| Family law matters represent a sizable chunk of any | | | | family gains these rights in a law court. Attorneys in |
| jurisdiction's docket and can be among the most | | | | these cases handle negotiations with birth parents or |
| emotionally charged matters seen in court. | | | | the state, and finalize any agreements among the |
| Family law deals with family related issues and | | | | parties. |
| domestic relations, including marriage, divorce, | | | | Paternity is yet another area of family law. Paternity |
| paternity, child and spousal support, child custody, | | | | cases determine the biological parents of a child and |
| adoption, long-term care for elderly parents, civil | | | | establish these parents' rights and responsibilities with |
| unions and other related matters. | | | | regard to the child. As traditional marriage becomes |
| Divorce and child custody cases make up the vast | | | | less common, paternity suits and related child support |
| majority of family law cases. It requires that a | | | | and custody cases are on the rise. |
| divorce must be certified by the court system to | | | | Civil union litigation are an emerging area of family |
| become effective. The terms of the divorce are | | | | law, as traditional marriage has been joined by civil |
| usually determined by a law court, and may take into | | | | unions as a legal option. It is litigation that may arise |
| account prenuptial agreements or postnuptial | | | | related to civil unions include the dissolution of civil |
| agreements. A contested divorce may be stressful | | | | unions, adoption and child custody issues and |
| to the spouses and lead to expensive litigation in | | | | property and legacy issues. |
| family law courts regarding issues such as child | | | | Our aging population is also giving rise to an increase |
| custody, spousal and child support and property | | | | in guardianship and power-of-attorney actions |
| division. Less adversarial approaches to divorce | | | | regarding elderly relatives no longer able to manage |
| settlements have recently emerged in the practice of | | | | their affairs. Attorneys can help the adult children of |
| family law, such as mediation and collaborative | | | | elderly parents settle disputes and collaborate in the |
| divorce, which use a cooperative process and | | | | long-term care of their loved ones. |
| sometimes a single attorney working for both parties | | | | Family law is a dynamic and growing area of the law |
| to come to an agreement. | | | | and parties involved would be well-advised to |
| Adoption makes up a smaller, but significant area of | | | | become as well-informed concerning the subject as |
| family law. In adoption, some or all of the rights of | | | | possible to better be able to ask and answer |
| the original parents are terminated, and the adopting | | | | questions of their attorney. |