Short answer: the best family law blog topics are the questions divorcing spouses type into Google, answered for your state: how long a divorce takes, what it costs, how property and retirement accounts are divided, how custody is decided, and what to do before filing. Group them by the stage the reader is in, write the state-specific version of each, and turn the strongest ones into permanent pages. Below are 40 topics in that order, plus a worked example of the post most firms should write first.
Generic topic lists produce generic posts. The topics here are chosen because each matches a question a real visitor asks at a specific point in the decision, and each has a structured answer your firm can give without promising outcomes. For the general method behind choosing topics, see our guide to law firm blog topics.
How to choose family law blog topics
Choose family law blog topics by asking what the reader needs to know at each stage of a divorce, then checking whether your state changes the answer. A post titled “How Long Does a Divorce Take in Ohio?” beats “Understanding the Divorce Process” every time, because it matches the search and gives a definite answer.
- Start from questions, not services. Clients search “can my spouse take the house”, not “property division services”.
- Make it state-specific. Waiting periods, support formulas and property regimes differ by state. A national answer is weaker than yours.
- Follow the reader’s stages. Someone still deciding needs different content from someone with a court date.
- Prefer topics with a structured answer. “What starts the waiting period” can be answered definitely. “Will I win custody” cannot, and should not be attempted.
40 family law blog topics by stage
Replace [State] with your state, and write each one with your attorneys’ review and a visible “last reviewed” date.
Before deciding (8 topics)
- How long does a divorce take in [State]?
- Do you have to be separated before filing for divorce in [State]?
- Can you be “separated” while living in the same house?
- Residency requirements to file for divorce in [State]
- Legal separation vs divorce in [State]: what is the difference?
- What to do before telling your spouse you want a divorce
- Documents to gather before a divorce consultation
- Should I move out of the house before the divorce?
Money and property (8 topics)
- How much does a divorce cost in [State]?
- How divorce retainers work, and what happens when one runs out
- Community property vs equitable distribution: which applies in [State]?
- How retirement accounts and pensions are divided in a divorce
- Who keeps the house in a divorce?
- Is an inheritance separate property in [State]?
- How spousal support works in [State]
- How child support is calculated in [State]
Children (7 topics)
- Legal custody vs physical custody, explained
- How [State] courts decide custody: the best-interest factors
- At what age can a child choose which parent to live with in [State]?
- Moving out of state with children after a divorce
- Holiday and summer schedules that work
- What goes into a parenting plan
- Co-parenting teenagers after divorce
The process (7 topics)
- Uncontested vs contested divorce in [State]
- Mediation vs litigation: which fits your divorce?
- What is collaborative divorce?
- What happens at the first divorce hearing
- Temporary orders: support and custody while the divorce is pending
- Financial disclosure and discovery in a divorce
- What if my spouse will not sign the divorce papers?
Specific situations (6 topics)
- Divorce after 50: pensions, Social Security and health insurance
- Military divorce in [State]
- Divorce when you own a business
- Will a prenup hold up in [State]?
- Protective orders and divorce: how they interact
- Divorce when your spouse lives in another state
After the decree (4 topics)
- How to modify child support or custody in [State]
- What to do when an ex will not follow the divorce order
- Changing your name after a divorce in [State]
- Updating your will and beneficiary designations after divorce
Write the timeline post first
If you write only one post from this list, make it “How long does a divorce take in [State]?”. Cost has a range for an answer; time has a structure. A state either has a waiting period after filing or it does not, and it either requires separation before one route is available or it does not. That lets the firm write a definite answer to a high-volume question, which is what ranks and what AI answer engines quote.
It also serves the undecided reader. Someone still working out whether this is happening wants to know how long it would take if it did, and the page that tells them plainly is the one they come back to.
