When you’re getting divorced, you can make a tough time easier for your children (and yourself) if you and the other parent can create your own custody plan and agree on child support. If you can’t work out custody and support, you’ll have to head to court and ask a judge to step in

Either way, Nolo’s Essential Guide to Child Custody & Support can help. You’ll learn:

• how negotiation and mediation can keep costs down, ease the transition for kids, and improve future dealings with your ex
• where to find your state’s child support guidelines
• how judges make custody decisions
• how to enforce and change custody and support orders
• how court trials work
• what military families need to know
• when you need a lawyer and how to work with one

You’ll also find specifics about each state’s laws, including what factors courts consider when they rule on custody arrangements, what happens when one parent wants to move away with the children, and how you can change custody or support orders.