Child Custody Laws

Custody laws can be complex.

Child custody laws vary from state to state. Click on your state link in the left-hand column to find out information about child custody laws in your state. These links open in a new window so you can come back to this page when you're done.

No matter what state you live in, if you're a divorced/divorcing parent looking into child custody law, the odds are likely that you have a lot going on right now. Child custody situations can be overwhelming with the number of decisions you're expected to make and the amount of information you're expected to process. You want to do everything you can to make your custody situation go smoother so that you have time to do everything you need to do. Luckily, there's a resource that can help.

Custody X Change is a software program that creates child custody agreements. A parent can sit down at the computer and enter in the schedule of time that both parent's have with the children. There are multiple schedules to choose from and you can custom make your own. You can then see the schedule laid out over the next year--or any number of years you want to see. Custody X Change provides a list of holidays to make it easy to divide between the parents, and you can also add one time special events, recurring special events, and vacation time. All of this is easy to see on the parenting calendar with both parent's time shown in a different color. Along with the schedule, Custody X Change calculates the time-share and overnight percentages--these numbers are useful for the parent to see and also important for calculating child support. Parents can also add provisions and stipulations to the agreement--you can choose from the list provided and also add your own. You can then print out your entire child custody agreement in legal terms and have nice documents to show your lawyer, court, custody mediation, and/or ex spouse. The really nice thing is that Custody X Change can be used in every state because it complies with the basic child custody laws everywhere. The documents aren't legally binding on their own--but they do impress the court who can then take them and make them legally binding.

As a parent dealing with a child custody situation you want to do all you can to make the situation end well. Download your free trial of Custody X Change and see all of the ways it can help you.

Here is what some parents had to say after using the software:

"It helped me so much and I was pro se against a family law specialist, the judge adopted my plan that I came up with using custody exchange. Thank you so much it was invaluable."

Stacie Staples,
Arroyo Grande, CA

Attorney's who practice family law and deal with child custody cases have a lot of complex issues to resolve. As a busy professional, you don't have the time to waste doing tedious calculations and counting days while you create your client's child custody agreement. How useful would it be to have family law software that does all of the menial work of the child custody agreement?

"I have used the Custody X Software in some complicated custody cases and have found it a very useful tool. Many people are very visual and the ability to lay out custody schedules years in advance has been helpful. I have found the software very easy to use and would highly recommend it to other family law practitioners."

Meredith Ditchen,
Woodstock, GA
www.ditchenlaw.com

And here's is a legal paper extolling the virtues of Custody X Change:

"I had the opportunity recently to take a look at some interesting software developed for domestic relations lawyers. To see it and even try it out, go to www.custodyxchange.com. It goes well beyond mere calendaring software. It provides courts and counsel with the tools to quickly determine which weekends, holidays, or other days the children will be with a specific parent. Several courts are already using it.

"I personally don't handle domestic relations matters anymore but do recall from over 20 years ago when I did handle divorces that they were very contentious. This software can provide a printout to each party and each lawyer as well as allowing the court to keep a paper and/or electronic record of who is supposed to go where and when. That could quickly settle lots of arguments. The court can generate the schedule and then just order that it be obeyed, providing a copy to each party on the spot.

"This is the kind of electronic aid that can improve the administration of justice. There are so many such possible uses of computers today. It's a shame our profession doesn't use such tools more often. If you handle domestic relations matters, I strongly recommend that you take a look at this fine electronic tool designed by Ben Coltrin."

Richard Power
Sacramento, CA
The Daily Recorder, 2/6/06