What Every Woman Should Know About Divorce and Custody ─ Judges, Lawyers, and Therapists Share Winning Strategies on How to Keep the Kids, the Cash, and Your Sanity

Women are still discovering-the hard way-just how difficult and unpredictable child custody cases can be. The first and most comprehensive book of its kind, this is a complete insider's guide filled with crucial advice from judges, lawyers, therapists, and mothers who have experienced this challenging legal process. It is designed for women at every stage of divorce and covers a wide range of legal strategies, as well as financial and psychological issues. This updated edition describes how to use technology advantageously and pitfalls to avoid, as well as changes in interstate custody laws and essential topics such as:

- Choosing a lawyer
- What to expect before and in court
- Blended families
- Domestic violence risk factors for women
- What makes a custody agreement good or bad
- Dealing with your emotions
- Parental kidnapping cases
- An appendix of recommended reading

Gayle Rosenwald Smith is a lawyer specializing in family law. Her articles have appeared in the Chicago Tribune and the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Sally Abrahms is the author of Children in the Crossfire. She has published articles in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Los Angeles Times.