E.A. Gjelten

Legal Editor

E.A. (Liz) Gjelten has been a special projects editor at Nolo since 2016. A generalist when it comes to subject matter, she enjoys using her research, analytical, and writing skills to translate complex legal issues into jargon-free language that’s accessible to lay readers without compromising accuracy.

Nolo. In addition to her work on surveys about lay people’s experiences with the legal process, Liz writes articles for Nolo.com, Lawyers.com, Criminaldefenselawyer.com, and Alllaw.com in several areas of the law, including workers’ compensation, criminal law, civil rights, school law, and animal law. 

Legal background. Before coming to Nolo, Liz worked for 12 years as a legal author for Thomson Reuters, writing about new legal developments in workers’ compensation and family law for Westlaw and print publications. She also wrote an annual roundup of new California legislation for a monthly family law journal. Before that, Liz worked as an author, legal editor, and managing editor for California Family Law Report, a small legal publishing company.

Other pursuits. Liz has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California at Los Angeles and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. She’s a produced playwright and has taught at San Francisco State University and New College of California. She’s also worked as a freelance book editor, journalist, and grant writer.


Articles By E.A. Gjelten

Child Custody and Relocation Laws in Maryland
What should you do if you or your ex want to move away with your children? Learn how Maryland courts deal with the issue.
Guide to Divorce Mediation in Illinois
You may always choose to mediate the disputes in your Illinois divorce, but sometimes it’s mandatory. Learn how divorce mediation works in Illinois—including how much it costs and how it can save you time and money.
Child Support in Illinois
Find out how child support is calculated in Illinois, whether you can change it, and how the court enforces those payments.
Child Support Laws in Utah
Utah's child support guidelines take into account parents' income, the custody arrangement, and other factors when calculating the amount of child support a parent will owe.
Who Gets the House in a California Divorce?
When it comes to the marital home, divorcing couples have a few options for how to divide this valuable asset.
How Judges Decide Alimony Amounts
Find out what judges consider when deciding how much support one spouse has to pay to the other during or after divorce.
Virginia Child Custody Laws
Whether you're going through a divorce or separation, if you have minor children, you're going to need to talk about custody. Child custody is often the most emotional and complex topic for parents going through a divorce or separation. Continue reading to learn more about child custody and visitation in Virginia.
Uncontested Divorce FAQ
Get answers to common questions about uncontested divorce, including how much it will cost, how long it will take, and whether you're a good candidate for this simple and quick way of getting divorced..
Arizona Divorce FAQ
Get answers to the most common questions about divorce in Arizona.
How Do I File for Divorce in Arizona?
Wondering where to begin and how to file a divorce? Learn about the basic steps, forms, and other requirements to file for divorce in Arizona—and how to get help with the process.