| 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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| Former Stepparent Visitation Rights |
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| A stepparent is considered a legal stranger to a child and is not automatically entitled to visitation rights. However, where a close relationship between the child and the stepparent has been established, a court will consider granting rights of visitation and in some case, stepparents have been awarded legal custody. More... |
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| Use of a Child's Social Security Benefit in Determining Child Support |
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| When determining the amount of a child support order, the first step is to ascertain the amount of income that is available to provide for the child. Determining this issue will generally determine the fairness of any child support order. An effective child support guideline should clearly provide rules for determining what resources may and may not be considered for child support determinations. If a child is receiving social security benefits, a child support order should clearly state whether this income is considered in determining the appropriate amount of child support. More... |
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| Parent Locator Services for Child Support Collection |
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| The federal Parent Locator Service is available to help locate the parent of a child in order to establish a child support obligation and to collect past due amounts. More... |
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| Modification of Custody based on Parental Financial Resources |
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| Both parents are required to contribute toward the support of a child. The amount of support is based on the income of the parents, with adjustments for certain other obligations such as day care or extraordinary health expenses. For the most part, courts do not consider modifying custody based solely on a parent's financial resources, but such resources may be a factor where a change in circumstances can be shown. More... |
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