Stephanie R. Bolden, lawyers in Oakland, CA, California

Post Decree Modification of Spousal Support

While a divorce case is pending, a court has the power to dissolve the parties' marriage, to resolve issues of child custody and child support, to divide the parties' debts and liabilities and to order the payment of spousal support. The court has the power to take these actions because it has jurisdiction over the parties and the subject matter. Once a final divorce decree is entered, the case terminates. More...

Enforcement of Child Support

When a court enters an order of child support, it orders one party to pay a certain sum of money to another for the support of a child. The person who is ordered to pay is called the obligor. The person who received the payment is the obligee. The amount of child support that is payable is usually based on state law that takes into consideration the number of children for which an obligor is responsible and the amount of income the obligor earns from all sources. More...

Federal Violence Against Women Act

In 1994, Congress passed the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) as Title IV of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. This event marked a turning point in federal recognition of the extent and seriousness of violence against women with a commitment to address the problem. More...

Child Welfare Agencies' Potential Malpractice Liability for Improperly Detaining a Child in the Foster Care System

States have enacted laws requiring the filing of reports of suspected child abuse and neglect, and most states have specialized child protective agencies to investigate these reports. The organization of the agencies varies greatly from state to state. Child protective agencies should essentially perform the same functions. More...

Application of the Indian Child Welfare Act

The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) is a federal law that sets minimum standards for the removal of Native American children from their homes. The ICWA is designed to preserve and strengthen Native American families and culture. More...