| The Parental Preference Standard in Custody Disputes |
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| A parent has a constitutional right to raise his or her child. That right is recognized in child custody proceedings by the "parental preference" standard. The standard, which is also known as the unfitness or extraordinary circumstances rule, requires that in a child custody dispute between a child's parent and a non-parent, placement of the child with the parent is preferred. Some courts have concluded that parental placement is in the best interests of the child. However, if the parent is unfit to parent the child or extraordinary circumstances exist that caution against placing the child with the parent, then custody of the child could be award to a non-parent. More... |
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| Child Support in Split Custody Cases |
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| The standard computation of child support under the child support guidelines presupposes that all of the children of the parties will live with the same parent. When the children are divided between the parents, the child support must be adjusted. More... |
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| Child Support Recovery Act |
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| The Child Support Recovery Act, well known as the "deadbeat-dad" law, makes it a federal crime to flee a state in order to avoid paying child support arrearages. The law applies to any parent who owes more than $5,000 in back child support payments or who has failed to pay on the arrearage due for more than one year.
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| Income Withholding for Child Support Actions |
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| Wage withholding is a method of paying child support by having the obligation taken directly out of the parent's pay by the employer. Some parents voluntarily agree to wage withholding; others have it imposed upon them by a court. More... |
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| Rights of Grandparents to Visitation |
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| Many states offer an avenue for grandparents to seek visitation with their grandchildren. While most states permit a grandparent to petition for rights of visitation, some impose restrictions as to the circumstances under which the court will consider the petition. More... |
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