The term abandonment can mean a variety of different things, depending on the person using the term. In the law, abandonment has a very specific definition (although it may differ slightly from state to state). Generally, child abandonment occurs when […]
Going through a divorce can turn a couple’s life upside down and lot of arguing can be involved. One point of contention in a lot of divorces is the marital residence. The question of who should stay in the home and whether the home should be sold […]
When the parents of a child are not living together, or the parents do not have an agreement in place for how to financially care for their child, the court can impose one parent to pay the other parent child support. It is a common misconception that child support is […]
Just like marriages, domestic partnerships and civil unions can and do come to an end. The process for ending a domestic partnership or civil union has similarities to a standard divorce proceeding, but there are some variations on that process as well.
An adoption can be considered a “forever decision” in that, once finalized and approved, it is nearly impossible to undo and reverse the adoption. An order granting an adoption is usually the result of a […]
When a stepparent has made a significant bond with his or her stepchild, it is quite common for that stepparent to want to adopt the stepchild. Adoption is a significant legal procedure in which the stepparent becomes a legal parent to the child, with all the rights and […]
Grandparents often play a significant role in the lives of their grandchildren and assist their children (or children-in-law) in times of need. Is there a bill that needs to be paid? The grandparents may provide additional funds to […]
Most judges understand the importance of child custody hearings, but do not enjoy conducting them. This is because these hearings often devolve into two parents accusing each other of bad behavior and harmful habits and touting themselves as being the better parent. Even […]
Many family law courts encourage or require parties involved in divorce or child custody cases to attempt to settle their differences through mediation. Courts tend to prefer when parties are able to reach a mediated agreement […]
Attorneys understand that in the modern practice of the law there are very few “Aha!” moments. That is, it is rare for there to be a smoking gun or surprise witness that the […]
