Lawyer for Family law is an area of law that focuses on issues related to family relationships, such as marriage, adoption, divorce, child custody, among others. Family law attorneys may represent clients in family court proceedings or related negotiations. They may also draft important legal documents, such as court filings or property titles.
Some family law lawyers even specialize in adoption, paternity, emancipation, or other matters not normally associated with divorce. The subject of family encompasses so many aspects of life. Therefore, attorneys in this field help all kinds of people who are dealing with all kinds of significant issues that many would not immediately assume fall under the umbrella of family law.
The following is an introduction to family law and what it involves.
Helpful Terms to Know Lawyer for Family Law
Emancipation: A legal process by which a minor becomes self-sufficient, assumes adult responsibility for his or her personal welfare, and is no longer in the care of his or her parents.
Marital Property: Property acquired by either spouse during the course of a marriage and divided upon divorce.
Alimony: An assignment made by another to a spouse for support during or after a legal separation or divorce.
Paternity: offspring or descent from a parent (determining paternity means confirming the identity of a child’s biological father).
Prenuptial Agreement: A contract between a man and a woman before marriage, in which they relinquish subsequent rights to the other’s property in the event of divorce or death.
Reasons to Hire a Family Law lawyer
Most family attorneys represent clients in divorce proceedings and other divorce-related matters. However, family law is a relatively broad field of practice, encompassing issues such as foster care and reproductive rights. Because family law matters are so familiar, having a reliable attorney by your side can help ensure that your loved ones are properly represented and protected during court proceedings.
The most common reasons for hiring a family law attorney are:
Stay up to date on how the law is affecting your life
Divorce: Each partner hires their own attorney to help draw up a settlement plan to avoid litigation.
Divorce attorneys are generally skilled at dividing marital property, calculating spousal support, and preparing a plan for custody, visitation, and child support (if applicable).
Custody/Child Support: Court orders and settlement agreements affecting both custody and child support are usually included in major divorce cases, but can be modified if conditions change. In this case, child support can be changed after the financial situation of the non-custodial parent changes.
Paternity: In most cases, paternity suits are filed by the mother in order to recover child support from an absent father. But sometimes biological parents apply for paternity in order to have a relationship with their kind. Paternity is usually determined by DNA testing.
Adoption/Foster Care: Adoption is a complex process that varies depending on the type of adoption, the child’s origin, variations in state law, and other factors. Therefore, it is important to seek advice from a family law attorney. Foster parents sometimes adopt their foster children, but the fostering process does not require legal representation.
You can find a family law in our directory, in the 50 states of America
