says this about his soon-to-be-ex-wife: “I’ll always adore her and I know we’ll remain friends.” Read the rest »
Your Holiday Survival Guide After a Divorce
The end of a marriage can be one of the most difficult things a person endures in his or her lifetime. A divorce forces a person to redefine their life, relationships, and even traditions. The holidays are a festive time for most, but when you are coping with a divorce, it can be difficult to find any joy in the holiday season. However, the holidays can be an excellent time to celebrate with family and create new traditions with those you love. The following are some helpful tips to help you celebrate during the holidays.
- Be flexible. Keep any old traditions you want, but also try some new things and get creative with the way you celebrate the holidays. Creating new traditions and holiday rituals that you can do each year can be a part of how you redefine your new life. Read the rest »
Understanding Pennsylvania Child Visitation
Divorce is a very complicated and difficult thing issue, and when a child is involved, it is important to make things as seamless as possible regarding custody of the child and visitation rights to lessen the impact of the divorce on the child. Visitation refers to the right of a parent to visit a child as one of the types of custody in Pennsylvania, and child visitation guidelines set forth the terms of how physical custody of a child will be shared after the parents’ divorce. The state of Pennsylvania recognizes different types of child custody, however, in addition to visitation, including: Read the rest »
Verizon Donates $590,000 to PA Domestic Violence Agencies
In the continuous fight against domestic violence, Verizon announced this week that it will be donating more than $590,000 to aid Pennsylvania domestic violence shelters. The funding for this generous donation comes from the Verizon Foundation and the nationally recognized HopeLine program, which provides refurbished cellular phones and airtime to nonprofit groups for use by domestic violence survivors.
The aid is certainly coming at an opportune time; Pennsylvania shelters have unfortunately seen a spike in domestic violence calls, which they attribute to the pressures of an ailing economy. Domestic violence agencies in the state have also been struggling with waiting lists at shelters and extended stays, and have reported an increase in elder abuse, teen dating violence, and increased calls for help to crisis hotlines. Statewide, more than 40 domestic violence organizations are presently being supported by Verizon. Read the rest »
Actress Demi Moore Announces Plans to File for Divorce
Last week, Demi Moore announced her intention to file for divorce from actor Ashton Kutcher, who is about 16 years younger than Moore, according to The Huffington Post. They were married for six years. Moore told the Associated Press that her decision to divorce was made “with great sadness and a heavy heart.”
Rumors over marital troubles started in September when Kutcher allegedly cheated on Moore during a trip to San Diego. He denied the allegations, but, after “the other woman” came forward, it became a full scandal. Kutcher and Moore tried to work out their marital problems, but without success. In October, moving vans were seen outside the couple’s house supporting divorce rumors. Kabbalah counseling and camping did not help the couple reconcile, and neither did spending time at Bruce Willis’ Turks and Caicos vacation home earlier this month. Read the rest »
Williams Institute Establishes Patterns of Relationship Recognition by Same-Sex Couples
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)-based Williams Institute is a “national think tank” committed to advancing sexual orientation and gender identity law and public policy through research. This month, The Williams Institute released its most recent study, Patterns of Relationship Recognition by Same-Sex Couples in the United States. Read the rest »
Understanding Alimony in Pennsylvania
Alimony, also sometimes referred to as spousal support or maintenance, is handled a little differently in Pennsylvania as opposed to other states. Once a divorce decree has been entered, the court may reasonably allow alimony, but only if it is considered necessary. There are four types of alimony in Pennsylvania: 1) Permanent; 2) Rehabilitative; 3) Limited Duration; and 4) Reimbursement. Whether a court considers one of these types necessary is determined by a number of factors, including, but not limited to:
- Earnings of both spouses;
- Ages and physical, emotional, and mental conditions of both spouses;
- Sources of income of both spouses;
- Inheritances and expectancies of both spouses; Read the rest »
Kim Kardashian Files for Divorce after 72 Days of Marriage
NBA star, Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian tied the knot in August, but Kardashian apparently changed her mind two and a half months later. Kim Kardashian filed for divorce a mere 72 days after her marriage to Humphries citing “irreconcilable differences,” according to The Huffington Post.
In the divorce documents, Kardashian asked the court to deny any request for spousal support from Humphries, as well as asking that they each cover their own legal fees. The couple had a pre-marital agreement, which stipulates what is to be done with their assets. Kardashian keeps all of her pre-marriage assets and anything she earned during the marriage. Last year, the Kardashians made $65 million, while Humphries, now unemployed due to the NBA lockout, made $3.2 million. Read the rest »
Can Halloween Predict a Divorce?
There can be many signs that a marriage is in trouble at any time during the year, but holidays tend to make those signs more obvious. According to The Huffington Post, one such “relationship fortune telling holiday” is Halloween.
The holidays are a time for couples to celebrate together, so if there are problems in the relationship, they will most likely be more noticeable during these times. When Halloween comes around, married couples usually follow a pattern of tradition, whether it’s decorating the house, hosting a Halloween party, taking their children trick-or-treating, or even not celebrating. If these traditions change for unknown reasons, it may be time to sit down and look at the relationship before it is too late. Some Halloween signs that could mean trouble in the marriage include: Read the rest »
McCourts Finally Agree on Divorce Settlement
The contentious divorce between Frank and Jamie McCourt, and the subsequent fate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has been widely publicized. Earlier this year, a post-nuptial agreement which stipulated that Frank McCourt gets sole ownership of the Dodgers in the event of a divorce was invalidated in court, extending the divorce battle. But now, with the impending Dodgers bankruptcy decision and approximately two years after they announced their separation, the McCourts have come to an agreement on the terms of their divorce after their initial settlement was nullified in June.
According to The Los Angeles Times, Jamie McCourt, who initially fought for half ownership of the Dodgers, agreed to turn the bankrupt team over solely to her ex-husband on the condition that she receive a settlement of approximately $130 million by next spring. If Frank McCourt has not paid Jamie the settlement by then, and is still in ownership of the team, he must sell the team to pay his ex-wife. Whether he stays in ownership remains to be seen, however. Read the rest »
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