Child support is a complicated issue financially as well as emotionally. It is not uncommon for some amount of tension to exist between parents over the payment of child support, with each thinking the other is either not paying enough or using the money for personal luxuries. The law on this issue is quite complex,...

Divorce, even when planned and agreed upon, triggers large and upending changes that alter a family’s life. Pets are an integral part of many families in this country, and can also suffer the devastating effects of splitting households. The whole family — parents and children — frequently become strongly attached to a pet and have...

Student loans have become a big business in this country, both for the government and private lenders. The high, seemingly ever-increasing, cost of college makes it impossible for most students to obtain a degree without taking on debt to finance their education. The student loan debt load that many borrowers have in this country will...

Raising a child takes a considerable amount of time and money, and divorced parents are often trying to find a way to provide for their children with fewer resources. The parent with primary responsibility for childcare duties will inevitably have to shoulder a larger portion of the daily expenses for the child and will require...

Grandparents hold a special place in the family and often play a key role in the raising of grandchildren through the extra support they provide. Unfortunately, this pivotal part of the family structure is frequently one of the first to suffer in the event of divorce. The bond between grandparent and grandchild is typically strong,...

Just a small emergency or shift in circumstances can have devastating effects on a person’s finances, and if reserves are not found, one small downturn can lead to disaster over the long-term. For those with financial obligations beyond their control, Chapter 7 bankruptcy may be the right way to ease the burden of overwhelming debt....

Vaccinating one’s child has become a controversial practice for some parents in recent years, and this issue can become the central focus of a child custody dispute. Keeping children safe from illness and the possibility of dire consequences is one of the main goals of vaccinations, which is accomplished by inoculating the population so they...

Childrearing is a tremendously difficult task, made even more difficult if the parents divorce. Although, legally, each parent is still responsible for the child, in actuality, parents also want to be able to live their lives. Not wanting, obviously, to shirk their responsibilities, parents will typically do what is necessary to provide for their children....

Higher education is practically a necessity in today’s job climate, but paying for it is increasingly out of reach for many families, unless they take on massive loans. Divorced parents may have an even harder time finding money for college, and typically, the parents’ obligation to financially support a child end at the age of...

Even today, with all of the shifting roles parents play in a child’s life, the stereotype persists that fathers are incapable of properly caring for a child without the assistance of the mother or other family members. This dynamic can lead to the mother receiving preference when it comes to parenting time awards, as judges...