Family law focuses on relationships between family members covering marriage, divorce, legal separation, paternity, child custody, adoption, and prenuptial agreements, Family law is also sometimes referred to as matrimonial law and domestic relations law.
Divorce dissolves a marriage between two individuals. If there are children in the marriage, the divorce will address the care and custody of children under the age of 19. The primary issues to be decided during a divorce include the allocation of assets, distribution of debt, responsibility for attorney fees, as well as alimony (also known as spousal support). If there are children, there will need to be a parenting plan to address custody and parenting time based on the best interests of the children, child support, responsibility for work-related child care, health insurance coverage, expenses not covered by health insurance, and who will claim the minor child for state and federal income tax purposes.
Legal Separation addresses all of the issues in a divorce EXCEPT it does not dissolve the marriage.
A paternity case will include a judicial determination of the minor child’s parents, and the final court order include a parenting plan to address custody, parenting time, child support, responsibility for work-related childcare, health insurance coverage, expenses not covered by health insurance, and who will claim the minor child for state and federal income tax purposes.
Juvenile law is a system to address children under the age of 19 who are either accused of violating the law or who have been abused or neglected by their care providers. The goal of the juvenile justice system is to keep children safe.
ACW Law has talented lawyers waiting to help you with your divorce and family law issues. Please contact:
