Congrats! You’re divorced, getting divorced, dealing with child custody and co-parenting issues. You will need legal help over the years. This is necessary until your child grows up and lives on their own. Here’s where to get started.
Know of a legal resource? Local? Online? Let me know! I’ll add it here.
LawHelp.org. Links to legal resources by state.
Mass Legal Help. Information for parents divorced and living in Massachusetts.
Everything you need to know about child custody laws in New Jersey. Information for parents divorced and living in New Jersey from DLG. I haven’t used this law firm, and know nothing about them, but the article is solid.
WomensLaw.org. Links to legal resources and state custody and child support laws.
Self-Help Legal Information
Nolo – Child Custody & Support. A leading self-help legal publisher with plain-language guides on child support calculation, custody types (physical vs. legal, sole vs. joint), parenting plans, modification, and state-by-state rules.
DivorceNet – Child Custody & Support. Comprehensive articles cover custody arrangements and visitation rights. They include child support enforcement and parenting plans. The family law process for divorcing and separated parents is also discussed.
OurFamilyWizard – Regional Resources Directory. A nationwide directory of custody-related resources including divorce lawyers, mediators, parenting educators, and supervised visitation providers. The OurFamilyWizard app itself is widely court-approved for co-parenting communication and documentation.
Law Help – Family Law Self-Help. This is a network of free legal information websites by state. It helps low-income and unrepresented parents find legal aid. It provides self-help resources for custody, support, and visitation.
DadsDivorce. A legal information website and community specifically for fathers navigating divorce and custody. It features articles on child support, parental alienation, and strategies for the family court system.
Legal Aid & Representation
Legal Services Corporation (LSC). The largest provider of civil legal aid to low-income Americans. Can connect noncustodial parents with local legal aid offices for representation or guidance in custody and support matters.
Law Help Interactive – Family Law Forms. Provides guided interviews to help parents complete court forms for custody, visitation, and support modifications without an attorney.
Parental Alienation Resources
Parental Alienation Study Group (PASG). An international organization of researchers and clinicians studying parental alienation. Provides resources, research, and professional referrals for parents experiencing alienation from their children.
Parental Alienation Awareness Organization (PAAO). Dedicated to raising awareness of parental alienation and its effects on children. Provides educational materials and community support for affected parents.
Dr. Craig Childress – Attachment-Based Parental Alienation. A clinical psychologist’s website offering research-based frameworks for understanding and addressing parental alienation through an attachment-theory lens.
Child Support Awareness – USA.gov. A federal portal provides links to every state child support agency. It offers guidance on establishing and modifying support orders. It includes information about enforcement and parenting time.