According to the Office Child Support Enforcement (OCSE), of the 9.66 million cases in FY 2006 with child support orders being processed, 7.04 million contained medical support orders and 1.9 million were cases in which medical support was ordered and provided.
Source: National CSE Program Preliminary Data Report FY 2006 (available on the OCSE Web site at: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/pubs).
If you have made the difficult decision to file for divorce, you are not alone. Between December 31, 2005 and August 31, 2006, there were approximately 657,000 divorces in the United States and Puerto Rico.
Source: National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol. 55, No. 16, May 4, 2007 (available on the CDC's Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr55/nvsr55_16.pdf).
As the occurrence of divorce and non-marital childbearing has increased, a common pattern is for the non-residential parent to become increasingly detached over time, paying minimal or no child support and visiting infrequently if at all.
Source: Non-Custodial Parents Participation In Their Children's Lives: Evidence From The Survey Of Income And Program Participation (executive summary available on the US Department of Health and Human Services Web site at http://fatherhood.hhs.gov/Stability/SIPP/XSNONCUS.HTM).
Couples who are planning to cohabitate or marry should consider working with an attorney to draft a premarital or cohabitation agreement to establish a framework for handling financial and property issues that arise during marriage. By addressing these issues early, you may avoid conflict in the future.
St. Louis Divorce Attorney
If you have a divorce dispute in St. Louis, Missouri, you want a lawyer who understands the law, who will help you identify your options, and who will provide you with a realistic assessment of your chances for success. At the Offices of Diekman & Leightner, Attorneys at Law, we handle all matters related to divorce and family law, including child custody and visitation, child support, spousal support and alimony, and the division of marital assets. To learn more about our divorce practice, see our Divorce.
To learn more about your rights in a divorce, see the information below.
Family Law - An Overview
Family law is the term applied to the laws and rules developed regarding family relationships. Family law rules define not only the relationships between members of a family but also between a family and society as a whole. More than any other area of the law, family law reflects the values society shares regarding how people who are related should treat each other.
When you are faced with an important life decision regarding a key family relationship, the advice and assistance of a family law attorney often proves crucial to your understanding of the issues involved and your satisfaction with the ultimate outcome of your family law matter.
Typically, family law attorneys assist people in making and breaking family relationships. Specific areas of representation include marriage and relationship planning, divorce, paternity, child custody, and child support. Some family law attorneys also provide assistance in the area of adoption.
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Child Support
There are millions of divorced parents who have sole custody of their minor children. Federal legislation and uniform state laws exist to make enforcement and collection of child support easier for America's single parents. Because every state uses its own guidelines for establishing child support and each has various methods to set support amounts and recover support when it is overdue, it is often important to consult with a family law attorney who is familiar with the child support guidelines and child support enforcement laws in your state. If you have questions about the child support laws in your state, the rules for child support collection and enforcement that apply to your particular situation, or the process to establish paternity, contact a family law attorney at our firm to schedule a consultation.
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Divorce
Deciding to pursue divorce is one of the most difficult and emotional decisions you will ever make, particularly if you have children. Divorce also involves financial matters that must be resolved and legal issues that must be addressed. A family law attorney at our firm can help you to understand the basic issues involved in divorce and to use a rational approach to the divorce process.
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Custody and Visitation
When parents divorce, it is important to learn about the child custody and visitation options that are available and the legal standards that apply. In many cases, divorcing couples can ultimately agree on custody and visitation issues without the need for a court order. When an agreement cannot be reached, knowledgeable advice and representation from a family law attorney can often make the difference.
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Marriage
Marriage is a voluntary, private contract between two adults. While it is a personal and emotional commitment, it is also a legal relationship that changes the legal status of both parties. A family law attorney at our firm can help you to understand the legal technicalities of marriage.
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Family Law Resource Links
American Bar Association - Family Law Section
The ABA's Section of Family Law's Web site is designed for general use by the public. The Web site contains tables and summaries addressing differences in state laws and requirements for divorce, child support, and other important family law issues.
The Legal Information Institute - Family Law
The Legal Information Institute (LII) is known internationally as a leading provider of public legal information. The LII's Family Law section contains statutes, case law, and articles covering a variety of family law topics.
Office of Child Support Enforcement
The Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) is the division of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) responsible for administering the Child Support Enforcement Program (CSE). The CSE is a federal/state/local partnership to help families by promoting family self-sufficiency and child well-being. The CSE offers services to related to locating non-custodial parents, establishing paternity, establishing support orders, and collecting support payments. The CSE also offers services for non-custodial parents.
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Formerly the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information and the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse (NAIC), the Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families.
Children's Rights Council
A nonprofit devoted to helping kids experience the frequent, meaningful, and continuing contact with two parents and extended family that a child would normally have during a marriage.
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