Deceived husband can recover child-rearing costs 
Published: February 2, 2012
Tags: paternity
A man who was deceived as to the paternity of a child born during his marriage could sue the girl’s biological father to recover his child-rearing expenditures, the Connecticut Supreme Court has ruled in reversing judgment.
State court can’t modify child support order
Published: February 2, 2012
Tags: child support, Uniform Interstate Family Support Act
A state court lacked jurisdiction to modify a child support order after the parties and their children had left the state, the Nevada Supreme Court has ruled in reversing judgment.
Court couldn’t hear out-of-state custody dispute
Published: January 26, 2012
Tags: custody, jurisdiction, Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act
A state court misapplied the residency rules of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act when it assumed jurisdiction of an out-of-state custody matter, the Colorado Supreme Court has ruled in reversing judgment.
Divorced mother can’t change children’s names
Published: January 25, 2012
Tags: divorce
A divorced mother was not entitled to a presumption that she was acting in her children’s best interests when she filed a motion to change their surname, the New Jersey Appellate Division has ruled in reversing judgment.
Former same-sex partner may have parental rights
Published: January 23, 2012
Tags: custody, same-sex partners, Uniform Parentage Act
A mother’s former same-sex partner may be entitled to the rights of a presumed parent regarding a child born before the parties were living together and engaged in a sexual relationship, the California Court of Appeal has ruled in reversing judgment.
Ex-wife can keep federal life insurance benefits
Published: January 23, 2012
Tags: divorce, Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Act, life insurance
Federal law preempts a state law which would preclude a woman from keeping the proceeds of a federal employee life insurance policy as her ex-husband’s named beneficiary, the Virginia Supreme Court has ruled in reversing judgment.
A gift to ‘y’all’ must be shared between husband and wife
Published: January 17, 2012
Tags: gift tax, marital property, Virginia
When a wife’s father said that a $15,000 payment was for “y’all,” he made a joint gift to the couple, despite his later testimony that he intended only to help his daughter, a Virginia trial court has ruled.
Father didn’t forfeit presumption of fitness
Published: January 12, 2012
Tags: custody, guardianship, Troxel v. Granville
A father didn’t forfeit his constitutional presumption of being a fit parent when he consented to a guardianship for his daughter, the New Hampshire Supreme Court has ruled in reversing judgment.
Tyler Block: Fighting for adoptive parents
Published: January 9, 2012
Tags: adoption, Lawyers of the Year, Lawyers of the Year 2011, same-sex adoption
When Tyler Block stood before the Nebraska Supreme Court to argue against a district court ruling that barred his client from pursuing custody and visitation rights with the child she had raised with her ex-partner, he struck a blow not only for the gay and lesbian community but for all non-biological parents.
Florida considers alimony caps, duration limits
Published: January 5, 2012
Tags: alimony, divorce
Following in the footsteps of states like Massachusetts and New Jersey, multiple pieces of legislation have been introduced in the Florida legislature to update alimony laws.
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