Commercial Law
| Custody Enforcement through Sanctions |
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| Where a person has been awarded the custody of a child and another person or agency has failed to return the child to that person, the person with legal custody can file a motion for contempt of court and request that some penalty or sanctions be imposed on the one who unlawfully failed to return the child. More... |
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| Modification of Custody based on Parental Financial Resources |
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| Both parents are required to contribute toward the support of a child. The amount of support is based on the income of the parents, with adjustments for certain other obligations such as day care or extraordinary health expenses. For the most part, courts do not consider modifying custody based solely on a parent's financial resources, but such resources may be a factor where a change in circumstances can be shown. More... |
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| Restriction on Visitation Rights |
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| In order to protect a child, a court will sometimes impose restrictions on the rights of a noncustodial parent to visit with a child. The extent of the restrictions is based upon what the court finds will best protect the child while still fostering the relationship between the child and the parent. More... |
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| Criminal Interference with Child Custody |
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| A parent who takes a child and fails to return him or her may be charged with a crime. There are state and federal laws that make it a crime to unlawfully retain, obtain, or conceal a child where someone else has lawful custody under an existing court order or where custody proceedings are pending.
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| Former Stepparent Visitation Rights |
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| A stepparent is considered a legal stranger to a child and is not automatically entitled to visitation rights. However, where a close relationship between the child and the stepparent has been established, a court will consider granting rights of visitation and in some case, stepparents have been awarded legal custody. More... |
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