Latest Guides
Our most recent family law guides, sorted by publication date.
No-Fault Divorce in Pennsylvania: Mutual Consent vs. Separation
Understand Pennsylvania's two no-fault divorce paths — mutual consent and separation — including the 90-day waiting period, 1-year separation rule, and how the process works.
Filing for Divorce in Texas Without Your Spouse's Consent
Learn how to file for divorce in Texas even if your spouse does not agree. Understand insupportability, service by publication, default judgments, and the 60-day waiting period.
Military Divorce in Texas
Understand the unique legal issues in Texas military divorces, including federal preemption under USFSPA, the 10/10 rule, dividing military retirement, SCRA protections, BAH/BAS treatment, and jurisdiction for service members.
Child Support for Self-Employed Parents in California
Learn how California courts calculate child support when a parent is self-employed, including income determination, business expense scrutiny, lifestyle analysis, imputed income, Ostler-Smith orders, and discovery tools.
How California Calculates Spousal Support
Learn how spousal support is calculated in California, including temporary support formulas, permanent support factors under FC 4320, the 10-year marriage rule, and how cohabitation affects alimony.
Florida Alimony Law: Types, Duration, and Recent Changes
Understand Florida's 2023 alimony reform (SB 1416), the elimination of permanent alimony, the four remaining types, duration caps, and how the new law affects existing and future cases.
Florida Child Support Guidelines Explained
A detailed guide to Florida's child support guidelines under FL Stat 61.30, covering the income shares model, net income calculation, time-sharing adjustments, add-ons, deviations, and imputed income.
Alimony in Georgia: Types, Factors, and Duration
Understand how alimony works in Georgia, including temporary, permanent, and rehabilitative alimony, the factors courts consider, the adultery bar, and modification rules.
Understanding the Georgia Child Support Worksheet
A detailed guide to Georgia's child support worksheet under OCGA 19-6-15, including the income shares model, Schedule A vs. Schedule B, adjustments, and deviation factors.
Imputing Income for Child Support in Illinois
Understand when and how Illinois courts impute income for child support, including voluntary unemployment, underemployment, and the evidence courts consider.
How Illinois Calculates Spousal Maintenance
Understand Illinois spousal maintenance under 750 ILCS 5/504, including the guideline formula, duration multipliers, deviation factors, and tax treatment after the TCJA.
How Michigan Calculates Child Support
Understand Michigan's child support formula, including how net income is calculated, how overnights affect support, add-ons for medical and childcare costs, deviation factors, and the Friend of the Court's role.
Spousal Support in Michigan: Factors and Duration
Understand how Michigan courts determine spousal support (alimony), including the Olson factors, types of spousal support, duration considerations, modification, the impact of fault and cohabitation, and current tax treatment.
Child Support Until 21 in New York
Understand New York's unique rule requiring child support until age 21, including the CSSA formula, emancipation exceptions, college expenses, and how support changes at 18 vs. 21.
New York's Spousal Maintenance Formula
A detailed guide to New York's spousal maintenance formula under DRL 236(B)(6), including the 2015 reform, income cap, duration guidelines, temporary vs post-divorce maintenance, and deviation factors.
North Carolina Child Support Guidelines Explained
Understand how North Carolina calculates child support using the income shares model under NCGS 50-13.4. Learn about the Guidelines worksheets, gross income, adjustments for health insurance and childcare, shared custody overnights, deviation factors, and imputed income.
How Ohio Calculates Child Support
A detailed guide to Ohio's child support calculation, including the income shares model, the basic child support schedule, parenting time adjustments, and deviation factors.
Post-Separation Support and Alimony in North Carolina
Understand the difference between post-separation support and alimony in North Carolina, including the 16 statutory factors, how marital misconduct affects awards, and when alimony can be modified.
Spousal Support Factors in Ohio
Learn how Ohio courts determine spousal support, including the 14 statutory factors under ORC 3105.18, types of awards, modification, and what to expect.
Pennsylvania Child Support Guidelines Explained
Understand Pennsylvania child support under Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16, including the income shares model, support tables, adjustments for healthcare and childcare, high-income cases, and modification rules.
Alimony Duration and Types in Pennsylvania
Understand Pennsylvania alimony law, including the 17 statutory factors under 23 Pa.C.S. 3701, APL vs. alimony, duration guidelines, and grounds for modification.
How to Modify Child Support in Texas
Learn how to modify a child support order in Texas. Understand the material and substantial change standard, the 3-year rule, how to file, and whether to use the AG's office or a private attorney.
Spousal Maintenance Eligibility in Texas
Learn about spousal maintenance eligibility in Texas, including the strict requirements under TFC 8.051-8.055, the $5,000/month cap, duration limits, the distinction between court-ordered maintenance and contractual alimony, and modification rules.
How Much Does Adoption Cost
A detailed breakdown of adoption costs by type — domestic, foster care, international, and stepparent. Learn about fees, tax credits, and financial assistance.
How to Adopt a Child: The Complete Guide
A step-by-step guide to adopting a child — types of adoption, requirements, costs, timeline, and what to expect throughout the process.
Adoption Home Study: What to Expect
Everything you need to know about the adoption home study — what's involved, how to prepare, how long it takes, what it costs, and common concerns.
Foster-to-Adopt: How the Process Works
A complete guide to adopting through foster care — the process, costs, timeline, training requirements, and what to expect as a foster-to-adopt parent.
International Adoption: A Complete Guide
How international adoption works — the Hague Convention process, country requirements, costs, timelines, and what families need to know before adopting abroad.
Open vs Closed Adoption: What You Need to Know
Compare open and closed adoption — how they work, the benefits and challenges of each, and how to decide which is right for your family.
Single Parent Adoption: What You Need to Know
A guide to adopting as a single person — eligibility, which adoption types work best, challenges, costs, and how to strengthen your application.
Types of Adoption Explained
Compare the main types of adoption — domestic infant, foster care, international, stepparent, and kinship. Learn the costs, timelines, and requirements for each.
Custody and Domestic Violence: What Courts Consider
How domestic violence affects child custody — presumptions against abusers, protective orders, safety provisions, and how to protect your children.
Custody Evaluation: What to Expect
What happens during a custody evaluation — who conducts it, what they assess, how to prepare, how long it takes, and how it affects your custody case.
Emergency Custody Orders: When and How to Get One
How to get an emergency custody order — when courts grant them, the process, what evidence you need, and what happens after the order is issued.
Grandparent Custody and Visitation Rights
A guide to grandparent rights in custody and visitation — when grandparents can seek custody, visitation laws by state, and how courts decide.
Long-Distance Custody Arrangements
How to make long-distance custody work — parenting schedules, travel logistics, communication plans, and legal considerations for parents who live far apart.