Family, Divorce & Domestic Matters
Browse published legal information questions related to Family, Divorce & Domestic Matters.
Do I have to pay child support if my parental rights were terminated?
In general, termination of parental rights can change a parent’s future child support obligation, but it does not always erase every support-related duty automatically. In Montana, the effect usually depends on how and w...
Can I Protect My Interest in My Father’s House if There Was No Will in Illinois?
If your father died in Illinois without a will, his property is usually handled under Illinois intestacy law. That means the house may pass according to state law rather than according to informal family expectations or...
How do I change alimony after I lost my job and my severance runs out next month?
In Georgia, a recent job loss and the end of severance pay may be reasons to ask the court to modify alimony, but they do not automatically change the obligation. In general, a court may look for a material change in you...
How do I ask the court to review child support after my ex got promoted?
In Massachusetts, a promotion may be one reason to ask the court to review child support, but the court usually looks at whether there has been a material change in circumstances and whether the current order still fits...
What are my rights if my apartment elevator has been broken for a month and I live on the sixth floor?
If you live in Oregon and your apartment elevator has been broken for a month, you may have tenant rights if the problem makes the building unsafe, significantly interferes with your use of the home, or suggests the land...
What happens if a private investigator records my conversation from outside my window?
In California, the answer usually depends on what was recorded, where the conversation happened, and whether anyone had a reasonable expectation of privacy. A private investigator standing outside your window does not au...
What happens if my spouse says they will quit their job to avoid support?
In Colorado, a spouse generally cannot control a support case simply by saying they will quit their job. If a court is asked to decide support, it usually looks at the parties’ actual financial circumstances, not just a...
How do I request a payment plan for child support arrears to avoid license suspension?
In Nebraska, if you owe child support arrears and are worried about license suspension, the most practical first step is usually to contact the child support enforcement agency or the court involved in your case and ask...
Is it legal for my spouse to stop paying rent on our apartment after moving out?
In Hawaii, the answer usually depends on whose name is on the lease, what the lease says, and whether the spouse who moved out is still legally responsible for the rent. If both spouses signed the lease, moving out by it...
How do I get divorced if my spouse is incarcerated?
In Iowa, you can generally file for divorce even if your spouse is incarcerated. Incarceration does not, by itself, prevent a divorce, but it can affect how the case moves forward, especially when it comes to serving pap...
What are my rights if my former friend secretly recorded me during a private conversation in their car?
If this happened in California, you may have privacy-related rights, but the answer depends heavily on the facts. California is generally a two-party consent state for confidential communications, which means a private c...
Is it legal for a court to award one spouse more than half of the marital property?
Yes, in Nevada, a court may be able to award one spouse more than half of the marital property, depending on the facts. Nevada is an equitable distribution state, which generally means the court divides marital property...
How do I enforce a child support order when the other parent is self-employed?
In North Carolina, enforcing child support against a self-employed parent can be more complicated than collecting from someone with regular wages. That is because wage withholding may be less straightforward when income...
How do I renew an antiharassment protection order before it expires?
In Washington, a person with an antiharassment protection order may be able to ask the court to renew the order before it expires. In general, renewal is something the protected person asks the court to consider, and the...
Is it legal for my spouse to hide a camera in our bedroom during a divorce?
In Nevada, hiding a camera in a bedroom during a divorce may raise serious privacy and recording issues, but the answer usually depends on exactly what was recorded, where the camera was placed, whether audio was capture...