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Child custody is a legal term. It refers to the rights and responsibilities assigned to parents for taking care of their children following divorce or separation. These laws also can vary from state to state. The overall goal of child custody is to set the legal and...

Parents who don’t pay their mandatory child support payments are in contempt of court. The court will tally the missed payments, categorized as in arrears. This allows the court to start enforcement procedures to recover the payments. The parent who receives payments...

Child support is required in divorce. According to the law, both parents are responsible for supporting their children. Therefore, each parent should pay according to their ability. Additionally, the court can require one or both parents to pay child support — even if...

Alimony or spousal support involves one spouse paying the other either due to a court order or the divorce agreement. Its purpose is to ensure that both parties can meet their financial needs. One spouse has to prove they were “dependent” on their spouse during the...

One spouse must file a legal petition requesting to terminate the marriage to get a divorce. The petition typically must show that at least one person meets the state’s residency requirements for divorce. Additionally, a reason or grounds for divorce must be provided....

A legal separation doesn’t end the marriage. As a result, neither spouse can legally remarry. Since the couple is still married in a legal separation, they don’t have to remarry if they change their mind about the separation. The couple simply has to submit a request...

A legal separation involves a formal decision by the married couple to live separate lives. Most states require the couple to file a request in family court. There are many reasons a couple would choose a legal separation. Sometimes it is required by the court before...

Divorce is a legal process that requires a legal reason and court judgment to end the marriage. However, some rules and paperwork may vary from state to state. For instance, a few states require a married couple to live apart and separate before filing for divorce....

The main difference between a prenuptial agreement and a postnuptial agreement is the timing of when they are made. A prenuptial agreement is made before a couple gets married, while a postnuptial agreement is made after a couple is already married. Prenuptial...

There are many different forms of marital agreements (besides a legally-binding marriage) from common law marriage to civil unions and domestic partnerships. Common Law Marriage Common law marriage, a.k.a. informal marriage or "marriage by habit and repute,” is a...