Family law

Family law is a legal practice area that focuses on issues involving family relationships, such as adoption, divorce, and child custody, among others. Attorneys practicing family law can represent clients in family court proceedings or in related negotiations and can also draft important legal documents such as court petitions or property agreements. Some family law attorneys even specialize in adoption, paternity, emancipation, or other matters not usually related to divorce.

Overview

Family law matters hit close to home. They can be very emotional and stressful. Whether you are facing a divorce, child custody dispute, or adoption, it's important to have a family law attorney who can provide you with compassionate, comprehensive legal advice and representation.

Divorce

Divorce is the process of breaking the bonds of matrimony between a married couple under the rule of law of the particular country or state. Divorce laws vary considerably around the world, but in most countries, divorce requires the sanction of a court or other authority in a legal process, which may involve issues of distribution of property, child custody, alimony (spousal support), child visitation / access, parenting time, child support, and division of debt.

Child Custody and Visitation

Child custody and visitation laws can vary widely from state to state, so it's important that your attorney has experience with the particular laws of your state. Child custody and visitation can be one of the most contentious aspects of a divorce.

Adoption

Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting of another, usually a child, from that person's biological or legal parent or parents. Legal adoptions permanently transfer all rights and responsibilities, along with filiation, from the biological parent or parents.

Paternity

In some cases, paternity cases can be filed by the mother in an effort to secure child support payments from an absent father. But sometimes biological fathers file for paternity in order to have a relationship with their child. Paternity typically is determined through DNA testing.

Emancipation and Age of Majority

Emancipation and the age of majority are legal concepts that specify when a young person is no longer under the care of their parents and is responsible for their own legal and financial affairs. If a young person is emancipated, they can enter into contracts, sue and be sued, and make certain medical decisions on their own.

Prenuptial Agreement

A prenuptial agreement, antenuptial agreement, or premarital agreement, commonly abbreviated to prenup or prenupt, is a contract entered into prior to marriage, civil union, or any other agreement prior to the main agreement by the people intending to marry or contract with each other.

See Also

• Child support
• Alimony
• Marital property
• Annulment
• Legal separation

Family law Resources
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