Family Law Explained

Family law is the term used when examining cases pertaining to marriage and divorce, marital economic matters, and the guardianship and treatment of children within a family. Continue reading for an informative breakdown of family law.

Family Groups

In order to examine a family in a court of law, they are first categorized into their corresponding family group. Below are the different family groups that are commonly used in family law:

• Two-Parent Family: The two-parent family is, historically speaking, the most commonly examined family group within the United States. The two-parent family consists of two spouses and their child or children that they have either produced themselves or adopted into their custody.
• One-Parent Family: The one-parent family consists of one individual who is the legal guardian of a child or children that is either their own or is adopted. The one-parent family may require more financial assistance, as they rely on one single income to manage living expenses, child care, and more.

Children

Legal issues surrounding children are the most common dispute in family court. By law, minor children are the direct responsibility of their legal parent or guardian until he or she reaches the age of 18. Matters examined under family law are to preserve and protect the safety and best interest of the child. The following are matters involving children that are directly classified under family law:

• Child Abuse
• Guardianship
• Adoption
• Paternity
• Parental Rights and Liability
• Child Support
• Child Custody
• Reproductive Rights
• Surrogacy and Artificial Conception
• Foster Care
• Domestic Violence
• Divorce
• Emancipation of Minors

Marriage

By law, marriage is defined as the legal union of a couple as spouses. There are three basic elements of marriage:

• The ability of both parties to marry each other
• The mutual consent of both parties to go through with the marriage
• A marriage contract as required by law

As marriage is a legally-contracted agreement, family law is needed to take a further look into legal matters pertaining to the legal marriage of two spouses. The following are matters that pertain to marriage that are examined in family law:

• Prenuptial Agreements
• Marriage Law
• Same Sex Marriage
• Domestic Partnerships
• Divorce
• Name Change
• Marriage Money and Property

Matters that are examined by family court require the direct supervision and intervention of a skilled attorney. Here at Jeremy Bryant Law, we proudly provide our clients with the legal counsel and support they need to face their trial as well-equipped as possible.