Family, Divorce & Domestic Matters
Browse published legal information questions related to Family, Divorce & Domestic Matters.
What are my rights if my spouse threatens to report me to immigration during divorce?
If a spouse threatens to report you to immigration during a divorce, that can be frightening and stressful. In general, a threat like that does not automatically change your legal rights in the divorce itself. Property d...
Is it legal for my spouse to move out with the children before custody orders are entered?
In Florida, a spouse may sometimes move out with the children before any custody order is entered, but that does not always mean the move is risk-free or that it is automatically okay in every situation. Before a court h...
Is it legal for a spouse to file for divorce just to stop an immigration sponsorship?
In general, a spouse may be able to file for divorce even if the timing affects an immigration sponsorship, because divorce is usually a state-law family-law matter. But that does not mean a person can use divorce as a t...
How do I ask a judge to exclude a recording that was made without my consent?
In California, asking a judge to exclude a recording usually means asking the court not to admit it as evidence. That request is often made through a motion or objection, depending on the stage of the case and the type o...
How do I collect unpaid alimony if my ex refuses to follow the divorce decree?
If your ex is not paying alimony ordered in a divorce decree, there are usually legal ways to ask the court to enforce the order. In Iowa, alimony obligations are generally treated as court-ordered support, which means t...
How do I divide a pension that was earned partly before and partly during marriage?
In Minnesota, a pension that was earned partly before marriage and partly during marriage is usually treated as a mix of nonmarital and marital property. In general, the portion earned before the marriage may be consider...
Do I have to record or file a prenup with the court before marriage?
In general, a prenup does not have to be filed with the court before a marriage takes place. A premarital agreement is usually a private contract between two people who plan to marry. The fact that it is signed before th...
Husband Owns the Car and Controls Finances—What Rights Do I Have During Separation?
In Oregon, your rights during a separation usually depend on the overall financial picture, not just whose name is on the car title or who manages the bank accounts. If you are married and living separately, the law gene...
What are my rights if the prenup was written in English but I was not fluent when I signed it?
In Tennessee, a prenuptial agreement signed in English may still be enforceable even if one spouse was not fully fluent, but the language issue can matter. In general, courts look at whether the agreement was entered kno...
What are my rights if my spouse is hiding cash income from rental properties?
If you are in Oklahoma and believe your spouse is hiding cash income from rental properties, you may have rights depending on whether the rental income is separate property, marital property, or tied to jointly owned ass...
How do I divide equity in a home when one spouse paid the down payment before marriage?
In New Mexico, the answer usually depends on how the home was titled, when it was purchased, whether marital funds were used after the wedding, and whether the premarital down payment can be traced. A spouse who paid the...
Is it legal for a landlord to ban guests from staying overnight?
In general, a landlord may be able to limit or regulate overnight guests through the lease, house rules, or occupancy policies, but a complete ban is not always treated the same way in every situation. In North Dakota, t...
Is it legal for someone to repeatedly call my phone from blocked numbers after I asked them to stop?
In Washington, repeated calls from blocked numbers after you asked the caller to stop may be unlawful depending on the facts, the caller’s purpose, and whether the conduct rises to harassment, stalking, threats, or anoth...
What happens if someone records a confidential conversation and posts a clip online?
In California, recording a confidential conversation and then posting a clip online can raise serious legal issues, but what happens depends heavily on the facts. The main questions usually are whether the conversation w...
Is it legal for my spouse to hide a vehicle at a friend’s house during divorce?
In Indiana, a spouse generally should not secretly move, hide, or transfer marital property in a way that interferes with the divorce process. A vehicle is often one of the assets a court may need to identify, value, and...