Includes index.

Basics of divorce -- The big issues: child custody and support -- When you separate -- Annulment -- The court process -- Kinds of divorces -- Parentage actions for unmarried couples -- Divorce for same-sex couples -- Basics of child custody -- Physical and legal custody -- Creating a parenting plan: out of court -- Sample parenting plans -- When parents cannot agree: going to court -- Contentious issues -- Making shared parenting work -- Basics of child support -- Who pays support? -- How child support is calculated -- How to estimate child support obligations -- Deviating from the guidelines -- Creating your own written agreement -- Going to court for a support decision -- Temporary support while the divorce is pending -- Taxes and your children -- Health insurance and medical child support orders -- When you decide to divorce : the first month -- Talking to the kids -- Figure out immediate housing and custody issues -- Make a temporary parenting plan -- Start addressing money issues -- Get organized -- File court papers -- How to get your agreements made into orders -- Take care of yourself and your kids -- Going to trial -- Should you have a lawyer? -- Getting a trial date -- Issues in child custody trials -- Issues in child support trials -- Courtroom procedures at your trial -- After the trial -- Custody orders : living with, enforcing, and changing them -- Sharing parenting after a custody hearing or trial -- When the other parent violates a court order -- When the other parent Is just annoying -- When the kids don't want to go -- If you suspect abuse -- When the other parent doesn't take the children -- Traveling with your child -- Changing your custody arrangements -- When one parent is out of state -- If you move to another state : registering your custody order -- Child support orders : living with, enforcing, and changing them -- Arranging for payment -- If you're paying support : changing the amount -- How long child support lasts -- When circumstances change -- Enforcing support orders across state lines -- If your spouse goes missing -- Bankruptcy and child support -- Worst case scenarios : kidnapping, abuse, and interference with custody -- Kidnapping -- Child abuse -- Interference with parental relationship -- Domestic violence -- Supervised visitation for difficult situations -- Custody and support in military families -- Delaying court decisions : the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act -- Custody and visitation -- Child support -- Medical benefits for children -- Other benefits -- Tax issues -- Locating a service member -- Serving papers on someone on a U.S. military base -- Domestic violence and other abuse -- The law : how to work with a lawyer and do your own legal research -- Should you lawyer up? -- Working with a lawyer -- Looking for a lawyer -- Paying a lawyer -- If you have problems with your lawyer -- Getting the other parent to pay your attorneys' fees -- Help with self-representation : legal document preparers -- Knowledge is power : learn the law -- Quick guide to legal research -- 50-state charts -- Residency requirements -- Grounds for divorce -- State child support calculators -- Court and court-related websites -- State custody best interest statutes -- State custody modification statutes -- State relocation statutes -- State child support modification statutes -- State child support enforcement agencies.