Facts: When the parties married, Wife was an American citizen. After moving to the United States following the wedding, Husband eventually became an American citizen. At the time of the marriage, Husband was a full-time medical student earning no income. Wife earned $40,000 per year working for an accountant. Husband’s education and career caused of the parties to relocate throughout the marriage. After 13 years of marriage, Husband filed for divorce. By the time…

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This article by Christine Gross-Loh in The Atlantic is worth your time. The First Lesson of Marriage 101: There Are No Soul Mates A course at Northwestern University teaches students about what makes a healthy relationship. Research shows that practically every dimension of life happiness is influenced by the quality of one’s marriage, while divorce is the second most stressful life event one can ever experience. Yet nearly half of all married couples are likely…

Facts: Mother and Father are the never-married parents of twins. Two years after their birth, Father petitioned to establish parentage, visitation, and child support. Father also asked the court to change the children’s last name to his last name. Father argued the children’s surnames should be changed to his because the children are young and now is the time to change their name; he was at the hospital when the children were born and has been…

Vanderbilt 38, Tennessee 13…

Facts: When Husband and Wife divorced, they agreed that Husband would pay Wife $3577 a month as a combined award of both alimony and child support. After the child-support obligation was established at $765 per month, the balance of the $3577 award was deemed alimony. Three years later, Husband petitioned to modify his alimony obligation. The trial court found that Husband’s income had increased slightly since the divorce. Husband had remarried but declined to testify…

Facts: Sixteen years after Child’s birth, the State, acting on behalf of Mother, petitioned to establish parentage and set child support. After a trial, child support was awarded retroactively to Child’s birth for a total obligation of $124,436.50. Father was ordered to pay $500 a month until the judgment was satisfied—a payment schedule of over 20 years. The trial court’s order was mailed to Father’s attorney. Shortly after receiving the order, Father’s attorney fell and…