There's no magic ball. I have seen divorce cases that cost $500 in billable hours and cases that cost more than $100,000. I have seen every case in between.

However, if your case has more issues than Cosmo, then you can expect to pay a lot of money in billable hours. 

Similarly, if you have serious concerns that require investigation, discovery, depositions, and proving your case to a judge then there are often waves of hearings, then you can expect to pay a lot of money. 

On the other hand, if you can organize your issues, prioritize and limit the issues. You have a better job of keeping the cost of legal fees down. 

Almost never.

No less than 61 days, due to a statutory cooling off period. The judge, for good cause may waive the statutory waiting period under certain circumstances. 

Consult a competent and licensed attorney. The odds are stacked against you without an attorney. There are just too many laws, exceptions, exceptions to the exceptions, and nuances for you to expect the best outcome without help.

However, there are some basic concepts, structures, timelines, and worksheets available here.

This can be a nightmare for the grieving parent. Often children are seriously affected by one spouse refusing or denying the other spouse possession and access to the children. If there are no court orders in effect, this becomes an even bigger nightmare. 

If the children are not in any danger, law enforcement will most likely tell you that it is a civil matter. You will have to go to the courthouse because married couples share rights and duties over children without a court order. 

Law enforcement is simply not equipped to handle custody disputes. 

Even if you have a court order when your spouse is denying you possession and access, you still have to go to the courthouse. 

If your attorney can prove to the judge that your spouse violated the orders, you may have a chance at getting the judge to order your spouse to pay your attorney's fees. 

Regardless, unless your spouse has a change of heart, it is more than likely that you will have to go to court and have a hearing so that a judge can order your spouse to surrender the children. 

No. Except with a very young infant, the system is designed to provide Dad with a lot of possession and access in the expanded possession order. 

If you mean, will the judge just believe whatever my spouse says and she lied on the witness stand, the answer is sure. The Judge is listening to a Husband and Wife tell their stories under oath. Unless the judge has some very good reasons not to believe your spouse, then yes. Testimony is evidence. 

Nope. A child is going to cost money one way or the other. More than likely a judge is going to order you to pay child support. 

Are there circumstances where a judge will lower child support? Yes. But only if you can prove that it is in the best interest of the child and/or some other really good reason. 

One really great reason to lower child support is if you provide 50% or more of the child's care. 

The strongest and most successful cases where Dads saw reductions in their court ordered child support occurred in mediated settlement agreements. 

Such threats can trigger very strong emotional responses. 

It is important to remain calm and assess the level of the threat. If your spouse threatens to use the children against you in court you should pause. 

Collect your thoughts. 

Remain calm. 

Realize that you were probably triggered because another human being made a threat and it involved your children. 

You should consult with an attorney. 

That depends upon the size of the community estate, size of separate property, and many other factors. 

Certain egregious bad acts, a large separate estate of the other spouse, the length of the marriage, the judge, and what agreements the parties may reach during litigation are the biggest factors in my opinion.  

Technically yes. Under certain circumstances, such as failing to pay child support for six months or longer. Is it practical or cost effective? Usually not. 

Not exactly. You're not necessarily out of the realm of possibilities. However, if you think you can prance into court and have the judge rule on the issue, think again. Unless there is another compelling reason, you're probably going to pay something as long as you make more money.