The clocks the post should explain
| Clock | The reader’s question | What the post has to say |
|---|---|---|
| Residency before filing | “Can I file here yet?” | Whether the state requires it, and what counts |
| Waiting period after filing | “When can it be final?” | Whether one exists and what starts it |
| Separation before the unilateral route | “Do we have to live apart first?” | Whether the state has one, and what “separate” means in a shared house |
| Consent vs unilateral | “What if my spouse won’t agree?” | How the timetable differs between the two routes |
| The court’s own calendar | “Why is it taking so long?” | Realistic timing in your county, not the statutory minimum |
| What resets the clock | “We tried again and it didn’t work” | Reconciliation, moves, amended filings |
Every row is legal content your firm writes, verifies and dates. We state no periods here because they vary by state and change.
Consent is the hinge
In states that distinguish divorce by mutual consent from a unilateral no-fault route, the difference in timetable is the most important fact in the post. A couple who both sign may be on one timeline; a spouse facing a partner who will not may need a period of separation first. Explaining that plainly answers the question and leads the reader to the one the firm most wants to discuss: will your spouse agree, and what happens if not? Where a state has a separate joint-petition procedure for agreeing couples, put it at the top, not in a footnote.
The statutory minimum is not the answer
The most common failure is quoting the statutory minimum as if it were the expected duration. A waiting period is a floor; the court’s calendar, the other side’s cooperation and the complexity of the finances set the real timing. Give a realistic range for your county for uncontested and contested matters, and say what stretches it. Firms in metros that straddle a state line should also say which states each lawyer is admitted in, because the clocks differ on each side.
Rules for writing family law posts
Family law posts are attorney advertising in most states, so the usual rules apply alongside good writing practice.
- Answer first. Put the direct answer in the first two or three sentences, then explain. Search engines and AI answer tools lift that opening.
- No outcome promises. ABA Model Rule 7.1 bars misleading communications, including statements that create unjustified expectations. “You will keep the house” is out; “here is how courts in [State] approach the house” is fine.
- Date and review. Support guidelines and filing rules change. Show a “last reviewed” date and set a calendar reminder to recheck.
- General information, not advice. Add a short line that the post is general information and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Your state may require more; check our attorney advertising rules by state guide.
- Respect the shared device. Many readers research on a device their spouse can see. Offer discreet contact options and go easy on remarketing.
Blog posts vs practice pages
Some of these topics should not stay blog posts. The timeline, cost, custody and property topics are evergreen questions central to the practice, and they usually perform better as permanent pages linked from the main navigation. Use the blog for narrower questions, local court changes and situational topics, and link each post to the relevant practice page. Our guide to family law SEO covers how those pages and posts work together to rank.
If you would rather have the content plan built and maintained for you, see our law firm SEO services. To check how your existing posts handle disclaimers and structure first, run the free website scan.
Frequently asked questions
What should a family law firm blog about?
The questions divorcing spouses search, answered for your state: timelines, costs, property and retirement division, custody, support, and what to do before filing. Start with topics that have a structured answer, such as how long a divorce takes, and avoid anything that requires predicting an outcome.
How often should a divorce lawyer publish blog posts?
Consistency matters more than volume. Two well-researched, state-specific posts a month that answer real questions will do more than weekly generic posts. Spend part of the time updating older posts when the law or local practice changes.
Should family law blog posts be state-specific?
Yes, wherever the answer depends on state law, which in family law is most of the time. Waiting periods, residency rules, property regimes and support calculations all differ, and readers include the state name in their searches.
Can a law firm blog give legal advice?
A blog should give general information, not advice on a reader’s specific situation. Explain how the law generally works, avoid promising results, include a short disclaimer, and invite readers to talk to the firm about their own facts.
Should a topic be a blog post or a practice page?
If the topic is central to what the firm does and the question will be asked for years, such as divorce cost, timelines or custody, make it a page in the main navigation. Narrower or time-sensitive topics work as blog posts that link to those pages.
Legal Web Agency is a marketing agency, not a law firm, and nothing here is legal advice. Confirm current requirements with your state bar or ethics counsel.
