Your Child Custody and Support Companion

Nolo's Essential Guide to Child Custody and Support guides readers through some of the most difficult issues parents can face, such as deciding how to share custody and the financial responsibilities of raising children after a separation or divorce. If parents can't agree, they'll have to ask a judge to decide.

This book guides you through everything you need to know about child custody, shared parenting, and the legal responsibilities of supporting your children. Once you decide to move forward with a divorce, it can be overwhelming to know what steps to take next. This book includes a list of immediate actions to take right after making the decision, along with guidance for when things settle down and it's time to evaluate your long-term options.

This book will help readers figure out what kind of process to expect, whether it's uncontested, mediated, collaborative, or more adversarial, and how to make short-term plans while preparing for the future. This book also explains how the court process works and covers many other topics, including:

• how negotiation and mediation can keep legal costs down and improve future dealings with your ex


• how to decide on a parenting plan


• how judges make custody decisions, and


• when to hire a lawyer and how to work with one.

The book also explains what to do if your circumstances change and how to enforce custody and support orders if the other parent isn't complying with the orders.