The area of family law is typically a jungle thick with legal proceedings and in-court appearances. Though it covers many different topics, family law is really concerned with family divorce lawyers fighting for your rights to either your property or your children. There are a few main areas of family law to keep in mind when looking to find a family lawyer in your area who can help.
Determining custody
When two married partners are seeking a divorce, the issue of children always come into play during the proceedings. It must be determined which parents will get awarded custody, or if there will be some type of joint custody agreement. However, there is a such a thing as “legal” custody, which determines who is responsible for making the decisions for the child. This can be settled in court, always with the help of professional family divorce lawyers.
Knowing when to quit
Though most judges will encourage a period of mediation outside the courtroom for divorcing partners, there is always a time to simply stop the mediation if it has devolved into emotional territory and biter feuding. If your family divorce lawyers can facilitate an agreement that’s satisfactory to both sides, you should be able to resolve things amicably. If not, though, it’s always better to simply stop the fighting and let the judge decide.
Expanding upon traditional family law
You might be considering only marriage, divorce and custody battles when you hear the term “family law.” But actually, the area has branched out now to include the matters of those who actually aren’t married, including determining the paternity of a child. This all makes sense when you consider the changing dynamic of the term “family” in the contemporary American vocabulary.
How to establish paternity
The point of paternity in a court of law is to determine who is the “legal” father of the child in question. If the two parents are not married, the biological father does not have any legal or financial obligation to the child unless he is proven to be the “legal” father in a court of law. With that title comes a whole host of fathers rights and responsibilities to uphold.
No matter what your issues are, you can most likely benefit from a consultation with family divorce lawyers. They’ll allow you to fight for your rights as either a parent or a wronged partner and they’ll tell you everything you need to know about the proceedings. More on this topic.