Family Law: Child Support, Custody, and Divorce

Child Support
Custody
Divorce
Financial Stability After Divorce
Courtwatch

Child Support

Association for Children for Enforcement of Support (ACES)
http://www.childsupport-aces.org/
Telephone: 1-800-738-2237
3474 Raymont Blvd. 2nd Floor
University Heights, Ohio 44118
ACES@Childsupport-ACES.org
Membership organization that helps parents collect child support and advocates for better child support enforcement policy. ACES offers "how to" instructions and educational information about child support enforcement, visitation rights and paternity determination. The organization also provides a telephone "hot-line" for members, providing information, support, and referrals to resources. Annual membership dues vary from $10 to $25 depending on income.

National Child Support Enforcement Association
http://www.ncsea.org/
Phone: 240-595-6600
1109 Spring Street, Suite 700
Silver Spring, MD 20910
ncsea@sso.org
Public policy organization that advocates on behalf of Child Support professionals. Does not provide direct services to parents. Resources on website include list of contact information for state child support enforcement offices.

Office of Child Support Enforcement
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/
370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20447
Federal agency that administers state child support enforcement programs. Website has information and contact info for state programs. Individuals must apply for child support through state child support agencies only.

Custody

American Bar Association Child Custody Pro Bono Project
http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/probono/childcustody.html
Contact: GillespG@staff.abanet.org
Does not provide direct pro bono representation, but works to encourage pro bono custody projects in the US. Created Child Custody Program Directory (available on website), lists organizations across the country that provide pro bono custody services. Resource library with articles and other information also available on site.

Custody Prep for Moms
http://www.custodyprepformoms.org/
Information and support website geared toward mothers who are in custody battles and have been victims of domestic violence in the relationship with their children's father, or whose children are victims of family violence either having been abused directly, or indirectly harmed by witnessing violence against their mother. Website has information, stories, and a listserv.

Families Against Court Travesties (FACTS)
http://www.factscourtwatch.org/
(561) 338-9280 or (561) 487-9878
EMail:FactsNow2000@yahoo.com
Grass-roots organization affiliated with South Palm Beach NOW chapter; dedicated to improving the family court system and to prevent future injustices against children, women and families. Runs CourtWatch Program, promotes awareness of the problems, advocates to change legislation and to hold the judges, lawyers, guardians-ad-litem and psychologists accountable for their actions. Website has suggestions for pro se litigants.

Justice for Children
http://www.jfcadvocacy.org/
Helpline: 1.800.733.0059
Office: (713) 225-4357
2600 Southwest Freeway, Suite 806
Houston, Texas 77098
info@justiceforchildren.org
Deals with child abuse issues, especially when traditional avenues of justice have not been effective. Helpline (open 8 to 5, CST) provides advice and assistance to caregivers/others trying to protect children from abusive situations. Provides legal advocacy, public policy monitoring, technical assistance to protective parties, referrals, court-watch information and public education.

Mothers of Lost Children
http://www.mothers-of-lost-children.com/
1-800-441-7886
P.O. Box 1903,
Davis, CA 95617
Email: molc@gmx.net
Grassroots advocacy and support organization for mothers of abused children who have lost (or are fighting not to lose) custody of their children to an abusive partner or to foster care. Website has information, links, other resources.

National Association of Non-Custodial Moms
http://www.nancm.com/?page=home
614 East Highway 50
PMB 246
Clermont, FL 34711
A non-profit association and support website for mothers without custody. Lots of info, discussion boards, and links to other resources and local chapters.

New Family Justice
201-526-4113
Director: Elizabeth Berken
Provides legal assistance and other support to women involved in custody cases where PAS ("Parental Alienation Syndrome") claims are used against them.

Resource Center on Domestic Violence: Child Protection & Custody/Nat. Council of Juvenile & Family Court Judges
http://www.ncjfcj.org/content/view/129/250/
(775) 784-6012
PO Box 8970
Reno, NV 89507
Call or visit website for free resource packets on child custody, supervised visitation, mediation, domestic violence and child custody. Technical assistance provided for attorneys and advocates only.

