Fargo Family Law Blog

After a North Dakota divorce, the living arrangements for the parent with residential responsibility of children from the marriage might change based on the circumstances. This can impact visitation plans and other issues that could cause a dispute between the parties. For parents who are either considering a parental relocation or are concerned about how it will affect their ability to see their children, understanding the basics of what the state law says about relocation is key. This will be imperative when trying to navigate the situation.

If a parent has been given primary residential custody and decides to relocate to a different state, there are two ways in which he or she can do so: they can have an agreement with the other parent if the other parent has parenting time; or they can seek an order to move from a district court in North Dakota. There will be no requirement to get such an order in the following circumstances: if the other parent has failed to exercise his or her right to parenting time for one year; or the other parent has left North Dakota and moved to another state that is more than 50 miles away from the residence of the parent who has primary residential custody.

The holidays can be a time when emotions are running high and parents may find it difficult to navigate the season without disputes and conflict. If you co-parent or you are walking through divorce and plan to co-parent, it may be helpful to know how to deal with the stress and difficulties of the holiday season. With the right perspective, you can keep the peace and protect the well-being of your kids.

One of the main sources of conflict between co-parents is the division of parenting time during the busiest time of the year. From family dinners to school performances, there are many things going on and several events you probably want your child to attend. This can make it more likely that disputes will happen and hard feelings will arise.

What do you want from a legal office? Obviously, you would want a competent staff and an attorney who is good in his her or her field, but what else do you want? Have you thought about accessibility to any documents you are having or have had prepared for you? If you have not, you should.

Here is the thing: many law firms in North Dakota and across the country are only willing to work with clients face to face. They limit their accessibility to regular working hours and only allow clients to access documents upon request and give them out in person. Does that make sense in a digital world?

When there is a child support order in North Dakota, many parents will believe that the payments will continue until the child reaches what is known as "majority." However, that is not always the case. The child support guidelines allow for the payments to continue beyond age 18 - when the child has reached majority - if there are certain conditions in place. Even parents who have no negative perception about paying for a child's financial needs will look forward to the day when they are no longer required to do so. It is imperative to know when the payments can be extended beyond the age of majority.

The requirement for a supporting parent to pay child support will continue until the end of the month when the child has graduated from high school or reached age 19 - whichever occurs first. The following circumstances must be in place for this rule to be in effect: the child must be enrolled in and attending high school and be 18 before the date when he or she is expected to graduate and the child must still live with the person who is receiving the child support payments.