Can I Pay College Expenses Directly To My Child?

Question: My oldest child is returning home from college this summer, and my ex-wife is threatening to raise my child support on my other children if I do not pay for certain expenses for my college-aged child, such as gas, increased utility costs from living at home over the summer, …

Divorce Doesn’t Have To Be Devastating

By Allison Pescosolido, M.A. Founder, Divorce Detox® Recently, Bethany Frankel revealed how troublesome her divorce has been on “Good Day New York,” describing it as “brutal” and “excruciating.” On “The View,” Jane Seymour said of her divorce, “Obviously, it’s really quite devastating.” And we saw the finality of Kim Kardashian and …

What Are The Requirements For Claiming A Dependent?

By Jill Massey Cordell & Cordell Family Law Attorney Generally speaking, you cannot claim a person as a dependent unless that person is your qualifying child or qualifying relative. What are the requirements for a person to be a qualifying child or a qualifying relative?

Filing For Child Support If Parenting Time Increases

Question: My child support payments were recently terminated after a child custody modification that increased my parenting time resulting in shared 50/50 physical custody. I would like to receive child support from my ex-wife because she makes more money than me and I will have increased child rearing costs with …

What To Do If Your Ex Denies A Vacation Request

Question: My child custody agreement states that my winter parenting time should not interfere with school. A few months ago before we booked the trip, my ex-wife verbally agreed for me to take my child to Disney World ithat would cause my child to miss several days of school. I …

Does A Lump Sum Pension Payment Impact Child Support?

Question: I pay child support, owe arrears, and recently was offered a one-time lump sum payment from a pension I held at a previous job. Will this payment affect my child support obligation or the amount of arrears owed? I was never married to the child’s mother so I assume …

My Birthday Is On Mother’s Day: Who Gets Parenting Time?

Question: This year my birthday falls on Mother’s Day, which is supposed to be my ex-wife’s day with our child. However, I’d like to see my child on my birthday, but she is unwilling to even split time. Does my birthday or a holiday take precedent when it comes to …

Does Child Support Cover College Expenses?

Question: I pay child support and will continue to do so while my child is in college, according to my state’s child support laws. Does the child support get used for room and board at college or must I provide for those costs in addition to the child support?

What Qualifies As Parental Neglect?

Question: My wife is allowing my 17-year-old minor stepdaughter to have her boyfriend spend the night in our house. I do not think this is appropriate. Does this qualify as some sort of parental neglect?

Can Wages Be Garnished Without An Order From The Court?

Question: What can I do to keep the state child support enforcement agency from garnishing my wages? It was discovered that I was the biological father of a teenage child, and I was ordered to pay child support, but the state is also holding me responsible for all of the …