A Light to Lead the Way
Known for her responsiveness and resolve, attorney Sheryl R. Rentz helps clients navigate the often-difficult terrain of divorce, custody, and other family matters.
Attorney Sheryl R. Rentz makes a point of letting her clients know she will always “be there” for them, both literally and figuratively. As an example, consider her approach to the courtroom. If a client is scheduled for a 9 a.m. court hearing, Rentz gets there by 8:30, just so the client arrives with the assurance of knowing she has their back.
“I want to be waiting for my client, not have them waiting for me,” she says. “They’re nervous, and the last thing they need when they show up to court is to worry about whether their attorney is going to be there on time, even though they have no reason to worry that I wouldn’t be there.”
This may sound like a small gesture, but it speaks volumes about Rentz’s approach to serving clients, many of whom are navigating some of life’s most stressful situations.
Rentz, the founder of The Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz P.C. on the Main Line, has been helping clients through divorces, custody disputes, and other high-stakes family matters for more than 30 years. Since she started practicing family law in 1992, Rentz has been helping clients find solutions to the issues they face so they can pursue more fulfilling lives.
The legal profession is a second career of sorts for Rentz, who earned her Juris Doctor from Temple University’s James E. Beasley School of Law. She received her MBA in economics from Temple’s Fox School of Business, and spent years working as a jet-setting executive in the telecommunications industry. A career in family law not only provided an opportunity to help other people, but also lent more stability to her daily life so she could spend more time with loved ones.
When asked about her “ideal client,” Rentz says she prefers to work with people who are forthright, have realistic expectations, and strive to provide the information she needs in a timely fashion. That’s why, upon meeting a prospective client, she spends a great deal of time vetting their situation, including an analysis of the client’s financial picture and family dynamics, and understanding their goals for the future.
“From that high-level conversation, I can give them an idea as to what to expect in terms of an outcome,” she says. “Will it be exact? No, but understanding all the pieces of the puzzle will give me a feel for the case and paint a picture of where people will be situated when the dust settles.
“I never tell someone to get divorced,” she continues. “It’s a very personal decision that each person needs to make on their own. But I do make myself available to help them work through the issues they may be having. If they decide to move forward, I’m here to take them through it, and to help them make decisions that will best serve them and their children, if there are any involved.”
In turn, Rentz prides herself on representing her clients with honesty, responsiveness, and determination.
“Between me and my paralegal, who has been with me for 30 years, we get back to everyone on a daily basis,” she says. “If we don’t have an answer for you, we tell you what we need to do to get an answer. Sometimes it’s a simple matter of reminding people that, even though there’s nothing that needs to be done right then and there, everything is still moving in the right direction. It’s an emotional process, and people just want to know where they stand.
“Even after we’ve gotten the divorce decree or the custody order, I say to all my clients, ‘Do you have any questions?’” she continues. “They need to know where they are in the process, even at the very end. I want my clients to tell me they never felt like they were standing alone on an island. I never want them to feel that they were out there all alone.”
Rentz has seen family law evolve over the course of her career. For example, although litigation remains the primary means of dissolving a marriage, some clients opt for alternatives such as mediation, arbitration, and collaborative divorce. Regardless of which avenue a client chooses, she says most clients want the same thing: “an outcome that’s fair, especially when it relates to custody of the children; people want to see their kids and be part of their lives.”
In September, Rentz’s firm relocated to a renovated three-story home in Bryn Mawr. She describes the office as “a warm and welcoming place that’s more conducive to family law” than her former office in Ardmore. The Bryn Mawr office has a spacious conference room, a powder room, and a comfortable meeting area ideal for sitting down with clients and talking things out over a cup of tea.
Rentz’s career requires a great deal of time and attention, but she makes time for herself and her family. Apart from her work at the office or in the courtroom, Rentz works out every morning and enjoys spending time with her husband. In the winter months, she jets down to Florida on weekends, where she and her husband like to golf and play pickleball.
Of course, she uses the two hours between takeoff and touchdown to move her clients’ cases forward.
“We stay on top of our clients’ cases,” she says. “If you don’t understand something or have a question, call me and we’ll go through it. Our clients are going through difficult times, dealing with difficult circumstances, and we get through it together. It’s all about service, communication, and a commitment to making the path easier for people. All of those things are essential in today’s world.”
Sheryl R. Rentz, Esquire
The Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz P.C.
615 Old Lancaster Road
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
(610) 645-0100
srrentzlaw.com
The Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz P.C.
615 Old Lancaster Road
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
(610) 645-0100
srrentzlaw.com
Photo by Jeff Anderson
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life, November 2023.
