Nolo's Essential Guide to Child Custody & Support (Nolo's Essential Guides)

Whether you and your spouse agree on custody questions or you're fighting it out in court, you need solid information to help you deal with the child-focused parts of your divorce.

Nolo's Essential Guide to Child Custody & Support offers guidance and resources at every step, from choosing a custody plan to enforcing its support. Learn everything you need to know about:

• how negotiation and mediation can keep costs down, ease the transition for kids, and improve future dealings with your ex
• where to find your state’s child support guidelines
• how judges make custody decisions
• how to enforce and change custody and support orders
• how court trials work
• when you need a lawyer and how to work with one

The book covers special situations such as military parents and custody, and also addresses high tension issues, such as parental kidnapping and when it might be appropriate for you to have your kids testify or talk to the judge.

Charts provide state custody criteria and help you calculate child support yourself, and sample documents illustrate how to deal with document preparation for a ""show cause"" hearing on custody and support.