Family
Law - An Overview
Family law is the term which is applied to the laws and rules developed
regarding family relationships. Family law rules define not only
the relationships between members of a family but also between a
family and society as a whole. More than any other area of the law,
family law reflects the values society shares regarding how people
who are related should treat each other.
Typically, family law attorneys assist people with the making and
breaking of family relationships. Specific areas of representation
usually include marriage and relationship planning, divorce, paternity,
child custody and child support. Our office also
provides assistance in the area of adoption. When you are faced with
an important life decision regarding a key family relationship,
the advice and assistance of an experienced family law attorney
often proves crucial to your understanding of the issues involved
and your satisfaction with the ultimate outcome of the family-related
concern you face.
Marriage
Marriage is a voluntary, private contract between a man and a woman
or two parties of the same sex.
While it is a personal and emotional commitment, it is also a legal
relationship that changes the legal status of both parties. The
legal rights and obligations associated with marriage have evolved
with our society and today are equitable between both parties. Each
state has its own rules about marriage, but there are some uniform
principles, including:
Divorce
Deciding to pursue divorce is one of the most difficult and emotional
decisions you will ever make, particularly if you have children.
Divorce also involves business and legal questions that must be
resolved. An experienced family law attorney will help you to understand
the basic issues and use a rational perspective to approach the
process.
Grounds for Divorce
Traditionally, every state required a person filing for divorce
to prove "grounds" or some type of spousal fault in order
to obtain a divorce. Today, the majority of states allow at least
one form of "no-fault" divorce, which does not require
proof of fault. If no-fault divorce is available in your state,
either member of the couple may obtain a divorce, even if the other
party does not consent to the divorce.
Custody & Visitation
When parents divorce, they need to learn the child custody and visitation
options that are available to them and the legal standards applied
to the different options. In most cases, divorcing couples are ultimately
able to agree on custody and visitation issues without the need
for a court order. When an agreement cannot be reached, knowledgeable
advice and representation from an experienced family law attorney
often makes the difference.
Child Support
There are more than 13 million divorced parents with sole custody
of their minor children in America. Federal legislation and uniform
state laws exist to make enforcement and collection of child support
easier for America's single parents. Every state uses its own guidelines
for establishing child support and each has various methods to set
support amounts and recover support when it is overdue.
It is important to consult with an experienced family law attorney
if you need help with a child support related issue. An attorney
with experience in the area of child support will help you understand
the laws in your state and the rules for child support collection
and enforcement that apply to your particular situation, whether
you are ending a marriage or are already divorced, have questions
about paternity or are the parent paying support.
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