Divorce Care Court Parent Spouse Custody Sole Divorced

When a married "couple" (two people) want to get a "divorce" (a legal end to a marriage), they often have many disagreements. If they cannot decide the "terms" (legal details) of the divorce by themselves, then they have to go to a divorce court.

Divorce courts are mostly "concerned with" (interested in) two things: the distribution of "assets" (things that can be sold for money) and care of the children. If there is a "prenuptial agreement," or an agreement that was signed by the husband and wife before they were married, then the judge will simply make sure that that agreement is followed. If there is no prenuptial agreement, then the judge will help the divorcing couple decide who should get which assets.

A couple's assets might include the family's home, cars, and "valuables" (things worth a lot of money). In addition, the divorce court can "mandate" (say that something must happen) that one spouse pay alimony to the other spouse. Alimony is often paid when one spouse worked and made money while the other spouse stayed home and took care of the children.

Regarding custody, divorce courts should "act in the best interest of" the children (do what is best for the children). If both parents can and want to take care of the children, then the court "grants" (gives) joint custody. If only one parent is able to care for the children, the court grants him or her sole custody. The court can also "rule on" (decide) the parents' visitation rights and child support payments. In the past, the mother was usually given sole custody of children after a divorce, but now joint custody is more common and sometimes fathers are given sole custody.