Plain-English articles on divorce, custody, and starting over — written by the lawyers, therapists, and experts we trust.

Watching your ex flaunt designer bags and Cabo trips while your support money vanishes is infuriating—but California law doesn't require the receiving parent to account for how child support is spent. So when does that spending actually matter to a judge? Learn how it can expose hidden income, when it signals real neglect (too-small shoes, untreated dental pain), and the fight that only costs you money and goodwill.