Full Description

With the divorce rate above 50 percent and climbing, more and more parents are faced with difficult situations involving their children. This book is designed to let parents know their legal rights and to help them understand the court system.

Most parents think that once a decree for support has been ordered, that all is over. However, often that is just the beginning. Getting the support that was mandated, in the amount that was stated, in the manner that was determined necessary and in the time indicated are often major issues that must be continually confronted for the good of the children.

In addition to covering all of the basics, Your Right to Child Custody, Visitation and Support also examines current hot topics such as parental kidnapping, child support enforcement and when one of the parents is in the armed forces. Easy-to-use, blank tear-out forms makes this new edition a must for every person who has children and has gone through or is contemplating a divorce.

Table of Contents

Using Self-Help Law Books

Introduction

Chapter 1: Preliminary Considerations
- The Role of Law
- Legal Research
- The Role of Lawyers
- Firing Your Lawyer

Chapter 2: Understanding Custody and Visitation
- Custody and Visitation - Generally
- Getting Custody
- Taxes and Custody

Chapter 3: The Laws of Custody and Visitation: Best Interests of the Child
- Best Interests Between Parents
- Factors Considered
- Factors in Deciding Visitation
- Nonparents and Custody
- Nonparents and Visitation

Chapter 4: Developing Your Parenting Plan
- Formulating an Agreement
- Joint Custody
- Joint Parenting Agreements
- Custody and Visitation Checklist of Factors to Consider

Chapter 5: Filing Your Case
- Preparation for Your Case
- Parental Information
- Information About Your Child
- Gathering and Saving Documents
- Who Can File
- What You Must Prove
- Where to File
- What to File
- Filing Fees and Other Costs
- The Petition for Custody and Visitation
- The Summons and Service
- Responding to a Petition for Custody or Visitation
- Temporary Custody or Visitation
- The Next Step

Chapter 6: Resolving Your Case Without a Trial: Mediation
- Working on an Agreement
- Mediation
- Finding a Mediation Program
- Preparing for Mediation
- The Mediator
- Settling the Case
- When Mediation May Not Be Appropriate
- When the Parties Do Not Agree

Chapter 7: The Contested Custody Case
- Background
- Discovery
- Court Proceedings
- Final Judgment

Chapter 8: Kidnapping, Abuse, Visitation Problems, and Other Emergencies
- Kidnapping
- Domestic Violence and Child Abuse
- Visitation Problems

Chapter 9: Child Support
- History of Child Support
- The Basics
- How Support is Determined
- Factors in Settling Child Support

Chapter 10: Child Support Agreements
- Factors to Consider
- The Appropriate Guideline
- Your Basic Guideline Amount
- Your Child Support Amount
- Writing Your Agreement
- Duration of the Order
- Payments
- Health Care
- Life Insurance
- Tax Exemption

Chapter 11: The Child Support Case
- Gathering Financial Information
- Filing for Child Support
- Finding and Notifying a Parent
- Establishing Parentage (If Necessary)
- Following Court Procedures
- Responding to a Petition for Child Support

Chapter 1: Modification, Termination, and Appeal
- Modification
- Termination
- Appeal
- The Future

Glossary

Appendix A: Sample, Filled-in Forms

Appendix B: Blank Forms

Excerpt

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