Pennsylvania Family Law Blog – The Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz
How to Afford a Pennsylvania Divorce that Satisfies Both Parties Involved, Part II
In our last blog post, we discussed financial considerations that couples who are divorcing in Pennsylvania need to take in order to gratify both parties, as highlighted in a recent Reuters article. This post marks the conclusion of the two-part series, and will talk about several other items that divorcing couples need to spend time deliberating over during the divorce process in Pennsylvania.
You will need to discuss paying for your children’s future college tuition bills with your soon-to-be ex-spouse. Statistically, children whose parents have divorced are less successful at completing college than children whose parents’ marriage is intact. Often this can be attributed to the failure of parents who have divorced to come to terms with who will pay the tuition bills. You and your future ex-spouse need to have a specific arrangement on this. Be clear what percentage each party will pay of the tuition bill, and agree to adjust the amounts in the future to allow for inflation. Read the rest »
How to Afford a Pennsylvania Divorce that Satisfies Both Parties Involved, Part I
A recent article published by news outlet Reuters discusses ways that the everyday person can afford a divorce. Most people can’t afford paying huge divorce settlements like most celebrities do these days and move on with their lives, particularly during the current economic climate. Many troubled couples are finding it difficult to split up at all, with many couples deciding to continue to cohabit even as they file for divorce in Pennsylvania because they aren’t able to sell their house. Many people don’t want to agree to pay costly alimony payments because they’re worried about the weakness of the job market. Discussing paying for their children’s medical care and future tuition bills that are far into the future can seem insurmountably high and impossible. However, staying together for the sake of finances probably isn’t the best option, as the relationship is likely to continue to deteriorate and the children may suffer more.
One of the most critical things that a couple going through the divorce process in Pennsylvania needs to do is obtain a clear picture of where they stand financially. Add up credit card bills and find out how much the house is worth in today’s market. If you think your soon-to-be ex-spouse is hiding money from you, hire a certified public accountant who specializes in finding hidden money (also referred to as a forensic specialist) to make sure all the assets between the two of you are known. Read the rest »
Divorce Court during the Holiday Season
With the Christmas season now in full swing, it is also unfortunately the season for divorcing couples to argue over who should get their kids for the holiday. This month’s festivities can already be very emotional for a person who is facing divorce in Pennsylvania, and figuring out how to reasonably divide the holidays with your children and a soon-to-be ex-spouse can be especially trying.
A recent article from The Huffington Post notes that divorce attorneys at this time are often forced to file emergency motions asking a judge to settle disputes between divorcing couples over who will have their children on Christmas Day if neither will budge on their stance. Read the rest »
Without a Pre-Nuptial Agreement, Elizabeth Hurley Could Lose Millions in Divorce
The Huffington Post reports that Elizabeth Hurley and her husband Arun Nayar are divorcing after three years of marriage. However, Hurley disregarded one major precaution most celebrities take before marrying: having a pre-nuptial agreement.
Hurley could potentially lose a significant amount of her fortune because of this oversight. The British actress is said to have over £13 million (over $17 million USD), including a £4.3 million (approximately $5.7 million USD) mansion in South-West England as well as a £2.5 million (about $3.3 million USD) townhouse in London, which her ex-boyfriend Hugh Grant co-owns. Read the rest »
Surviving the Holiday Season after a Pennsylvania Divorce
Surviving the holidays during or soon after a divorce in Pennsylvania can be very difficult. Feelings of loneliness or anger are only magnified during cheery festivities with friends and family. Often the holidays are anticipated with dread by a newly divorce or separated person. While there aren’t any magical cures for the holiday blues, there are some things you can do to help make coping with a Pennsylvania divorce easier during the holidays.
Try to plan ahead to do something fun, stress-free, and relaxing with the people you genuinely care about. If you’re worried the holidays are going to be too painful with reminders of your divorce everywhere, consider taking a vacation to escape. Read the rest »
U.S. Women Increasingly More Likely To Seek Out Pre-Marital Agreements
A San Francisco Chronicle article has brought to light the recent increase in the number of pre-marital agreements (also referred to as a pre-nuptial agreement or prenuptial) currently being filed by Americans. Just a few decades ago, pre-marital agreements were adopted almost solely by the wealthy. However, in today’s modern age, more and more middle class couples are choosing to enter in pre-marital agreements prior to officially tying the knot.
