Legal custody is the court-ordered right of 1 or both parents to make major decisions for a child. It covers choices like education, healthcare, religion, and general welfare, separate from where the child lives. This article explains types of legal custody, how judges decide, and how it differs from physical custody. Legal custody is a […]
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What is physical custody?
Physical custody is the court-ordered arrangement that decides where a child lives and who provides day-to-day care after parents separate or divorce. It covers the child’s daily routine and overnights, while legal custody governs major decisions like education and healthcare. This article explains physical vs. legal custody and common parenting time schedules. Physical custody refers […]
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What is joint custody?
Joint custody is a custody arrangement in which both parents share legal responsibility for their child after separation or divorce. It often includes shared decision-making and may also involve a parenting-time schedule where the child spends time with each parent. This article explains joint custody types, how it differs from sole custody, and how courts […]
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What is sole custody?
Sole custody is a custody arrangement where 1 parent has primary authority over a child’s care and major decisions. The other parent typically may receive visitation or parenting time, but does not share decision-making power unless the court orders otherwise. This article explains how sole custody works, types of custody, and what courts consider. When […]
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What is uncontested divorce?
An uncontested divorce is a divorce where both spouses agree on 100% of the key issues—property division, child custody, child support, and spousal support—so there’s no trial. The couple typically submits a written settlement agreement for court approval, which can reduce time, stress, and expense. This article explains how it works, what it covers, and […]
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What is alimony?
Alimony is court-ordered spousal support where one spouse pays the other after divorce or legal separation to help maintain a reasonable standard of living. It’s intended to reduce unfair financial hardship when one spouse earned less or sacrificed career opportunities during the marriage. This article explains why alimony exists, common types, and how courts decide […]
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What is spousal support?
Spousal support (alimony) is court-ordered financial support one spouse pays the other during separation or after divorce, and it can be temporary or long-term. Courts typically consider income, earning capacity, marital standard of living, and marriage length when setting amount and duration. This article explains the purpose of spousal support and how it’s determined. Spousal […]
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What is child support?
Child support is a court-ordered payment one parent makes to the other to help cover a child’s basic living expenses after separation or divorce. It helps pay for essentials like housing, food, clothing, medical care, and education so both parents share financial responsibility. This article explains what child support is, what it covers, and how […]
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What is legal separation?
Legal separation is a court-approved arrangement where spouses live apart while remaining legally married. It can set binding terms for child custody, property division, and financial support without ending the marriage like a divorce. This article explains how legal separation works, its benefits and limits, and what issues a court order can cover. Legal separation […]
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What is annulment?
An annulment is a court judgment that declares a marriage legally invalid from the beginning—treating it as though it never existed. It differs from divorce, which ends a valid marriage, and it generally requires proving a specific legal ground under your state’s law. This article explains the definition, how annulment differs from divorce, common grounds, […]
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What is no-fault divorce?
A no-fault divorce lets spouses end a marriage without proving misconduct, typically by stating “irreconcilable differences” or an “irretrievable breakdown.” It generally reduces conflict and focuses the case on property division, support, and parenting issues instead of blame. This article explains how no-fault divorce works, common grounds used, and what to expect in the process. […]
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What is divorce?
Divorce is the legal process that ends a marriage and changes both spouses’ status back to single. It typically involves a court order addressing issues like property division, support, and child custody where applicable. This article explains the basic definition of divorce, how the process works, and key terms to know. Divorce is the legal […]
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