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

• Can my ex-wife change my kids' names without my authority?
• How can I go about finding out if her new husband adopted our children?
• I thought the ability to claim the earned income credit was based on whom the child lived with for more of the year. Is that true?

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

• My child support was based on a worksheet that included erroneous gross information for me. Am I stuck paying the wrong amount of child support?
• My wife had some premarital money that we used to buy our first house. Is she entitled to any of that money back?

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

• Tax issues with children in college, disabled children, and claiming grandchildren
• If my child will be 18 before my divorce is final, do we even need to address custody in the divorce?
• How do I get my fair share of the equity in our home?

By Molly Murphy

Attorney

Cordell & Cordell, P.C., Jefferson City, Mo., office

Custody battles are hard on kids of all ages.  It is especially hard for tweens and teenagers.  They are old enough to understand what court is, and that Mom and Dad are fighting over them.  Some children even become their parents’ confidantes or are used as a pawn between their parents. 

In this role the teenager, who is still a child, becomes a mediator.  Or, they become one parent’s staunchest defender.  Any of those roles is a hard place to be.  It is especially hard on teenagers, as they are still developing their own relationships with their peers.

However, be aware that getting your child involved in your case could backfire on you.

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

• My ex-wife has continued to lie to my daughter causing alienation. Do I have any recourse against my ex-wife?
• My daughter was placed with my deceased ex's mother after a false allegation of sexual abuse. I was found innocent so how can I get full custody of my daughter back?
• My ex was awarded our home two years ago, but now it is scheduled for foreclosure. My name is still on the mortgage. What options do I have?
• Can the judge require that the custodial parent not be allowed to move farther away than they already are?
• Our divorce agreement says we cannot cohabitate while having parenting time with our child and we each have a first right of refusal when one of us cannot honor our parenting time. If these are being violated, how do you enforce and/or modify your custody order?