Index

• Library: Nolo's Essential Guide to Divorce (Nolo) (2020 Ed.)

Index

A

AAML. See American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML)

Abandonment, 16, 64

Abduction. See Parental kidnapping

Absent parents, 193

ACA. See Affordable Care Act (ACA)

Accountants. See Tax expert consultation

Actuary consultation, 15, 440

military divorce, 344, 345

retirement plans, 238, 292-293, 295

spousal support, 316

uncontested divorce, 15

Addiction problems. See Substance abuse

Adoption, 23, 222, 425

Adult children, of divorced parents, 183-184

Adultery, 16, 64, 139

Affidavits, 133

Affordable Care Act (ACA), 322, 342

Alabama

common law marriage, 11

Alimony. See Spousal support

All property states, 233

Alternative dispute resolution, use of term, 88

See also Arbitrated divorce; Mediated divorce

American Academy of Actuaries, 440

American Academy of Assisted

Reproductive Technology Attorneys, 275

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), 119

American Arbitration Association, 98

American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA), 440

Annual Credit Report Service, 48

Annulment, 10-12

Appeals and appellate courts, 149-150

Appraisers, 238, 255-256, 278

Arbitrated divorce, 13, 20-21, 112

Arizona

covenant marriage, 17

marital property division, 247

Arkansas

covenant marriage, 17

marital property division, 249

ASPPA. See American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA)

Asset inventories, 33—35, 232

Assets, hiding of, 138, 238—241

Association of Divorce Financial Planners, 441

Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, 98, 162

Attachment to Petition (sample), 75

Attorney-Client Agreement (sample), 124—125

Attorney consultation

appellate specialists, 150

Attorney-Client Agreement (sample), 124—125

collaborative divorce, 18—19

contested divorce and trial, 116, 117—121

covenant marriage, 17

custody disputes, 199, 201

fees for, 122—127, 150, 295

genetic material, 275

kidnapping of children, 396

marital property division, 271—272

marital settlement agreements, 377—379

military divorce, 322, 325, 331, 343, 345, 348

Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO), 295

same-sex marriage, 24

selection of, 444—447

spousal and child support, 52, 311

uncontested divorce, 15, 56

use of fault grounds, 16—17

B

Bank accounts, 39—40, 367—368

Bankruptcy, 261, 265—266, 284, 288, 347, 399—401

Bar associations, 119, 274

Battered spouses. See Domestic violence

Best interest of the child standard, 144, 189, 200—201, 222

Better Business Bureau, 444

Bigamy, as rationale for annulment, 11

Bird-nesting parenting plans, 158—159

Bridge the gap spousal support. See Rehabilitative spousal support

Budgets, for two households, 37—39, 454—467

Business appraisers, 278

Business ownership, 239—240, 276—280

Buyout

of family business, 278—280

of family home, 255—258, 290

C

Calculators

for estimating child support, 213

for time value of money, 299

California

best interest of the child standard, 200

domestic partnerships/civil unions, 23

marital property division, 247, 248, 274, 275

Petition for Divorce (sample), 68—69

physical custody, 156

temporary spousal support, 303

Capital gains tax, on home sale, 289-291, 351

Caption for Petition (sample), 74

Career counselors, 427

Car insurance, 409

Car ownership, 366-367, 408

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., 441

Chapter 7 bankruptcy, 265-266, 399-401

Chapter 13 bankruptcy, 265-266, 288, 399-401

CHCBP. See Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP)

Child abuse, 193, 395-396

Child care tax credit, 227

Child custody, 153-184

defined, 25

depositions, 137

domestic violence and, 32

emergency order for custody, 395

military divorce, 333-336

with one primary parent, 179-182

parental moveaway issues, 199-201, 417-418

postdivorce issues, 416-417

protection of children during, 167-175

separation of siblings, 162-163

10 rules for custodial parents, 181

10 rules for noncustodial parents, 182

testimony in trials regarding, 147

See also Custody disputes; Parenting plans; Visitation rights, in child custody

Child-rearing classes, 187

Children

age-appropriate books on divorce, 174-175

discussions with about divorce, 30, 168-171, 420-421

discussions with about family evaluation process, 197

emotional reactions to divorce, 171-173

parental dating/new relationships and, 173-175, 422-423

passports for, 397-398

protection of during divorce, 167-175

Child support, 26, 205-229

bankruptcy and, 400-401

changes in circumstances, 209

college expenses, 209, 223

court guidelines, 208-212

custodial vs. noncustodial parent payment of, 206-207

duration of, 221-223

estimation of, 212-213

income withholding order (IWO), 215-216, 219

military divorce, 336-340

modification of amount, 219, 223-224, 339-340, 419-420

monthly payment options, 214-218

new live-in partners, 420

penalties for support arrearages, 219-220

state enforcement agencies, 216-218, 338-339, 418-419

tax impacts, 225—227

temporary agreements, 48—52, 131—133, 207

temporary court orders, 218—219

See also Health insurance benefits

Child tax credit, 226—227

Civil annulment. See Annulment

Civil unions, 23, 192, 289

COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act), 229, 315, 319—322, 374, 408

