Nearly everyone will need the advice of a lawyer at some point in life, but it is important to know which legal issues should be handled by a family attorney. Four of the more common issues are presented here.
Divorce
When a married couple makes the decision to divorce, an attorney who specializes in family law will help his or her client navigate the legal system to ensure the marriage is dissolved in a fair manner. An attorney will assist with divisions of jointly held property and debts, issues pertaining to custody and financial support of any children involved, spousal support, and so forth. A lawyer can also litigate in the dissolution of non-traditional marriages such as civil unions and domestic partnerships.
Adoption
In cases of adoption, laws can vary quite a bit from state to state; therefore, it is imperative to retain a lawyer who can ensure that proper legal procedures are followed. If laws are not strictly followed, this could result in substantial delays in the process of adoption, a denial of the adoption, or it could give cause to overturn an adoption at some point down the road. A family attorney has the knowledge necessary to traverse the legal channels of both private adoptions as well as those conducted through adoption agencies.
Child Support
As mentioned previously, child support issues can arise during the dissolution of marriage. Having a lawyer at one's disposal to advocate for the child ensures the child has access to the appropriate level of care, enjoys a better quality of life, and potentially avoids poverty. If a court order for child support has been made and the responsible party becomes delinquent on child support payments, a family attorney will fight in court for the monies due to the child. The same applies when the responsible party's income increases. A lawyer can go back to court to see that child support payments are adjusted accordingly. Conversely, in cases when the responsible party cannot afford child support payments or disputes the paternity of the child, a lawyer is also invaluable in finding resolution.
Paternity
Establishing a child's paternity is a serious legal matter that also requires the services of a family attorney. For instance, in many states an unmarried male is not automatically guaranteed any parental rights to a child he believes to be his until his paternity is legally established. Means for doing so include DNA testing, submitting a formal affidavit attesting to paternity, or some other court action. Legal representation is also necessary when paternity is denied by the father.
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