Alabama parents may be interested in learning that some research points to the fact that fathers are favored in child custody battles, even when the father has been accused of or has been proven to have engaged in abuse. Some believe that this happens because of long-held beliefs by psychologists, judges, and attorneys regarding the prevalence or pervasiveness of parental alienation.
The role of DNA tests in child support cases
Those who are seeking child support in Alabama or any other state may need to first prove the identity of the child's father. In many cases, parentage is determined through a DNA test. This is because DNA tests are up to 99.99999% accurate. If a DNA test determines the father of the kid, he will likely be ordered to pay child support.
Divorce is declining, but for a surprising reason
Many people assume that the chance a couple will divorce is a high one. Though the rate is still significant, despite what many news reports might have you believe, divorce is actually going down. That 50% statistic you may have heard is outdated. Today, the number is around 39%.
Voluntary impoverishment is taken seriously by the OCSE
It is not unheard of for noncustodial parents in Alabama and around the country to earn less than they are capable of or take off-the-books jobs in order to lower the amount of child support they are required to pay. This is referred to as voluntary impoverishment, and the Office of Child Support Enforcement takes it very seriously. When the OCSE suspects that a noncustodial parent is voluntarily impoverished, they may act in a number of ways.
