Understanding Custody
Child Custody Bonds: What They Are
Learn what a child custody bond is, who is ordered to post one, how courts set the amount, what it costs, and other ways to prevent abduction.
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Parenting Time & Schedules
How Far Apart Can Parents Live for 50/50 Custody?
No state caps distance for 50/50 custody. Learn the relocation thresholds by state, how schedules limit distance, and when a move reopens custody.
Mediation & Settling Outside Court
How to Use Child Custody Mediation Well
Child custody mediation can be a challenging process for parents who are going through a divorce or separation. It is a time when emotions are high, and both parties may feel like…
Living with the Order
What Is Child Support Services?
Learn how child support services find parents, set orders, collect payments, and enforce them, plus fees, limits, and when to act fast.
Understanding Custody
How Many Marriages End in Divorce?
The 50% divorce claim is off. See lifetime odds, recent yearly trends, and which couples face the highest divorce risk.
Special Situations
Asking for a Child’s Name Change: What Courts Weigh
How courts decide a child's name change, from the best-interests test and state burdens of proof to notice, consent, and updating records.
Living with the Order
When to Reopen a Child Custody Case: A Step-by-Step Guide
Find out when courts will change a custody order, how jurisdiction and waiting periods apply, and the steps to ask for a modification.
Special Situations
How to Make a Will That Covers Custody of Your Children
Learn how a will names a guardian for your children, what courts weigh, and how to plan for their money and daily care.
Parenting Time & Schedules
Child Custody: When Does the Weekend Start?
Learn how your signed order, state default schedules, and weekend-counting rules decide when a custody weekend starts.
Special Situations
Stepparent Adoption While a Custody Case Is Open
Learn whether a stepparent can adopt while a custody case is open, why adoption is a separate case, and how the other parent's rights are affected.
Living with the Order
What Happens If Someone Does Not Pay Child Support? Legal Consequences Explained
Missed child support payments become permanent debt. Learn how states collect it through wages, tax refunds, licenses, passports, and contempt.
Preparing for Court
Calling Witnesses in Family Court: Questions Parents Ask
Learn who to call as a witness in family court, how to subpoena them, and how many to bring. Includes what to expect while they wait for their turn.