Used data from National Longitudinal Survey of Youth to examine whether effects of nonresident father involvement on child well-being varied by race, mother's education, or whether child was born within or outside marriage. Results showed few interactive effects and no identifiable set of conditions emerged that increased or reduced importance of…

Examined child-related, postdivorce litigation in families with young children by reviewing legal records of 700 divorced couples without children and 700 couples with young children. Data revealed high relitigation rate, particularly among parents. Support issues were relitigated more frequently than were visitation and custody issues. (Author/NB)

Examined effects of adult children's divorce on their relationships with parents, using local probability sample of 905 parents. In general, divorced daughters with child custody had more contact than married daughters and received more help from parents. Sons received more babysitting help when they were married than in other situations. Divorce…

Used data from 212 divorced fathers to investigate relationships between frequency of father-child contact, visitation quality, and child support payment. Found that fathers who saw their children frequently tended to live nearby, reported higher levels of father-child closeness before divorce, and were more likely to have joint custody. Found…

Modification of traditional family therapy approaches are warranted if there is to be any chance of success in the treatment of Parental Alienation Syndrome families. Especially important is the full support of the court. Describes the special family therapeutic techniques warranted in the treatment of families in which the Parental Alienation…

Objectives: Children are often considered a primary motivator for women seeking substance abuse treatment. This study tested a model predicting treatment motivation in substance-abusing mothers. Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of the Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Study (DATOS). It used structural equation modeling to describe factors…

This handbook is designed to help women facing child custody disputes during or after divorce. To assist attorneys, citations to cases and statutes are included. Because this handbook is intended for distribution in the Washington, D.C. area, relevant laws and practices of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia are given. Custody…

This document presents witness testimonies and prepared statements from the Senate hearing on parental kidnapping and child support. Opening statements are included from Senators Arlen Specter and Mich McConnell. Rebecca Hickman testifies about her experience when her daughter was abducted by the noncustodial father and taken to Iran. Hickman asks…

This information memorandum of the Wisconsin Legislative Council describes two pieces of state legislation: 1987 Wisconsin Act 355, which revises the laws relating to child custody determinations in actions affecting the family, and 1987 Wisconsin Act 364, which clarifies and revises the initial applicability provisions in Act 355. Part I of the…

This document contains witnesses' testimonies and prepared statements from the Congressional hearing called to consider enactment of H.R. 2673, a bill to facilitate implementation of the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. The text of H.R. 2673 is included in the document as is the text of H.R. 3971, a bill…

Gives a brief account of recent developments in matrimonial law related to divorce, custody, and visitation to the children of divorcing couples. Discusses the development of mediation, its organizational structure, and its place within the context of the legal system of the United Kingdom. Outlines the principles of conciliation. (Author/ABL)

A model of service for parents undergoing divorce and considering joint custody of their children is described. The model integrates several intervention strategies, including mediation, group treatment, divorce counseling, and child guidance. The applicability of the model to a range of problems related to divorce and child custody is…

Used data from the Michigan Panel Study of Income Dynamics to examine the economic impact of child support reform on affected families. Results revealed that, compared to the current child support system, the proposed alternative would reduce poverty for custodial families but would increase poverty for noncustodial families. (Author/NB)

Fathers with joint physical custody of children under age six report that this custody arrangement is of great benefit to the children, especially in circumstances where mothers have initiated the divorce and have sought less childcare responsibility. Joint physical custody fathers are highly available and provide closeness as the sole parent in…

Interviewed 55 divorcing couples regarding factors they considered in reaching child custody decisions. Mothers and fathers agreed on relative importance of criteria, but differed on extent to which criteria favored one parent. Parents perceived themselves as more suited for custody than they were perceived by their spouses. (NRB)