Maryland Proclaims a Month for Collecting. Not One for Showing Up.
Maryland has declared August 2026 National Child Support Awareness Month, praising its support enforcement system. However, the article critiques this approach, highlighting a lack of similar enforcement measures for parental access issues. The disparity…
The Contact Nobody Compels
The disparity in enforcement mechanisms between child support and parenting-time orders highlights systemic issues in U.S. family courts. While child support enforcement is robust and federally mandated, access rights lack comparable structures. This…
The Retirement Defense: Why “I’ll Make Less Later” Rarely Moves a Family Court Now
A South Carolina appeals court ruled in Updegraff v. Updegraff that a spouse's anticipated future income change cannot modify current alimony obligations, emphasizing courts shouldn't speculate on future financial situations. This decision highlights a…
The Averaging Problem: When Fifty Percent Custody Counts as Zero
The Pennsylvania Superior Court case Mosher v. Mosher illustrates complexities in child support calculations when one parent shares custody 50% of the time with one child and none with another. The decision applies an averaging formula that can obscure…
The Squeeze: When Two Broken Systems Land on the Same Parent
A recent federal memo rescinded restrictions on states disqualifying SNAP benefits for noncooperation with child support, potentially affecting struggling parents caught in enforcement gaps. This policy shift underscores systemic issues where child…
When the System Moves Fast: Child Support Gets DHS. Parenting Time Gets a Court Date.
Argentina has collaborated with U.S. authorities to bar 13,000 fathers who owe child support from entering World Cup venues, showcasing a robust enforcement system for financial obligations. In contrast, U.S. family courts lack similar mechanisms for…
The Federal Government Will Ground You for Unpaid Child Support. It Has No Answer for Stolen Parenting Time.
The Trump administration's policy, effective May 9, 2026, revokes passports from parents owing over $2,500 in child support debt, without considering individual circumstances. This disproportionately affects struggling parents, especially those involved…
Georgia’s New Child Support Guidelines: Well-Intended Change, Uncertain Impact
On January 1, 2026, Georgia revamped its child support calculation, integrating parenting time and low-income adjustments directly into the formula. This aims to enhance fairness and adaptability in co-parenting. However, concerns arise about potential…