Latest Guides
Our most recent family law guides, sorted by publication date.
Divorce and Taxes: What You Need to Know
Understand how divorce and taxes intersect, including filing status changes, alimony rules post-2018, property transfers, claiming dependents, and retirement accounts.
The Complete Divorce Checklist
A comprehensive divorce checklist covering everything you need before, during, and after filing, from financial documents and legal steps to post-divorce account updates.
Divorce and Health Insurance
Understand how divorce affects health insurance. Covers losing spousal coverage, COBRA options and costs, marketplace plans, children's coverage, and military rules.
Divorce Mediation vs. Litigation
Divorce mediation vs litigation: compare costs, timelines, and outcomes. Mediation averages $5,000-$10,000 while litigation runs $15,000-$50,000 or more.
Divorce Papers Explained
Understand all the divorce papers you will encounter, from the initial petition and financial disclosures to the final decree. Learn what each document contains and how to file.
Divorce with Children: What to Know
A practical guide to divorce with children covering custody, child support, parenting plans, minimizing emotional impact, and co-parenting strategies for every age group.
How Long Does a Divorce Take?
How long does divorce take? Uncontested divorces average 2-6 months, contested cases 6-18 months, and trials 1-3 years. Learn what affects your timeline.
How to Choose a Divorce Lawyer
Learn how to choose a divorce lawyer with confidence. Covers what to look for, questions to ask, fee structures, red flags, and when you actually need one.
How Much Does a Divorce Cost?
Find out how much divorce costs in 2026, including filing fees, attorney fees, mediation, and hidden expenses. Get cost breakdowns by divorce type.
How to File for Divorce
Learn how to file for divorce step by step, including required documents, filing fees, serving papers, and whether you need an attorney.
Legal Separation vs. Divorce
Understand the key differences between legal separation vs divorce, including legal implications, property rights, and when separation makes more sense than divorce.
No-Fault Divorce Explained
Learn what no-fault divorce means, how it works in all 50 states, and why most couples choose it over fault-based grounds. Covers filing steps and key advantages.
Uncontested Divorce: Complete Guide
Uncontested divorce is faster and cheaper than contested divorce, averaging $1,500-$5,000 and 2-6 months. Learn the process, requirements, and state rules.
Child Support and 50/50 Custody
Learn how child support works with 50/50 custody. Covers whether equal parenting time eliminates support, income disparity calculations, and state approaches.
Child Support Enforcement
Learn how child support enforcement works when payments stop, including wage garnishment, license suspension, contempt of court, and other legal remedies.
How Is Child Support Calculated?
Understand how child support is calculated, including the income shares model, percentage of income model, factors that affect amounts, and state variations.
How Alimony Works
Learn how alimony is calculated, including the types of spousal support, factors courts consider, duration, tax implications, and state variations.
How to File for Child Support
Step-by-step guide on how to file for child support, including where to file, required documents, establishing paternity, timelines, and enforcement.
How to Modify Child Support
Learn how to modify child support, including grounds for modification, the legal process, how courts decide, and state-specific requirements for changes.
Temporary vs. Permanent Alimony
Understand the differences between temporary and permanent alimony, including duration, modification rules, and factors courts consider for each type.
How Domestic Violence Affects Custody in California
Learn how domestic violence affects custody decisions in California, including the FC 3044 presumption against abusers, DVROs, batterer intervention programs, supervised visitation, and the best interest standard under FC 3011.
Move-Away Custody Cases in California
Learn how California courts handle move-away custody cases. Understand the Burgess presumption, LaMusga factors, notice requirements, and strategies for both relocating and non-relocating parents.
Florida Parenting Plan Requirements
Understand Florida's mandatory parenting plan requirements under FL Stat 61.13(2), including required elements, time-sharing schedules, and what happens when parents cannot agree.
Relocating with a Child After Divorce in Florida
Understand Florida's relocation statute (FL Stat 61.13001), including the 50-mile threshold, petition requirements, burden of proof, and the 11 statutory factors courts consider.
Modifying Child Custody in Georgia
Learn how to modify a child custody order in Georgia, including the material change of circumstances standard, the two-year waiting period, and the Bodne v. Bodne framework.
Legitimation in Georgia: How Unmarried Fathers Get Custody Rights
Learn why legitimation is required for unmarried fathers in Georgia, how the petition process works under OCGA 19-7-22, and how it connects to custody and visitation rights.
Allocation of Parental Responsibilities in Illinois
Understand how Illinois allocates parental responsibilities under the 2016 IMDMA reform, including significant decision-making, parenting time, and best interest factors.
Relocating with Children in Illinois
Understand Illinois relocation law under 750 ILCS 5/609.2, including distance thresholds, the 60-day notice requirement, 11 statutory factors, and how courts decide relocation cases.
Michigan's 12 Best Interest Factors in Custody Cases
Understand the 12 statutory best interest factors under Michigan's Child Custody Act (MCL 722.23). Learn how courts weigh each factor, the role of the established custodial environment, burden of proof standards, and the Friend of the Court's recommendation.
Michigan Parenting Time Guidelines
Understand Michigan's parenting time guidelines, including standard schedules by age, best interest factors, holiday arrangements, long-distance parenting time, and the Friend of the Court's role.
Custody Rights for Unmarried Parents in New York
Learn how custody and visitation work for unmarried parents in New York, including establishing paternity, court jurisdiction, the best interest standard, and same-sex parent rights after Brooke S.B.
How to Modify a Custody Order in Ohio
Understand the legal requirements for modifying a custody order in Ohio, including the change of circumstances standard, the one-year waiting period, and exceptions.
Grandparent Visitation Rights in New York
Learn how grandparents can petition for visitation rights in New York under DRL Section 72, including standing requirements, the best interest standard, and the impact of Troxel v. Granville.
Shared Parenting Plans in Ohio
Learn how shared parenting works in Ohio under ORC 3109.04, including what the plan must include, how to file, court approval, modification, and the role of a guardian ad litem.
Best Interest Factors in North Carolina Custody Cases
Understand how North Carolina courts determine child custody using the best interest of the child standard under NCGS 50-13.2. Learn about judicial discretion, common factors, domestic violence considerations, and the role of guardians ad litem.
Custody Mediation in North Carolina
Learn how mandatory custody mediation works in North Carolina, including the court-ordered process, what to expect, costs, confidentiality rules, and exceptions for domestic violence.