Divorce

American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Family Law
www.abanet.org/family
(312) 988-5145
312 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60610
familylaw@abanet.org
No legal referrals or direct legal assistance, but website offers links to resources and information regarding various aspects of family law (domestic violence, custody, child support, divorce, etc.).

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
http://www.aaml.org/
(312) 263-6477
150 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 2040
Chicago, IL 60601
office@aaml.org
Website has database of family law lawyers across the US. Some informational resources and articles are also available on the website.

The Equality in Marriage Institute
http://www.equalityinmarriage.org/
Organization closed in 2006, but website provides useful info on divorce, child custody and alimony.

Women’s Institute for Financial Education (WIFE)
http://www.wife.org/
(760) 736-1660
PO Box 910014
San Diego, CA 92191
Oldest non-profit organization dedicated to providing financial education to women in their quest for financial independence. "Second Saturday" Divorce workshops ($45 fee) at locations across the country provide seminars with attorneys, counselors, financial advisors, and other financial professionals.

Financial Stability After Divorce

Financial Resources for Women and Children
http://www.frwc.org/
645 Boylston Street
c/o PPUF at Old South Church
Boston, MA 02116
info@FRWC.org
Information about money management to help women achieve financial stability, especially women whose lives are in transition.

Financial Education Project, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
www.ncadv.org/programs/FinancialEducation_120 (
303) 839-1852
(303) 831-9251 Fax
(303) 839-1681 TTY
1120 Lincoln Street, Suite 1603
Denver, CO 80203
Educates advocates and victims on issues such as budgeting, identity theft, banking, predatory lending, violence in the workplace, housing, and credit, all of which play a role in ending domestic violence. Has an excellent publication called "Hope and Power: for your personal finances" written to help women regain control over their finances after leaving an abusive relationship. Available for free online at www.shop.ncadv.org/displayProductDocument.hg?productId=40&categoryId=2

Older Women’s League
http://www.owl-national.org/
(703) 812-7990 x 14
Toll-free: 1-800-825-3695
Fax: (703) 812-0687
3300 N. Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22201
owlinfo@owl-national.org
Public policy and legislative advocacy organization for older and mid-life women. Focuses on health, quality of life, economic security issues. Call for information about events and local chapters.

Pension Rights Center
http://www.pensionrights.org/
(202) 296-3776
1350 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 206
Washington, DC 20036
Information and "help-kits" for divorced and widowed women trying to collect pensions. The publication, "Your Pension Rights at Divorce", can also be ordered for a fee. Also sponsors pension assistance hotlines regionally; check website for further info.

Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement
http://www.wiserwomen.org/
202-393-5452
1146 19th Street, N.W. Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
info@wiserwomen.org
Information regarding pensions, social security, divorce and widowhood and long-term healthcare available on website. Call to request further information or publications.

Courtwatch

WATCH
http://www.watchmn.org/
608 Second Avenue South
Northstar East Suite 465
Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 341-2747
Email: ddougherty@watchmn.org
Volunteer-based court monitoring & research organization that follows cases of family and sexual violence in the courts and provides feedback about persistent injustices. Works to improve justice system’s response to cases of domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault. Can provide technical assistance and guidance to other programs and provides start-up manual for interested callers. Has list of national grassroots courtwatching groups and organization.

National Family Court Watch Project
http://www.nationalfamilycourtwatchproject.org/
Phone: 248-752-8623
Fax: (248) 684-0328
510 Highland Avenue PMB #414
Milford, MI 48381
Organization based in Michigan; focuses in particular on cases in the family court system where domestic violence has been a factor.

RSS |

TELL A FRIEND

Did You Know...

74% of employed battered women were harrassed by their partner while they were at work?

Publication Highlight

Risk Assessment and Intimate Partner Sexual Abuse: The Hidden Dimension of Domestic violence
Article by Lynn Hecht Schafran for Judicature Magazine. Risk assessment is of critical concern to judges in every kind fo domestic violence case. Recent research documents the importance of a largely ignored sign of risk and potential lethality in these cases: intimate partner sexual abuse. More »