Latest Guides
Our most recent family law guides, sorted by publication date.
Florida Alimony Law: Types, Duration, and Recent Changes
Understand Florida's 2023 alimony reform (SB 1416), the elimination of permanent alimony, the four remaining types, duration caps, and how the new law affects existing and future cases.
Alimony in Georgia: Types, Factors, and Duration
Understand how alimony works in Georgia, including temporary, permanent, and rehabilitative alimony, the factors courts consider, the adultery bar, and modification rules.
Understanding the Georgia Child Support Worksheet
A detailed guide to Georgia's child support worksheet under OCGA 19-6-15, including the income shares model, Schedule A vs. Schedule B, adjustments, and deviation factors.
Florida Child Support Guidelines Explained
A detailed guide to Florida's child support guidelines under FL Stat 61.30, covering the income shares model, net income calculation, time-sharing adjustments, add-ons, deviations, and imputed income.
How Illinois Calculates Spousal Maintenance
Understand Illinois spousal maintenance under 750 ILCS 5/504, including the guideline formula, duration multipliers, deviation factors, and tax treatment after the TCJA.
Imputing Income for Child Support in Illinois
Understand when and how Illinois courts impute income for child support, including voluntary unemployment, underemployment, and the evidence courts consider.
How Michigan Calculates Child Support
Understand Michigan's child support formula, including how net income is calculated, how overnights affect support, add-ons for medical and childcare costs, deviation factors, and the Friend of the Court's role.
Spousal Support in Michigan: Factors and Duration
Understand how Michigan courts determine spousal support (alimony), including the Olson factors, types of spousal support, duration considerations, modification, the impact of fault and cohabitation, and current tax treatment.
North Carolina Child Support Guidelines Explained
Understand how North Carolina calculates child support using the income shares model under NCGS 50-13.4. Learn about the Guidelines worksheets, gross income, adjustments for health insurance and childcare, shared custody overnights, deviation factors, and imputed income.
Child Support Until 21 in New York
Understand New York's unique rule requiring child support until age 21, including the CSSA formula, emancipation exceptions, college expenses, and how support changes at 18 vs. 21.
New York's Spousal Maintenance Formula
A detailed guide to New York's spousal maintenance formula under DRL 236(B)(6), including the 2015 reform, income cap, duration guidelines, temporary vs post-divorce maintenance, and deviation factors.
Post-Separation Support and Alimony in North Carolina
Understand the difference between post-separation support and alimony in North Carolina, including the 16 statutory factors, how marital misconduct affects awards, and when alimony can be modified.
Spousal Support Factors in Ohio
Learn how Ohio courts determine spousal support, including the 14 statutory factors under ORC 3105.18, types of awards, modification, and what to expect.
How Ohio Calculates Child Support
A detailed guide to Ohio's child support calculation, including the income shares model, the basic child support schedule, parenting time adjustments, and deviation factors.
Pennsylvania Child Support Guidelines Explained
Understand Pennsylvania child support under Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16, including the income shares model, support tables, adjustments for healthcare and childcare, high-income cases, and modification rules.
Alimony Duration and Types in Pennsylvania
Understand Pennsylvania alimony law, including the 17 statutory factors under 23 Pa.C.S. 3701, APL vs. alimony, duration guidelines, and grounds for modification.
How to Modify Child Support in Texas
Learn how to modify a child support order in Texas. Understand the material and substantial change standard, the 3-year rule, how to file, and whether to use the AG's office or a private attorney.
Spousal Maintenance Eligibility in Texas
Learn about spousal maintenance eligibility in Texas, including the strict requirements under TFC 8.051-8.055, the $5,000/month cap, duration limits, the distinction between court-ordered maintenance and contractual alimony, and modification rules.
How to Adopt a Child: The Complete Guide
A step-by-step guide to adopting a child — types of adoption, requirements, costs, timeline, and what to expect throughout the process.
Adoption Home Study: What to Expect
Everything you need to know about the adoption home study — what's involved, how to prepare, how long it takes, what it costs, and common concerns.
How Much Does Adoption Cost
A detailed breakdown of adoption costs by type — domestic, foster care, international, and stepparent. Learn about fees, tax credits, and financial assistance.
International Adoption: A Complete Guide
How international adoption works — the Hague Convention process, country requirements, costs, timelines, and what families need to know before adopting abroad.
Open vs Closed Adoption: What You Need to Know
Compare open and closed adoption — how they work, the benefits and challenges of each, and how to decide which is right for your family.
Foster-to-Adopt: How the Process Works
A complete guide to adopting through foster care — the process, costs, timeline, training requirements, and what to expect as a foster-to-adopt parent.
Types of Adoption Explained
Compare the main types of adoption — domestic infant, foster care, international, stepparent, and kinship. Learn the costs, timelines, and requirements for each.
Single Parent Adoption: What You Need to Know
A guide to adopting as a single person — eligibility, which adoption types work best, challenges, costs, and how to strengthen your application.
Annulment vs Divorce: Key Differences
The differences between annulment and divorce — grounds for annulment, how the process works, property and custody implications, and which option is right for you.
Divorce After a Long Marriage
Special considerations for divorce after 20+ years — Social Security, retirement, alimony, property division, and rebuilding your financial life.
Filing for Divorce Without a Lawyer
A guide to filing for divorce without an attorney — when DIY divorce works, the process, forms you need, common mistakes, and when you should hire a lawyer.
High-Conflict Divorce: What to Know
How to navigate a high-conflict divorce — strategies for dealing with an uncooperative spouse, protecting yourself, managing costs, and reaching resolution.
Military Divorce: A Complete Guide
How military divorce differs from civilian divorce — jurisdiction, SCRA protections, pension division, BAH, healthcare, and custody with deployment.
Online Divorce Services: What to Know
How online divorce services work, what they cost, when they're a good option, and their limitations compared to working with an attorney.
Same-Sex Divorce: What You Need to Know
Legal considerations unique to same-sex divorce — property division, child custody, duration of marriage questions, and state-specific issues.
Custody and Domestic Violence: What Courts Consider
How domestic violence affects child custody — presumptions against abusers, protective orders, safety provisions, and how to protect your children.
Custody Evaluation: What to Expect
What happens during a custody evaluation — who conducts it, what they assess, how to prepare, how long it takes, and how it affects your custody case.
Emergency Custody Orders: When and How to Get One
How to get an emergency custody order — when courts grant them, the process, what evidence you need, and what happens after the order is issued.