Family Law
Our litigation unit has extensive experience in dealing with family and matrimonial matters. We can act on behalf of both parties concerned in divorce proceedings where it is clear at the inception of the matter that the parties will be able to reach an amicable settlement.
What is Family Law?
Family law is a practice area concerned with legal issues involving family relationships, such as adoption, divorce, and child custody. Attorneys practising family law typically handle divorce, child custody, child support, and other related legal matters. Some family law attorneys specialize in adoption, paternity, emancipation, or other matters usually not related to divorce.
States have the right to determine "reasonable formal requirements" for marriage, including age and legal capacity, and most states do not permit same-sex couples to marry (but this is a rapidly changing area of law). Likewise, state laws govern the various rules and procedures for divorce and other family law matters.
Terms to Know
- Emancipation: A court process through which a minor becomes self-supporting, assumes adult responsibility for his or her welfare, and is no longer under the care of his or her parents.
- Marital Property: Property acquired by either spouse during a marriage that is subject to division upon divorce.
- Alimony: An allowance made to one spouse by the other for support pending or after legal separation or divorce.
- Paternity: Origin or descent from a father (to establish paternity is to confirm the identity of a child's biological father)
- Prenuptial Agreement: An agreement made between a man and a woman before marrying in which they give up future rights to each other's property in the event of a divorce or death.
