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Divorce guides

Child custody explained

Legal custody, physical custody, and how courts decide the best interests of the child.

Child support basics

How support is calculated and when it can be changed.

Articles

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How to Get Sole Custody of a Child: A Practical Guide

Getting sole custody means showing why the arrangement serves your child’s best interests—not simply why you disagree with the other parent. Learn what sole custody includes, which evidence matters, and how to ask the court for an appropriate order.

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How Courts Decide Child Custody: What Judges Consider

Courts generally decide child custody based on the child’s best interests, not which parent “wins” the divorce. Learn what judges consider, how safety concerns affect decisions, and how to prepare.

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Substance Abuse and Child Custody: What Parents Should Know

A parent’s substance use can affect custody when it creates a risk to the child, but a diagnosis or past addiction does not automatically decide the case. Learn what evidence matters, what safeguards courts may use, and how recovery can affect parenting arrangements.

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How to Change a Child Custody Agreement

Changing custody usually means getting a new court order—even when both parents agree. Learn what courts consider, how to request a change, and how to prepare a practical, child-focused proposal.

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How Is Child Custody Determined? Factors and Court Process

Courts determine child custody using the child’s best interests, not simply which parent earns more or asks first. Learn what judges consider, how the process works, and what evidence helps.

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Child Custody in Divorce: A Complete Guide for Parents

Child custody determines how parents share decisions and care for their children after divorce. Learn how agreements and court orders work, what judges consider, and how to prepare a workable parenting plan.

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How Is Child Support Calculated? Income, Custody, and Costs

Child support usually starts with a state formula, but income is only part of the calculation. Learn how parenting time, childcare, health coverage, and other factors affect the amount.

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How Does Military Deployment Affect Child Custody?

Military deployment may require temporary changes to parenting arrangements, but it should not automatically cost a parent custody. Learn how federal protections, state laws, and deployment-specific court orders work together.

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Do You Pay Child Support With 50/50 Custody?

Equal parenting time does not automatically mean neither parent pays child support. Learn how income differences, state guidelines, and shared expenses affect the calculation.

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Can a Parent Move Out of State With a Child After Divorce?

Moving with your child after divorce may require notice, the other parent’s consent, or court approval. Your custody order and state relocation laws determine what steps you need to take before moving.

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Legal Custody vs. Physical Custody: What’s the Difference?

Legal custody concerns major decisions about a child’s upbringing; physical custody concerns where the child lives and spends time. Learn how these arrangements work together and what to clarify in a parenting plan.

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How to Get an Emergency Custody Order

An emergency custody order can temporarily protect a child facing immediate danger. Learn what courts typically require, how to prepare your request, and what happens next.

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What Does a Guardian ad Litem Do in a Custody Case?

A guardian ad litem helps the court assess a child’s best interests in a custody dispute. Learn what the role involves, how to prepare, and what to do if you disagree with a recommendation.

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At What Age Can a Child Choose Which Parent to Live With?

There is no nationwide age when a minor can automatically choose which parent to live with. A child's wishes may influence custody, but state law, maturity, safety, and the child's best interests shape the decision.

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Can Siblings Be Separated in Custody? What Courts Consider

Courts can approve custody arrangements that place siblings in different homes, but the reasons and legal standards matter. Learn how judges evaluate each child’s needs and what parents can do to preserve sibling bonds.

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Moving Out of State After Divorce With a Child: A Guide

An interstate move with your child may require formal notice, the other parent’s consent, or court approval—even if you have primary custody. Here’s how to evaluate the rules, prepare a relocation request, and protect your child’s stability.

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Joint Custody After Divorce: How It Works for Families

Joint custody can mean sharing major decisions, parenting time, or both—and it does not automatically mean a 50/50 schedule. Learn how to build an arrangement that protects your child’s needs and makes each parent’s responsibilities clear.

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Who Claims a Child on Taxes After Divorce?

The parent entitled to claim a child for federal tax purposes is not always the parent named in a divorce agreement. Learn how overnight stays, IRS Form 8332, and different tax benefits fit together.

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Child Support Modification: How to Change Payments

Child support usually changes only through an approved modification—not a private agreement between parents. Learn what may qualify, how to request a review, and what to do while your request is pending.

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What Happens If a Parent Doesn’t Pay Child Support?

Missed child support payments can become enforceable debt, with consequences ranging from wage withholding to court penalties. Learn what receiving and paying parents can do next.

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When Does Child Support End? Ages, Exceptions, and Next Steps

Child support does not always end on a child’s 18th birthday. Learn what controls the end date, when support can continue, and how to handle termination without creating unpaid debt.

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Do You Have to Pay Child Support If You’re Unemployed?

Losing your job usually does not automatically reduce or pause child support. Learn how to request a change, document your finances, and address payments you cannot afford.

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Does Remarriage Affect Child Support?

Remarriage usually does not automatically change child support. Learn when household finances, additional children, or adoption may affect an existing order—and what to do next.

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How Do Disability Benefits Affect Child Support?

Disability does not automatically end child support. The type of benefit you receive, any benefits paid to your child, and your state’s rules determine what may change.