| Best Interest of Child Test in Custody Determinations |
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| In deciding custody of a child, a judge or master, must determine what would be in the child's best interests. This standard is used whether the child is being placed temporarily until a full custody hearing can be held, or in awarding joint or sole custody to a parent, pursuant to a divorce, or whether to place the child with a third party as a result of a custody dispute. More... |
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| Appointment of an Attorney to Represent the Child in a Custody Case |
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| In hotly contested custody cases, where the parents cannot agree on anything, courts often will appoint an attorney to represent the child or children of the parties to help resolve the custody issue. The decision to appoint an attorney is within the discretion of the court. More... |
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| Impact of Child Abuse Allegations in Child Custody Proceedings |
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| If an accusation of child abuse or neglect arises during a civil proceeding involving the child's parents, whether a divorce, paternity or other proceeding in which child custody and visitation decisions are made, it will affect that proceeding. Until the report is investigated, decisions regarding the child's custody and the rights of visitation may be delayed. If the parent with custody of the child is named as the abuser or neglector, the child may be placed with the other parent, relative, or foster care. More... |
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| Child Support in Shared Custody Cases |
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| Most child support guidelines present a formula for calculating child support where the parents share custody of the child or children. More... |
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| Child Support Arrearages |
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| The federal government provides financial assistance to states to collect local and interstate child support obligations. States have enacted a wide variety of methods to collect child support from those who are obligated to pay and fail or refuse to do so. More... |
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