Pennsylvania Family Law Blog – The Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz
Tracy Morgan and Wife Divorce after 23 Years of Marriage
On Friday, August 7, 2009, comedian and actor Tracy Morgan, 40 filed for divorce from his wife, Sabina, in Bronx Supreme Court. Tracy Morgan and his wife were high school sweethearts and were married for 23 years. However, the couple is suspected of having been separated for about eight years. Said a friend of the former couple’s in an article from the NY Daily News, “Basically they were divorced without the paperwork”. Read the rest »
Since When Is Pet Custody Compared to Child Custody?
A recent article from philly.com reported about a couple that is squaring off in the courtroom for the second time, fighting over custody of six-year old Dexter. Is Dexter their son? Not quite. Dexter is a much loved dog that is apparently worth the extensive hours the former couple has spent in New Jersey courtrooms. The woman claims that the couple referred to Dexter as their son, thus emphasizing the attachment the each party has towards the dog. At this point, neither plaintiff is willing to share him.
After hearing testimony in Superior Court that, while one partner purchased the dog and paid veterinary bills, the former couple lived together and, therefore, both cared for Dexter, the judge ruled that Dexter was joint property, although no final decisions were made. The woman’s claim that she was given permanent custody of the dog when the couple separated was ruled to be unfounded. For now, both attorneys of the former couple will file additional briefs stating their thoughts on who should get the dog and why. Read the rest »
Understanding Pennsylvania Grandparent Visitation Rights
Very often when a family experiences a divorce, grandparents can undergo similar challenges that parents go through due to close relationships with grandchildren or the desire to establish stronger bonds. Child visitation in Pennsylvania may be granted to a grandparent under the following circumstances: Read the rest »
Former MLB Star Gets Probation for Skipping Child Support Payments
Former Major League Baseball star, Troy Neel, has been sentenced to five years of probation for failing to pay more than $700,000 in child support – the worst deadbeat record in Texas history. According to this Associated Press news report, a federal judge in San Antonio, Texas, sentenced the former Oakland Athletics first baseman, who could have received a maximum penalty of two years in prison. The judge spared him the prison sentence only because he would not have been able to pay child support while incarcerated. Neel was ordered to pay $779,000 in restitution. The 43-year-old Neel apparently lived in a South Pacific island resort when the $5,000 monthly payments for his two children went unpaid.
Child support payments have their purpose, but more importantly they are a significant part of a divorce agreement where one parent promises to pay the other monthly to support their children. Failure to pay child support in Pennsylvania can result in serious consequences including jail or prison time, suspension of passport or driver’s licenses, freezing of bank accounts and assets, as well as garnishing paychecks. Read the rest »
Failure to Pay Alimony Landed Man in Prison for 14 Years
A Philadelphia man, who spent 14 years in prison for failing to pay about $2.5 million in alimony, was finally freed. The man, who requested a petition for freedom, is now 73 years old, according to this UPI news report. The man was sent to prison for contempt of court in 1995 after failing to deposit the money in a court-controlled account. The money was to be used for alimony payments to his ex-wife.
The presiding judge then apparently suspected that the man hid his funds from his ex-wife. The man on the other hand said that a poor overseas investment left him unable to make a deposit. The free man, who used to be a corporate lawyer before his incarceration, is considering trying to get his law license back and teach for a living. Read the rest »
Illinois Collects Record $1.4 Billion in Unpaid Child Support
The state of Illinois has reportedly collected a record amount of child support for the fifth consecutive year, according to a news report. The department has apparently collected a record $1.38 billion for custodial parents of Illinois children during fiscal year 2009, slightly higher than last year. The department is also working to deny hunting and fishing license permits for parents who fail to pay child support. They are also working to suspend these parents’ driver’s licenses.
Pennsylvania too has very strict laws in place that make penalties for parents who fail to pay child support very severe. Any amount owed in back payments are known as “arrearages” and a parent who does not pay them can face penalties including jail time, driving license and passport suspension, bank account seizure, reporting of failure to pay to credit agencies, seizures of assets, garnishing paychecks and so on. If you need advice on how to collect child support that is owed to you or pay up child support that you owe, please consult with an experienced Pennsylvania child support attorney for legal advice and counsel. Read the rest »
Alimony Amount Contested in Pennsylvania Senator’s Divorce Case
Pennsylvania State Senate Democratic Leader Robert J. Mellow’s ex-wife wants a share of all the additional money he has been earning as a director on the Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania board and others since their divorce, according to a news report. Diane Mellow made the demand in a court petition asking to increase her alimony in Pennsylvania. Robert and Diane Mellow were married in August 1966 and were divorced in November 2006.
According to their divorce agreement, Mellow agreed to pay his ex-wife a monthly alimony of $2,600 with $150 a month increases on each anniversary of when the alimony payments began. However, Diane Mellow now contends that things have changed now because the senator has been earning a lot more because of his involvement with various boards. At question is whether the divorce agreement can be modified. Robert Mellow’s attorney says that cannot be done because his ex-wife signed the settlement knowing that its terms would be final. Diane Mellow’s attorney says that state law allows for an adjustment in alimony if the circumstances of either person changes substantially for an extended period. Read the rest »
Child Support Lawsuit Against Sixers’ Iguodala
According to a recent report, Andre Iguodala, Sixers basketball star, is facing a child support lawsuit by Clayanna Warthen, of South New Jersey. The female child, London, was born this year in May and Warthen is seeking temporary support of $12,000 to $15,000 a month. Often, those involved in child support disputes would prefer for matters regarding which parent pays, how much should be paid, for how long, and by what means, to all be settled out of court if possible. However, elements of child support can get complicated fast and in this case, litigation has proved necessary.
As reported by his attorney, Iguodala feels “blessed to have a healthy new daughter” and he will give her “all of the support and love she needs for a happy and full life.” Read the rest »
Pennsylvania Officials Getting Ready to Collect Outstanding Child Support
Officials in Montgomery County are cracking down on parents – deadbeat dads and moms – who owe back Pennsylvania child support payments, according to this news report. If parents don’t pay their child support arrearages by the deadline, Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputies will actively go after parents who owe the money, officials say. The Sheriff’s Department says it could get ugly. Deputies won’t just contact the parents, but also their employers and basically “do whatever it takes to these people that owe child support to get them to pay it and stand up to their responsibilities.”
In Pennsylvania, failure to comply with a child support order is punishable by up to six months in jail. Those living outside of Pennsylvania who owe money can expect to be contacted by federal agents. There is about $9 million in outstanding child support payments just in Montgomery County, officials say. Read the rest »
Is Joint Custody Consideration the Best Starting Point in Divorce Cases?
A Pennsylvania group is lobbying for a change in state law saying courts should choose joint physical custody of children by both parents as the first option during a divorce proceeding. According to an article in the Patriot News, the Pennsylvania Families Association is supporting House Bill 463, which would require judges to first consider joint custody unless there is evidence that one of the parents is not suitable to have custody of the child or it is not in the child’s best interest to do so.
According to this new law, parents would have to submit a “parenting plan” to the court with mediation provided if needed. However, the Pennsylvania Coalition against Domestic Violence states this law would place emphasis on parents’ desires rather than the best interest of the children. Under current Pennsylvania law, the guiding principle for judges is to consider what is in the best interest of the child during a PA child custody dispute. Read the rest »
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