Family Law
Sadly, when we think of family
law we most often think of divorce, and divorce is
the reason most ordinary people well seek an
attorney, but the is much more to family law than
divorce. Family law also deals with such thing as
adoption and name changes.
Adoptions & Legitimations
Adoptions are covered by state
law. Generally, any person of the age of majority
can adopt another person who is under the age of
majority. In most states, adoptions are conducted in
the Probate Court of the county in which the child
resides, or where the Petitioner, (person doing the
adopting,) lives. If the child is in the care and
control of an agency the adoption can be done there.
Step-parent Adoption
Some states have special rules as
to step-parent adoption. Typically,
step-parent adoption is a streamlined process
without some of the inspection and verifications
which is required in other adoptions. Some states
also allow the adopted child to inherit through the
adopted parent and also though the natural parent.
Visit the
Adoptions page for all about adoptions and
legitimations. Conservatorship - Guardianship
Conservatorships and
guardianships are listed on the estate planning page
but this is a topic of family law as well. Go
to the estate planning
page for information and links to download conservatorship
or a guardianship forms. Divorce
If your divorce is going to be
uncontested you can save tons of money by doing the
paperwork yourself. If your spouse is going to
contest the divorce or the settlement you should
seek a
good divorce attorney or look into a
mediated divorce.
For uncontested divorces we offer
a divorce kit with all the forms you need to do your
own uncontested divorce. Click over to the
Divorce page for forms and
more information.
Legal Separation
A Legal Separation or a
Divorce A Mensa Thoro, is a divorce from bed and
board, but is does not dissolve the bonds of
matrimony; the parties are still married. these
legal separations are very rare and there are only a
couple of reason why anyone would want a Legal
Separation as opposed to a regular divorce. The
Divorce page has
information and forms for Legal Separations.
Name Change
An adult can change his or her
name very easily and it is through the Probate Court
in most states. A minor child must be represented by
a Guardian ad Litem and in most cases both parents
must consent. Got to the Name Change
page for more information and downloadable forms.
Petition to Modify or Rule Nisi
A Petition to Modify is used
after a divorce is final or after a child custody
agreement has been reached, and one or both parties
wish to change a term or terms of the agreement. You
can go directly to the Petition to Modify
page for information and forms for a Rule Nisi.
Pre-Nuptial Agreements
The Pre-Nuptial Agreement
page has detail information about pre-nuptial
agreements, (sometimes called Ante-Nuptial
Agreements,) and post-nuptial agreements. |