The safety and stability of the living situation are important considerations when judges make decisions about custody, especially physical custody. The judge needs to ensure that the child is in a safe environment. Browse more family law articles.

Courts will consider a history of domestic violence when deciding custody and visitation. Domestic violence can contribute to significant difficulties in communication between parents and raise safety issues for either a parent, the child, or both. These factors can...

You’ll want to present information to help the judge make a decision. Typical information you’ll want to gather includes: Copies of communication and correspondence with your child’s other parent, such as texts and emails Income information, such as paystubs and tax...

A child custody hearing occurs if parents cannot agree on their own or through mediation. A judge oversees the custody hearing and makes the decisions after hearing all the evidence. This is a formal proceeding. So rules of evidence apply, and witnesses will be sworn...

Visitation or parenting time lets a parent visit with their child. The court can set the specifics of the visitation, including how often visits happen, where visits take place, and if visits need to be supervised. Visitation Rights Visitation rights are not the same...

There are many different types of child custody arrangements. However, two common types of custody are sole and joint. Sole Custody Sole legal custody occurs when only one of the parents has full responsibility for making major decisions for the child, such as medical...

Child custody is a legal term. It refers to the rights and responsibilities assigned to parents for taking care of their children following divorce or separation. These laws also can vary from state to state. The overall goal of child custody is to set the legal and...

Parents who don’t pay their mandatory child support payments are in contempt of court. The court will tally the missed payments, categorized as in arrears. This allows the court to start enforcement procedures to recover the payments. The parent who receives payments...

Child support is required in divorce. According to the law, both parents are responsible for supporting their children. Therefore, each parent should pay according to their ability. Additionally, the court can require one or both parents to pay child support — even if...

Alimony or spousal support involves one spouse paying the other either due to a court order or the divorce agreement. Its purpose is to ensure that both parties can meet their financial needs. One spouse has to prove they were “dependent” on their spouse during the...