Among the Ask a Divorce Lawyer questions answered today by Cordell & Cordell attorneys:

• I'm currently unemployed but will start a job soon. Is my child support determined by my current unemployed status or by my pending future salary?
• My ex came after me for child support for a child that is 14 years old and I’m not sure is mine. What can I do?
• Is it true that it is against the law to make a provision for the support of children over the age of 18?
• My ex wife filed a motion for order permitting travel to Brazil with the kids. I'm afraid she won't return. What can I do to stop her?
• How is maintenance calculated?
• The judge granted our request to dismiss our uncontested divorce. Does this mean the mediation agreement is null and void as well?

Question: I filed for divorce in Tennessee after my wife of 22 years left the state and left our two daughters ages 17 and 19 with me. She has paid nothing at all and has lived in our foreclosing vacation home in Colorado. 

I filed for divorce 6 months ago in Tennessee but she ignored the certified mail I sent her. Then she counterfiles against me! All she wants is my money; 60% of my income and me to take on 90% of our liabilities. I’ve requested mediation, which is quite expensive, but my wife will not communicate or reason with me in any fashion. 

Am I better off getting this set for a bench trial or should I risk continued unfairness and vindictiveness in mediation?

Question: Am I reading correctly that any agreement reached in mediation is NOT legally binding? 

So a court must set an agreement in place for it to hold water?

Question: I want to give an example of an agreement we had during mediation and how valid these agreements are. We have an agreement through mediation that states I have the children every weekend, and also that I was allowed to have them Christmas Eve, which was a weekday. 

She calls and says she wanted them the weekend after Christmas and if I don’t agree, she wouldn’t let the kids come over for Christmas Eve because it was on a weekday. I mentioned our mediation agreement and was told it means nothing until it is finalized by the court. 

What is the validity of this agreement, which was signed by both parents and the mediator?

Question: My husband lost joint custody to his ex. On the idea that they could not get along, she was awarded sole primary and physical custody of his two sons. However, the cooperation was and is based on her lack of cooperation. We introduced all the evidence of the blatant lying, phone recording, etc. Yet all he has minimal visitation. 

His 12-year-old son just stated he wants to live with his dad. My husband's attorney filed the motion. While we are awaiting the hearing for this, his ex filed a motion and has willfully refused to participate with their court ordered parent coordinator. What are my husband's rights and where can I find some statues/laws that I can research to help my husband with this extremely gender biased ruling? My husband's attorney is very passive and we are at a loss.