Family Law
It is estimated that nearly 50 percent of all marriages in the United States will end in divorce. The number of same sex domestic partners (with and without families) also continues to increase, while adoption is at an all-time high and domestic violence remains on the rise. As issues involving families, couples, children and the law are steadily climbing, family law is more important today than ever before.What Is Family Law?
Family law is a area of legal practice dealing with the rights and duties of husbands, wives, partners, and children. Family law covers marriage issues, children & adoption, domestic violence, abuse and same sex partners, to name a few. Issues involving drug treatment and intervention -- especially involving juveniles -- also fall under family law. Issues and problems involving family law may be settled in family court system. The family court system has the jurisdiction or power to hear matters in relation to all family law disputes.
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The area of family law “marriage issues” covers everything from entering into marriage, pre-nuptial agreements, same-sex marriages and common-law marriages to annulment and divorce, property settlement and alimony. The area of family law that deals with issues involving children is vast. This area includes, but is not limited to: child support, custody, emancipation of minors, legal guardianship, legitimacy, parental responsibility, visitation, ward of the court, foster care, orphanages and of course, adoption.
The area of family law thataddresses domestic violence and abuse is also vast and the lines between what is considered criminal or not is often blurred. This area covers spousal abuse (physical, sexual and psychological), child abuse (physical and psychological), and bigamy. Although same-sex civil unions and same-sex domestic partnerships are recognized in several states, same-sex marriage is only legal in Massachusetts. Domestic partner “benefits” are recognized in California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey and Vermont.
Hiring a Family Law Attorney
In general, family law aassist individuals in the following areas:
- Entering into marriage
- Divorce
- Paternity
- Child custody
- Child support
- Adoption
A good family law attorney is very experienced in his or her area of expertise. Many offer legal services in all areas of family law, while others may specialize in one specific area, such as adoption, divorce or child custody. In many cases, family law attorneys can resolve disputes and issues without subjecting the individuals to a cumbersome court battle. It is said that family court dockets are among the most crowded in the vast majority of jurisdictions.
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