Child Custody Law

Emergency protection orders, or EPOs, are court orders designed to protect parties from domestic violence. Generally, they include provisions barring you from contacting, approaching or harassing...

To obtain custody of a non-biological child, you will need to file a custody petition with the court and attempt to obtain written consent from the child's natural parents. If you are not able to...

When the parents of a child no longer live together, courts become involved to develop a plan or set of rules regarding what each parent's role will be in the life of the child.

Altering child custody arrangements is one of the most complex areas of family law. Absent an appropriate agreement between the parents of a minor child, a parent must demonstrate what legally is...

There are situations in which a person needs to sign custody of their children to the other parent or circumstances in which an individual needs to relinquish custodial rights. If you find...

When deciding on child custody issues, the court, in conjunction with a trained evaluator, will try to determine what visitation and custody arrangement is in the child's best interest. Your child...

Representing yourself in family court during a child custody matter is a very intimidating experience. Though representing yourself is not recommended, many people simply do not have the financial...

Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) was first identified in the 1980s by the late forensic psychiatrist Dr. Richard Gardner, co-author or "The International Handbook of Parental Alienation...

If you know the whereabouts of the absent parent but are not located close enough to serve the custody papers in person or by process server, you may send them by certified mail if your...

Children under the age of 18 are reported to make up 27 percent of the homeless population in the United States. When a minor child is homeless anywhere the United States, the state government is...

Situations that lend themselves to an emergency change of child custody are some of the most difficult with which to deal. Circumstances that would prompt such action are usually of a serious...

Divorce and paternity cases involving child custody issues represent some of the most complex and emotional of all legal proceedings. Courts across the country prefer that the parties to such...

Obtaining or modifying child custody agreements requires multiple forms and the ability to navigate complex rules and procedures. In most cases, parents consult an attorney. However, if you decide...

Child custody issues present unique challenges during the course of a divorce or paternity case. At the heart of these matters is the calculation of how much time each parent is allocated with a...

If you are falsely accused of abuse, neglect or other wrongdoing within the context of a child custody case, you will need to use concrete evidence and logical arguments to show that the claims...

When making child custody determinations, family courts evaluate what arrangement will be in the best interest of the child. Although it is up to the family court judge to evaluate the case, in...

Obtaining full physical custody of a child or children will vary in difficulty depending on each individual situation and on the laws of the court in your particular area. If the other parent is...

Preparing a disputed child custody appeal can be a complex process. Appeals courts will not review a child custody decision unless the lower court has made a procedural or legal error. In other...

Guardianship papers are used to legally designate a party to care for a minor child. In most jurisdictions, guardianship papers are not used to transfer custody between legal parents. They are,...

Pursuing a child custody case is a challenging and emotionally charged endeavor. In the end, one of your primary goals is to seek an order from the court that is in the best interest of your...

Often when parents are going through a divorce, early in the proceedings, a temporary order of child custody is entered into the record. The temporary order of child custody temporarily gives...

When unmarried, divorced, or separated parents are in dispute about who their child should live with, Family Court is called upon to determine the best arrangement for the child. Custody disputes...

When a child custody battle proceeds to litigation, it takes a toll on the families involved. Courts decide the physical and legal custody of a child based on statutory factors and on the child's...

Whenever a child custody case is opened in the court system, the individual whom the case is made against is provided with the opportunity to respond and express his or her thoughts on the matter....

In order to apply for visitation or custody of a minor child, you will need to fill out a set of forms specific to the state where the custody case is taking place. These forms may include...

To apply for custody or visitation of your children, you will need to petition the court in the child's home state. After you prepare your petition and file it with the court, you will need to...

If you are planning to divorce and will not prepare a separation agreement or cannot agree on a custody arrangement with your spouse, you will need to file a temporary custody petition with the...

There are instances in which parental rights are terminated improperly. In most cases, the wrongful termination of parental rights involve the rights of a father as a result of an order in a...

Mediation is used to resolve child custody disputes in divorce and paternity cases. The ultimate objective is to develop a child custody mediation agreement signed by both parents. The agreement...

Family courts do not change custody orders unless there is a very compelling reason to do so. In fact, the legal standard courts use is known as a "material change of circumstances." This standard...

"Fathers' Rights" refers to the legal rights and allowances that a father has with respect to his children. In courts, many fathers find themselves getting the short end of the stick on alimony...

How to Get Child Support. The number of absent fathers in the United States is reaching appalling levels. Despite a father’s lack of interest in being part of their children’s lives, they are...

Get Custody of Your Child in the Event of a Divorce. Child custody is a huge topic in any divorce proceeding, particularly if both parents are bent on getting custody of the children or if one...

How to Start a Divorce. Divorce is always sad, especially if children are involved. However, your happiness and safety are important, so sometimes divorce becomes necessary. Here are some steps...

Fathers involved in divorce and custody situations still have a very difficult experience facing them in family court. Biases in society and in family court do exist within the family law system....

Although there are no guaranteed methods for winning a child custody case, you can increase your chance of success by following current orders, keeping detailed records, learning laws and court...

The Urban Institute reported that in 2002 there were more than 9 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States. Many came with children in tow or had children after arriving. What...

Although joint custody is preferred under Texas law, there are instances in which one parent is granted sole custody of a minor child. The ramifications extend beyond custody issues when a parent...

West Virginia courts utilize a "parenting plan" approach to allocate parental rights and responsibilities for care of children.

When parents of a child divorce, or end their relationship, the custody of a child can take months or even years to decide. A temporary child custody order then comes into play, in which the...

When parents divorce and a custody battle ensues, more often than not primary custody of the children is given to the mother. The "tender years" doctrine, as it is known according to Expert Law,...

Power of attorney refers to the legal action of granting someone, called an "agent," or an "attorney-in-fact," the authority to act on your behalf. You can also grant power of attorney for your...

If you are unable to get the minor's current guardian to give you full custody, you will need to obtain a court order. To do so, you must make a formal written request to the court and have your...

Child custody involves two components: legal custody, or rights and responsibilities afforded to parents; and physical custody, or where the child lives. Full custody generally refers to both of...

A minor child is sometimes entitled to Social Security benefits. When that is the case, child custody laws play a role in the manner in which Social Security payments are made on behalf of a child.

In Egypt, detailed and specific laws regulate the custody of children. Egypt continues to change the way it views child custody. Over the years, the country has introduced legislation to protect...

The process of obtaining or changing child custody can range from $100 to $500 for an uncontested case and $1,000 to $35,000 or more for a contested case. Typical costs for custody proceedings...

Child support can become one of the most contested issues during divorce proceedings when a child is involved. In addition to the emotional stress placed on all parties, the reality of splitting a...

In a divorce, parents often hotly contest the issue of child custody. Assuming both parents' fitness and desire for custody of the children, the courts face tough decisions to make in the child's...

Grandparents have always had a great interest in their grandchildren, but it really wasn't until the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the 2000 case Troxel v. Granville that grandparents' right to...