Family Law Overview

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Family Law Overview

"Family law" is the term lawyers use to describe laws that affect families. 
Photo credit: Bruno Nascimento. A woman smiles and embraces a young child

Frequently Asked Questions about Family Law

Below are the most frequently asked questions about Family Law. Learn what family law is, where you can get help with a family law case and what issues are typically decided. For an answer to a specific question, just click the link to the question and you will be taken directly there. To read all the questions and answers, continue to scroll down the page.


 

What is Family Law?

Where can I get help with a divorce or other family law matter?

Can I get a divorce if my spouse is in the military?

What issues will be decided in a divorce?

What if we're not married but have children together?

What if there is a question about who is the father of a child?

 

 

 

What is Family Law?

"Family law" is the term lawyers use to describe laws that affect families. 

The most common types of "family law" cases are:

  • Divorce (with or without children) and
  • Parental rights, also known as child custody (where non-married parents address issues relating to their children).
     

"Family law" also includes adoption, state termination of parental rights, protection from domestic abuse, and other family-related issues. On this page, we'll talk about divorce and parental rights.


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Where can I get help with a divorce or other family law matter?

Many legal services offices serving low-income families handle family law matters for free.  Find an office near you here. or try getting legal help from a JAG or civil legal assistance officer in your state (serving active duty servicemembers and their families and retirees).
 

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Can I get a divorce if my spouse is in the military?

The answer is Yes - but there may be some added steps or delays. Although you can file for divorce at any time, federal law provides some protections for servicemembers so that they do not lose their rights to defend or oppose lawsuits while doing military service. This protection is especially important for those serving overseas and who can't get stateside to participate in the proceedings. But if a servicemember is in the U.S. and available, or waives their right to oppose, a divorce should continue as normal.
 

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What issues will be decided in a divorce?

Divorce laws vary from state to state. In general, the court can decide several issues. First and foremost, the divorce order will end the marriage. 


If you have children, it will likely address:

  • Where the children are going to live,
     
  • Where and when the other parent can visit the children
     
  • Who will be able to make decisions about the children and their well-being
     
  • How much child support will be paid, and
     
  • Who will provide health care coverage
     

You may also address who gets to claim the child for tax purposes and how to divide up any expenses that child support doesn’t cover.
 

Sometimes a court will appoint a person to look out for the children’s best interests. This person may be called a Guardian ad Litem, a Friend of the Court, or something else. In general, this person’s job is to investigate the situation, speak with the parents and children and make recommendations to the Court. Ultimately, though, the Court makes the final decisions.
 

The court may also decide:

  • Who will get any real property (like a home),
     
  • Who gets certain personal property,
     
  • Who will pay on the debts, and
     
  • Whether anyone will pay alimony or spousal support.
     

It will also address what happens to retirement accounts, whether property is marital or non-marital and who pays attorney's fees (if there are any).
 

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What if we're not married but have children together?

You can still get a court order deciding issues relating to your children.  The Court's order will address all child-related issues listed above. 
 

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What if there is a question about who is the father of a child?

The court can also address any paternity issues. Often this is done through a divorce or parental rights/child custody case. Sometimes, the State may bring a case to determine paternity. This is most likely where one parent is getting TANF (welfare benefits).
 

If there is any doubt about the paternity of a child, get a paternity test. Do this sooner, rather than later. Once you acknowledge paternity, or a divorce court assumes you are the father, it can be very difficult to undo the consequences. If you have questions about the legal issues around paternity, try to talk to a lawyer.
 

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PLEASE NOTE: This is very general information about how the state divorce laws work and we recommend you contact a legal professional in your state for specifics.