Pennsylvania Family Law Blog – The Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz

How a Second (or Third) Marriage Impacts Inheritance in Pennsylvania

By Sheryl Rentz on June 23, 2025

Close-up of a bride and groom holding a decorative wedding cord during a marriage ceremony. Image represents inheritance and estate planning challenges in second or third marriages under Pennsylvania law, including blended family estate rights.

Blended families are increasingly common, and with them come complex legal questions about inheritance, especially after a second or third marriage.

If you’ve remarried or are planning to, and either you or your spouse has children from a prior relationship, it’s important to understand how Pennsylvania law addresses estate distribution in these situations.

Without a clear estate plan in place, estate law in Pennsylvania can produce unintended results that may leave your biological children, stepchildren, or surviving spouse in a vulnerable position.
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Posted in: Property Division

Lessons from Celebrity Divorces: Navigating High-Profile Splits in Pennsylvania

By Sheryl Rentz on June 16, 2025

Judge’s gavel on a wooden table with paper cutouts of houses, cars, and family figures symbolizing custody and property division. Image represents high-profile divorce cases, complex asset division, and strategies for managing public separations.

From public spats on social media to million-dollar settlements and custody battles, celebrity divorce cases often play out in the court of public opinion as much as in legal courtrooms.

While most divorcing couples in Pennsylvania don’t have paparazzi parked outside their door, public-facing individuals such as local business owners, public officials, doctors, athletes, or media personalities can face scrutiny and similar challenges.
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Posted in: Divorce

Who Gets the Art in a Divorce? Navigating Fine Collections and High-Value Assets in Pennsylvania

By Sheryl Rentz on June 9, 2025

Framed artwork displayed on a gallery wall, including portraits, landscapes, and religious scenes. Image represents art collection divorce in Pennsylvania, artwork appraisal, and division of high-value assets in separation cases.

Divorce is a deeply personal process. And the process can become even more emotional when important high-value assets such as fine art, antiques, or luxury collectibles are involved.

As a result, one of the most difficult questions couples face is about who gets the art in a divorce. Issues surrounding the division of marital assets become even more complicated when one spouse is a collector, investor, or artist.
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Divorcing Quietly: Can You Seal Your Divorce Like Celebrities Do?

By Sheryl Rentz on May 21, 2025

Close-up of a woman’s hands removing a diamond wedding ring, symbolizing how to seal divorce records Montgomery County PA. The image conveys confidential divorce Pennsylvania, private divorce filing, sealed court documents PA, and strategies to protect personal information during divorce proceedings.

When celebrities announce their divorce “privately” or “amicably,” many assume the process was conducted entirely behind closed doors. In some cases, that’s true, especially when public figures request the court to seal divorce records and restrict access to personal and financial information.

But what about professionals, business owners, and high-earning individuals right here in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania?
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Posted in: Divorce

When One Parent Wants to Move: How Relocation Battles Are Handled in Custody Cases

By Sheryl Rentz on May 14, 2025

Father kneels to hug his daughter at the doorway while the mother stands nearby and a suitcase rests by the door, symbolizing child relocation custody Montgomery County PA. The image conveys parent relocation Pennsylvania law, custody relocation request PA, parenting plans long distance, and move-away custody cases.

Few custody issues are more emotionally charged than relocation. When one parent wants to move—whether for a new job, family support, or a fresh start—the decision impacts not just their life, but the child’s relationship with the other parent.

In Pennsylvania, these cases are governed by strict laws that put the best interests of the child above all else. But understanding how child relocation custody is handled in Montgomery County, PA, is key to protecting your rights and planning your case.
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Posted in: Child Custody

A Pennsylvania Father Lost Custody Over THC—Could It Happen to You?

By Sheryl Rentz on April 15, 2025

Judge’s gavel beside a dropper bottle, cannabis buds, and hemp seeds on a table, symbolizing medical marijuana custody Pennsylvania. The image reflects THC custody case PA, cannabis and parental rights, family court marijuana use, custody and drug testing, legal weed custody issues, and child custody THC Pennsylvania.

In a widely discussed Pennsylvania custody case, a father lost his visitation rights after testing positive for Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), even though he was a registered medical marijuana patient.

Despite the father’s use of cannabis being legal under state law, the court determined that it posed a potential risk to the child. This ruling has left many Pennsylvania parents asking if legally using medical marijuana can really cost them custody of their child.
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Posted in: Child Custody

Royalties, Residuals & Licensing Rights: How Creative Income Is Divided in a Montgomery County Divorce

By Sheryl Rentz on March 17, 2025

Judge’s gavel rests beside two gold wedding rings on top of hundred-dollar bills, symbolizing dividing royalties divorce Pennsylvania. The image highlights creative income divorce PA, intellectual property divorce PA, film residuals divorce, and artist income equitable distribution in high-asset divorce cases.

In today’s economy, income isn’t always confined to salaries or hourly wages. Many professionals, like artists, musicians, writers, designers, and entertainers, earn money through royalties, licensing fees, and residuals. These income streams may continue long after the work was created and can become a central point of contention during divorce proceedings.

If you or your spouse earn money from creative work in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, it’s important to understand how state law treats this kind of passive or recurring income during divorce.
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Sheryl R. Rentz 2025 Key to a Bright Future Scholarship

By Sheryl Rentz on February 6, 2025

An infographic about a scholarship

At the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, P.C., we feel fortunate about the success we’ve achieved, and it’s a wonderful privilege to help others reach their goals. That’s why we offer our annual $1,500 Key to a Bright Future Scholarship for high school seniors and college students who are working to improve their lives by earning a four-year college degree. Read the rest »

Posted in: Firm News

How Long Can a Divorce Take in Pennsylvania?

By Sheryl Rentz on January 15, 2025

Judge’s gavel beside two wedding rings on a wooden desk with a person seated in the background, symbolizing how long can a divorce take in Pennsylvania. The image reflects divorce in Pennsylvania, contested divorce in Pennsylvania, no-fault divorce in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania divorce timeline, property division, alimony in Pennsylvania, and child custody in Pennsylvania.

Divorce is a challenging and emotional process, and many individuals considering this option may wonder how long the divorce process will take.

The truth is that the length of a divorce can vary greatly depending on a variety of factors. This can include the type of divorce, whether the case is contested or uncontested, and the complexity of the issues involved.
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Posted in: Divorce

How Are Assets Divided in Divorce in Pennsylvania?

By Sheryl Rentz on December 15, 2024

Businessman separates stack coins. Concept of saving and investing. Property division. Divorce and legal services.

Divorce is an emotionally charged and complex process, especially when it comes to the division of assets. For many, understanding how assets are divided in divorce in Pennsylvania is crucial to preparing for what lies ahead. The way property, debts, and other assets are divided can have a lasting impact on your financial future. In this blog, we’ll explore the process of asset division in Pennsylvania, the factors that influence how assets are divided, and how a divorce lawyer can help you through it. Read the rest »

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