"It deals with child custody and visitation, child support, alimony, health and life insurance, real estate, cars, household items, bank accounts, debts, investments, retirement plans and pensions, college tuition for children, and other items of value, such as frequent flyer miles and country club memberships.
Some states take into account the child's preferences, while others permit children aged 14 or older to choose their residing parent.
In most states, the prevailing practice involves granting some form of joint custody, wherein both parents share physical and legal responsibilities for the child.
In most states, there are statutes outlining a range of factors that a judge must take into account when deciding whether to award alimony, including the type, amount, and duration of support.
Additionally, some states may consider factors such as the standard of living enjoyed by the couple during the marriage or even the level of fault attributed to each spouse in the divorce.