Plain-English answers to the questions people actually ask about custody, child support, and divorce — with free tools to work out your own numbers and schedule.
A plain-English explanation of the 2-2-3 custody schedule — how it works week to week, who it suits, and how it compares to 2-2-5-5 and week on/week off.
Compare common 50/50 custody schedules (week-on/week-off, 2-2-3, 2-2-5-5) and what to consider for toddlers and parents who travel for work.
Even with 50/50 custody and an amicable, uncontested divorce, a court may still order child support. Here is how equal time and income affect support.
50/50 custody is not automatic. Learn what the best interest standard means, how safety concerns factor in, and how to prepare to contest a shared schedule.
What a guardian ad litem (GAL) does in a custody case: who appoints them, what they investigate, and how their recommendation is used. Roles vary by state.
When and how you can modify a custody order: the change-in-circumstances idea, the best-interest standard, and why the rules and forms vary by state.
The grey rock method for high-conflict co-parenting: keeping messages brief, factual, and unreactive, why it can lower conflict, and where to be careful.
What a custody evaluation is: when a court orders one, what the evaluator looks at, and how the report is used. The process and names vary by state.
How to prepare for your first family court hearing: what to bring, how to organize your points and evidence, and courtroom basics. Rules vary by court.
A plain-English look at parents' rights in a custody case: due process, legal versus physical custody, and why the specific rights vary by state.
A plain-English walkthrough of how family court works: filing, serving, responses, mediation, hearings, and final orders. Steps and names vary by state.
What counts as evidence in a family law case and how to use it: documents, messages, photos, and witnesses, plus relevance, authenticity, and hearsay.
How family court mediation works and how to prepare: what the mediator does, what to expect in a session, and why mediation rules vary by state.
How to document your side in a custody case: keeping a dated journal, saving messages, gathering records, and sticking to facts a judge can act on.
Common mistakes when filing custody paperwork: wrong forms, missed deadlines, vague parenting plans, and skipping service, plus how to avoid them.
A plain-English explainer of what it means to ask a family court for orders, what a court order is, and how a parent starts the process.
Divorce vs legal separation explained in plain English: what each one does, how they differ, and questions to ask before choosing. General info, not legal advice.
A plain-English guide to temporary and emergency custody orders: what they are, how they differ, and how long they last. General info, not legal advice.
Learn how a self-represented parent can keep a clear, factual custody journal that supports your case. General info, not legal advice.
A plain-English look at what custody mediation is, who is in the room, what you talk about, and what happens after, for self-represented parents.
Served with custody papers? Learn the general steps a self-represented parent can take to read, respond, and meet deadlines. General info, not legal advice.
Learn the difference between joint and sole custody, how legal and physical custody differ, and the general factors courts weigh when deciding.
A plain-English look at how parents commonly divide holidays and summer break in a custody schedule, and why the details vary by state.
How courts generally decide whether to change a recent 50/50 custody or parenting plan, and what a parent usually has to show to modify one.
Practical, plain-English strategies for coparenting with a difficult ex, from communication to documentation. General info, not legal advice.
A plain-English look at how long a custody case can take, from filing to a final order, and the factors that speed it up or slow it down.
A plain-English checklist of what to bring to a child support modification hearing, from income proof to your parenting time schedule.
Learn what 'status quo' means in a child custody case, why courts care about it, and how the current parenting routine can affect early decisions.
Learn how a child's wishes factor into custody decisions, when a judge may listen, and why the final call rests with the court. General info, not legal advice.
Learn what makes a custody declaration clear, factual, and credible: the key elements, tone, and evidence to include when writing your own.
Courts usually require a significant change in circumstances since the last order before they will modify a custody or parenting plan. Here is what that generally means.
Learn what supervised visitation means, why family courts sometimes order it, and how it can change over time. General info for self-represented parents.
A plain-English checklist of what a self-represented parent may want to bring to a custody hearing. General info, not legal advice. Onbello is not a law firm.
How to prepare for your first family law attorney meeting: gather documents, list goals, and write down questions so you get the most out of it.
Practical steps for when a co-parent constantly asks to change parenting time, pressures you to give up your days, or asks the kids about trips first.
