Parents in Pennsylvania who get a divorce must make a decision about child custody. If they are unable to do so, then the case will go to court, where the judge will make a decision. A judge often grants physical custody of the child to the parent that was the primary caregiver.
Protecting separate property from future divorces
Pennsylvanians who are preparing to get married should take the time to have honest discussions about their finances in advance of their wedding. It is important for people to understand the full picture of their partners' finances in order to protect themselves later.
Miguel Cabrera sued for child support
Berks County baseball fans might be interested in learning that Miguel Cabrera, a slugger with the Detroit Lions, has been sued by a woman in Orlando for allegedly failing to pay her enough child support for two children who he fathered with her. Cabrera, who has been married to his wife since 2002, reportedly fathered the two children with the Florida woman in 2013 and 2015. He has three children with his wife as well.
Hidden assets, division of property and sharing information
Pennsylvania is not a community property state, so property is not split 50/50 in a divorce as it might be in a state like California. One California woman was concerned because although she had been the main earner for around a decade, her husband wanted the entire home and half of her 401(k) in the divorce. He also was sharing information about her finances with his sister. The woman suspected that he was also hiding assets.
Former actress granted full custody of daughter
Berks County, Pennsylvania, residents may have heard of Audrina Patridge from her time on the television show "Hills." On Oct. 6, she was awarded full custody of her 15-month-old daughter as well as the former couple's dog. The father is allowed to have visitation with the child, but she must be picked up at a police station due to a restraining order. Other conditions of the divorce include that Patridge must pay her former husband $35,000 for work done on a home that they used to share.
What to do if one spouse seizes assets
People in Pennsylvania who notice unusual financial activity from a spouse may wonder whether that spouse is planning for divorce. For example, one man's wife took the $90,000 they had both received from a house sale plus the $40,000 she got after losing her job and used it to open an account in her own name. The man asked that the money be returned to their joint accounts or that his name be added to the account, but the woman would not do either.
Majority of wage garnishees are men
Companies in Berks County often have their hands full processing wage garnishments when they do payroll. A study produced by the ADP Research Institute examined payroll records and identified trends in wage garnishment. These court orders that require collections of child support, back taxes or other debts directly from paychecks overwhelmingly affect men. Among people having their wages garnished, 71 percent of them are men. Child support is the leading cause of these types of court orders.
Protect yourself before getting married again
Divorce is often such a difficult experience that those who go through it swear they'll never get married again. However, for many individuals, the first marriage leaves them wanting to do better with another partner, to try and improve on past mistakes.
