Child Custody and Support Newsletters

Child Support in Split Custody Cases

The standard computation of child support under the child support guidelines presupposes that all of the children of the parties will live with the same parent. When the children are divided between the parents, the child support must be adjusted.

Child Support Modification when Child Reaches Age of Majority

In most situations, a parent is no longer obligated to pay child support for a child after the child reaches the age of majority. However, the parent is not automatically permitted to stop making payments. If the parent wants to stop or modify the child support obligation, the parent may be required to file a motion with the court.

Joint Legal Custody Awards

"Joint legal custody" means that both parents share the right and the responsibility to make the decisions relating to the health, education, and welfare of a child.

Putative Father's Standing to Seek Custody of a Child

The changing nature of marital and other domestic relationships in the United States has been reflected in a corresponding evolution in the way in which the legal system deals with issues related to family law. One such group of issues concerns the child custody rights of a putative father, that is to say, a man who is supposed or reputed to be the father of a child born to a woman to whom he is not married or who claims to be the father of such a child.

Retroactive Child Support Awards

In most states, initial child support awards may be made retroactive to the date of filing and modifications may be retroaction to the date a modification is requested. In some states, retroactivity is mandatory, and in others, it is discretionary.