Yes, your texts and emails can become evidence in a family law case. Learn how digital messages are used and what to keep in mind.
The realistic options for preparing custody, child support, and divorce paperwork without hiring a lawyer, compared: filing court forms yourself, online legal forms services, document preparation, and limited-scope attorneys, with the cost and effort of each.
Whether you must remind a co-parent of their parenting time, how to handle missed holiday exchanges, and how to communicate without escalating conflict.
If your co-parent refuses 50/50, no one just gets to decide alone. Here is how family courts weigh what is fair and how to set up a parenting plan.
Child support arrears usually cannot be lowered for months already passed, even if your child lived with you. Here is what most courts allow and what to do next.
A plain-English guide for self-represented parents facing heavy or one-sided discovery in a California family law case, plus what judges tend to notice.
How to decide whether to fight or settle when a child support adjustment escalates into a custody dispute, plus what documentation actually helps.
How courts decide whether facts show a significant change in circumstances to modify a final custody or visitation order, in plain English.
What courts generally look at when a parent with 50/50 custody wants to relocate with a child, and the practical steps to take before filing.
How California calculates guideline child support under Family Code § 4055 — the income, timeshare, and deduction factors that drive the number, in plain English.
A plain-English guide to finding, vetting, and hiring a California family law attorney for a custody case that involves domestic violence.
A plain-English look at common 50/50 custody schedules, what judges usually expect, and whether kids can be split between parents.
How California move-away custody requests work: filing to modify custody, the best-interest standard, and what courts weigh when a child may relocate out of state.
How California courts decide the start date for retroactive child support, and why the filing date usually matters more than when a DCSS case opened.
How California treats work-related childcare, childcare for another child, and hardship deductions when calculating guideline child support and net disposable income.
In California, your custody and visitation order controls the schedule. Here is how to handle a co-parent who tries to deviate from it, plus safety concerns.
What California judges consider at a child support modification hearing, and when support below the guideline amount can be approved.
How California courts decide 50/50 custody, the best-interest factors that matter, and how being an involved parent affects your case.
How Minor's Counsel works in California custody cases: what they do, how the interviews with parents and kids go, and whether honesty helps or hurts.
How California custody works when you had a brief relationship, never lived together, or the other parent was absent. Plain-English overview for new parents.
Practical, plain-English ways co-parents can shield kids from custody tension: routines, communication, and keeping conflict out of the child's world.
A plain-English guide to modifying a child custody order in California: the changed circumstances standard, filing an RFO, and building a safety-focused case.
Where to find free or low-cost custody help in California: legal aid, self-help centers, limited-scope attorneys, and fee waivers when you cannot afford a full retainer.
How California judges can base child support on earning capacity when a parent quits, cuts hours, or claims they cannot work. Plain-English overview.
Paid California child support directly to your ex instead of the State Disbursement Unit? Here is how direct payments get credited and how to protect yourself.
In Texas, a child support case can show as filed by the Office of the Attorney General. Here is what that line means and how OAG reviews and modifications get started.
How a history of family violence affects custody (conservatorship) in Texas, what evidence matters, and how protective orders fit in.
How Texas courts handle custody and visitation for babies and infants, including overnights, short frequent visits, and building a schedule as the child grows.
Still on your ex's mortgage after a Texas divorce? Understand the risks of co-signing a loan modification or releasing a judgment lien for a short sale.
How Illinois courts weigh alcohol and substance abuse in custody and parenting time decisions, including GALs, sober monitoring, and documenting concerns.
How Illinois handles parenting time petitions when paternity is not yet established and a parent is incarcerated, plus what courts weigh for safety.
Steps for a sibling or relative seeking custody of an abused child in Florida: guardianship, dependency cases, documenting abuse, and where to start.
How Florida courts handle competing parenting plans and holiday time-sharing disputes, plus what counts as a complete plan and how mediation fits in.
How Florida stepparent adoption works when a biological parent has abandoned the child, including what abandonment means and how consent can be waived.
How Florida parents set school-year vs summer time-sharing and how courts view bedrooms and sleep arrangements, plus practical steps for a parenting plan.
How Florida parental relocation works when one parent wants to move abroad with a child, what a judge weighs, and how the parenting plan changes.