Interestingly, a recent poll by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) discovered that women are typically the ones to initiate a pre-marital agreement, doing so about 52% of the time, according to a survey of divorce lawyers in the United States. Speculatively, this could be attributed to the fact that the number of working wives has steadily increased over the years. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, about 46% of the workforce is now comprised of women, with numbers continually rising each year. With a greater number of women working and earning larger salaries than they did in years’ past, women have generally developed an increasingly higher interest in protecting their assets, which a pre-marital agreement offers. Read the rest »
Pennsylvania Raises Awareness of Domestic Violence
In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, in a partnership with Verizon Wireless, four Public Broadcast System (PBS) stations hosted community events across the state of Pennsylvania during the month of October. The events were aimed to help promote awareness of the different options and services accessible to at-risk individuals and domestic violence victims. Events will continue into November, but every American should take time, no matter the month, to see what each one of us can do to help bring to light the seriousness of domestic violence.
According to PR Newswire, prominently featured throughout the events was a screening of “Telling Amy’s Story,” a documentary that chronicles the events that led to the death of Amy Homan McGree, whose husband shot and killed her, leaving behind two children. The film was created by Penn State Public Broadcasting and has aired on PBS stations across the United States. The film was shown on WQLN on October 6, on WHYY on October 12, on WLVT on October 21, and will be shown on WQED in Pittsburgh on November 18. For more information about past and future events, please visit http://www.telling.psu.edu/. Read the rest »
Divorce Changes More than One’s Marital Status
Anyone who’s ever said that filing for divorce is an easy process has probably never been through a divorce themselves. Divorce is usually one of the most stressful situations that a person can ever go through in life. It is a complicated process that involves a substantial amount of work. However, once the divorce process is completed, its conclusion does not mark the end of hard work, particularly if children are involved.
According to a recent NapaValleyRegister.com article, the divorce process can best be described as a major period of change. A person’s daily routines are significantly altered, their finances are inevitably affected, and relationships with their now ex-spouse and close family friends are forever changed. Ultimately, individuals who divorce are not only changing their marital status, but also the way they live after the divorce is finalized. Read the rest »
Understanding Types of Domestic Violence in Philadelphia Divorce Cases
Domestic violence, sometimes referred to as domestic abuse, can take many forms and can involve multiple members of one’s family, including children. Domestic violence in Pennsylvania can involve physical abuse, typically in the form of striking another individual’s body; emotional abuse, in the form of verbally assaulting an individual; or sexual abuse. Intimidation tactics, such as economic deprivation and stalking, are also considered forms of domestic violence. Regardless of the form of domestic violence, the abusive behavior should immediately be reported to the proper authorities, and should certainly be considered during all divorce proceedings.
Marriage can be defined as a partnership in which both individuals involved are charged with treating the other in a fair and just manner. In divorce proceedings where one partner claims that they suffered domestic violence abuse at the hands of the other, the abused party may be able to seek benefits to help compensate for the effects of such treatment. Spouses who experience domestic violence of any form have rights, and those rights should under no circumstances be disregarded during the divorce process. Remember the most important thing to do in any domestic violence scenario is to remove yourself from the situation as soon as possible to ensure your safety and physical well being. Read the rest »
Income, Not Co-Habitation Before Marriage, May Be More Significant in Divorce Decisions
Every now and then, trends need to be re-examined, particularly when it comes to statistical data associated with those trends. When it comes to divorce rate and co-habitation before marriage, what can be deciphered today is different from what was concluded decades ago. According to a recent Newsweek article, living together before marriage was formerly considered a warning sign that an eventual marriage was doomed to end in divorce; but as society’s view of co-habitation has changed over the years, the correlation between co-habitation and divorce has less to do with the act of living together, and more with external factors that may have led to two people choosing to live with one another.
In the 1970s, nearly a third of couples decided to live together before marriage. At the time, societal views of the act of co-habitation were predominantly negative. Now, nearly two-thirds of all couples decide to live together before marriage and, while it is still considered by some to be an improper path taken prior to saying I do, it is much more accepted than ever before. However, when the financial situations of the two co-habiting individuals are taken into consideration, the likelihood of divorce is inevitably affected. Read the rest »
We know your problems are unique & special.
Call us, we will listen.
(610) 645-0100
Meet Attorney