See also Retirement benefits

COLA. See Cost of living adjustment (COLA)

Collaborative divorce, 112

attorney for, 446—447

costs of, 19, 22

defined, 13, 18—20, 56

College expenses, 209, 223

Colorado

common law marriage, 11

domestic partnerships/civil unions, 23

spousal support, 303

Common law marriage, 11

Community mediation agencies, 96

Community property states

debt obligations, 44—45, 280

income, 40, 44

listing of states, 236

marital/community property, 234, 236

marital property division, 25, 246—248

Complaint for divorce. See Petition for divorce

Computers and privacy, 42

Conflicts of interest, 120

Consulting attorneys, 18, 92—94, 96—97, 102—103, 105, 110, 112

Consummation, lack of, as rationale for annulment, 11

Contested divorce and trial, 113—152

Attorney-Client Agreement (sample), 124—125

costs of, 21, 22, 90, 122—127

courtroom hearings, 132, 133—134, 142

defined, 13, 21—22

disclosures and discovery, 135—139

elements of trial, 143—148

fault grounds, 128—132

financial information documentation, 131

posttrial activities, 148—151

pretrial conferences, 142

selection of attorney, 117—121

settlement negotiations, 139—141

temporary orders, 131—133

Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP), 341

Co-ownership of home, 259—261, 290

Cost of living adjustment (COLA), 313, 344

Costs of divorce

comparisons, 22, 88—90

court filing fees, 15, 67, 76

expert witnesses, 126—127

professional consultations, 15, 18, 122—127, 150, 195, 295, 442, 443

spousal attorney fees, 148

See also specific types of divorce

County courthouse, 67

Court cases and citation, 449—450

Court clerks, 70—71, 75—76

Court filing fees, 15, 67, 76

Court-ordered mediation, 187

Courtroom behavior, 133—134, 145

Court-sponsored mediation, 92, 95

Covenant marriage, 17

Cover sheets, 71

Credit cards, 39, 44—47, 283

Credit counselors, 285—287, 440

Creditors

communication with, 284—285

hardship payment plans, 287—288

Credit reports and ratings, 47—48, 220, 265, 285

Cross-examination, 145, 146

Custodial/noncustodial parent, defined, 157

Custody disputes, 185—203

custodial parent interference with visitation, 198—199

custody evaluations, 193—198

history of cultural norms, 189

input from older children, 191

interstate custody, 188

judicial factors, 189—193

parental moveaway issues, 199—201

process of, 188—189

religion and, 191

same-sex couples, 192—193

substance abuse problems, 201—203

Custody evaluations, 193—198

Custody evaluators, 147, 159, 163, 191, 194—195

D

Daily expenses (sample), 459

Dating/new relationships, and children, 173—175, 420, 422—423

Debt management plans, 288

Debt obligations

credit counselors, 285—287

inventory of, 34—35, 232

marital property division of, 280—288

marital settlement agreements, 369—370

pros/cons of options, 282

Debt relief companies, 285

Decision-making skills, during divorce, 28

Declaration of service. See Proof of service

Declarations (signed statements), 81—82, 133, 145

Decree of divorce. See Final divorce orders

Deed in lieu, of foreclosure, 264—265

Default divorce, 59—62, 67

by agreement, 60

defined, 13, 16, 56

missing spouse and, 60—62

no response to service, 59—60

steps for, 62

submission of final paperwork, 82

Defense Authorization Act (2020), 345

Deferred compensation, in marital property division, 272—273

Defined benefit pension plans, 291—295

Defined contribution pension plans, 295—297

Dependent care tax credit, 227

Depositions, 137

DFP. See Divorce financial planners (DFP)

Direct testimony, defined, 145

Disability benefits, 346

Disability insurance policies, 222, 315-316, 373-374, 409

Discovery, defined, 135

Discovery process, 135-139

depositions, 137

evidence of fault, 139

interrogatories, 136

mandatory disclosures, 135-136

requests for...