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U.S. Divorce Statistics (2026): Rates, Trends & Key Facts

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Divorce trends in the United States have changed quite a bit over the past several decades. Divorce is still a common experience for many families, but the overall divorce rate has steadily declined and is now near its lowest level in almost 50 years. If you’re looking for the current U.S. divorce rate, wondering how … Continued

What Happens if Your Child Refuses Visitation With the Other Parent?

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CHILD CUSTODY & PARENTING TIME If your child refuses visitation with the other parent, you generally should continue following your custody or parenting-time order while you try to understand what is wrong. If your child describes abuse, neglect, substance use, or another immediate safety concern, contact an attorney or the appropriate authorities right away. By…

Alternative Business Structures: Why AI Alone Won’t Fix Access to Legal Services

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THE WAR ROOM: DISRUPTED AI can change how legal work gets done. But ownership rules may determine whether law firms can access the capital, technology leadership, and business expertise needed to make legal services more accessible. By M. David Johnson, CEO of Modern Family Law I recently sat down with Taylor Bell, founder of Arizona…

Common Law Marriage in California: Are You Legally Married?

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COMMON LAW MARRIAGE IN CALIFORNIA Living together for years does not make a couple legally married in California. But a valid common law marriage formed somewhere else may still be recognized after a move to California. By:  Jordan Walker, J.D. Reviewed by:  Rachel McKenzie, California Family Lawyer QUICK ANSWER Does California Have Common Law Marriage? … Continued

Can AI Reduce the Cost of Divorce and Other Family Law Cases? What Technology Can and Cannot Do

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THE WAR ROOM: DISRUPTED • EPISODE 1 AI may help make parts of divorce and family law more efficient—but it cannot replace the judgment, advocacy, and human understanding an experienced attorney brings to a case. By M. David Johnson, CEO QUICK ANSWER Can AI Make Divorce and Family Law Less Expensive? Potentially. AI and other…

Do You Need a Lawyer for a Prenuptial Agreement?

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PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENTS A prenup can change important rights involving property, debt, spousal support, inheritance, and retirement assets. Understanding those rights before you sign can help you make informed decisions and avoid preventable problems later. By Jordan Walker, J.D. Reviewed by Craig Valentine, Chief Practice Officer Last reviewed September 1, 2026 QUICK ANSWER Do You Need … Continued

The Death of the Traditional Law Firm: Why the Business Model Is Disappearing

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THE WAR ROOM: DISRUPTED • EPISODE 1 AI is not making lawyers obsolete. It is exposing the weaknesses of a legal business model built around time, friction, and manual work. By M. David Johnson, CEO of Modern Family Law Updated August 31, 2026 QUICK ANSWER What Does “The Death of the Law Firm” Mean? It … Continued

Blindsided by Divorce? What to Do When Your Spouse Wants a Divorce

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THE FAMILY BRIEF • EPISODE 1 A divorce can feel sudden to one spouse even when the other has been thinking about it for months or years. Here is how to make sense of what may be happening, what questions to ask, and what you can do next. By Jordan Walker, J.D. Reviewed by Jasmine … Continued

Gray Divorce: A Comprehensive Guide to Divorce After 50

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Divorce later in life can affect far more than your marital status. Retirement savings, Social Security, healthcare, housing, alimony, estate planning, and decades of shared property may all be part of the conversation. By Craig Valentine Chief Practice Officer, Modern Family Law Updated August 21, 2026 A NOTE FROM CRAIG A Straightforward Place to Start … Continued

Modern Family Law Expands in Georgia with New Alpharetta and Savannah Offices

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Company NewsPublished August 19, 2026 Modern Family Law in Georgia Modern Family Law now has three family law offices in Georgia: Atlanta, Alpharetta, and Savannah. The new Alpharetta and Savannah locations expand the firm’s existing Atlanta presence and give more Georgia families access to local attorneys for divorce, child custody, child support, alimony, property division, … Continued

Vaccinations and Child Custody: What Happens When Parents Disagree?

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Medical Decision-Making & Child Custody Vaccinations and Child Custody: What Happens When Parents Disagree? When separated or divorced parents disagree about vaccinating their child, the first question is not simply which parent supports vaccination. It is who has legal authority to make major medical decisions under the parenting plan or custody order. If both parents … Continued

Can Marijuana Use Affect Child Custody?

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Child Custody & Parenting Safety Can Marijuana Use Affect Child Custody? Yes. Marijuana use can affect a child-custody or parenting-time case when it impairs caregiving, exposes a child to unsafe conditions, violates the law or a court order, or otherwise affects the child’s best interests. Legal use alone is not necessarily enough to restrict a … Continued

Is 50/50 Custody the Standard? Understanding Equal Parenting Time

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Parenting Time & Child Custody Is 50/50 Custody the Standard? Understanding Equal Parenting Time A 50/50 parenting schedule is not automatically the right—or legally required—arrangement in every custody case. Courts generally focus on the child’s best interests, including safety, stability, developmental needs, school and activity schedules, each parent’s involvement, and whether an equal schedule is … Continued

What Is Alimony? A Guide to Spousal Support

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Spousal Maintenance (Alimony) What Is Alimony? A Guide to Spousal Support Alimony—also called spousal support or spousal maintenance—is money one spouse may be ordered to pay the other during or after a divorce. It is not automatic. Courts generally look at one spouse’s financial need, the other spouse’s ability to pay, the length and circumstances … Continued

How Long Does a Divorce Take? A Step-by-Step Timeline

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Divorce Process & Planning How Long Does a Divorce Take? A Step-by-Step Timeline An uncontested divorce may be completed in a few months, while a contested divorce can take a year or longer. The actual timeline depends on the state’s minimum waiting period, whether both spouses agree, the complexity of finances and parenting issues, and … Continued

What Is the Average Child Support Payment in 2026?

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Updated July 29, 2026 •Based on the latest U.S. Census Bureau child support report •12-minute read The average child support amount due in the United States was approximately $533 per month, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau report. Custodial parents actually received an average of about $342 per month, reflecting both full and partial … Continued

Custody Battle Blunders: Top 10 Mistakes To Avoid

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Last Updated: July 2026 •Estimated Reading Time: 14 minutes The biggest custody battle mistakes are usually avoidable behaviors that create conflict, undermine credibility, or shift attention away from the child’s needs. Ignoring court orders, sending hostile messages, missing parenting time, involving the child in adult disputes, posting about the case online, and arriving unprepared can … Continued

Contempt of Court in Family Law: The Ultimate Guide

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Last UpdatedJuly 23, 2026 Reviewed ForCurrent U.S. Family-Law Enforcement Landscape Reading Time24 Minutes Contempt of court is the violation of a court's authority or a court order; in family law, it most often involves a parent or former spouse who willfully fails to follow a clear order for child support, parenting time, custody, maintenance, property … Continued