Ask a Divorce Lawyer: Can parental rights be terminated before a baby is born?

Question: I am pregnant with a man’s child that I am no longer dating. We mutually agreed that he will have no parental rights of the child in terms of finances, visitation, custody, etc. I am trying to find out what the process would be to make this “separation” legal. …

How can I get my children brought back?

Question: My wife of 10 years left last week with our two daughters out of state. She said she does not want a divorce but said she is never returning to Arizona. I have called and e-mailed numerous times and she will not respond. How do I file to have …

Are agreements reached in mediation legally binding?

Question: Am I reading correctly that any agreement reached in mediation is NOT legally binding? So a court must set an agreement in place for it to hold water?

Ask a Divorce Lawyer: Should I have to pay for medical bills and daycare expenses I wasn’t aware of?

Question: My ex-girlfriend, the mother of our 5-year-old son, will not consult me regarding any decisions for our son. We have joint custody so I assume that means we have to consult about decisions affecting our son. She’s had dental work done for our son, has changed daycare services, etc., …

Is it typical for child support to be extended?

Question: I had a child support order entered in Illinois in 1995 that stipulated I pay support until my son turned 18 years old in January 2010. Since then my wife and son moved to Georgia and I moved to New York. I learned today that support was extended until …

How can I get support owed me paid if my ex can’t afford it?

Question: I have physical custody of my 14-year-old son and have for 9 years. His mother is ordered to pay $191 a month for support. I live in Missouri and she lives in Idaho. She’s $7,500 behind in support not counting her half of his medical insurance, which would put …

Can she claim our son on her taxes?

Question: I recently have had problems with my ex wife concerning the custody of our 2-year-old son. She says the reason she does not let me take him is that I did not pay my child support in 2009. In the divorce decree, it states that I get to claim …

Is it necessary for me to terminate my parental rights?

Question: My girlfriend and I broke up 3 weeks ago because she is moving back to Korea with her family. She recently told me she is two months pregnant. I had this confirmed. She wants nothing from me financially or legally. All she wants is for me to voluntarily terminate …

Ask A Divorce Lawyer: What are my rights as a grandparent to visit my grandchild?

Question: My son and his wife signed a custody agreement that gives him joint custody and visitation for two weeknights a week with their 7-month-old baby until the child is 3 years old. He doesn’t get weekends or holidays, and it seems like he won’t fight it because he’s interested …

Ask A Divorce Lawyer: Is my son entitled to a payment history of his paid child support?

Question: My son pays his child support to his ex-wife’s attorney’s office who then forwards the payment to her. He is $700 behind in his support, but the attorney is saying he is $2,600 in arrears because some of my son’s payments weren’t recorded on the attorney’s spreadsheet. Is my …