Family Law

Family law is the area of law that deals with separation, divorce, child custody, and division of marital assets, as well as adoption. The law relating to family disputes and obligations has grown dramatically since the 1970s, as legislators and judges have reexamined and redefined legal relationships surrounding divorce, child custody, and child support. Specifically, much has changed in the field of family law as it relates to the structure of the family, gender bias, and morality. New developments in the area of family law address the legal rights of persons who have not been legally married as well as children born of those relationships.

One significant area of family law addresses divorce and divorce related issues. The legal procedure that formally terminates a marriage is referred to as a divorce. When a court issues a divorce decree, the court must also address issues related to child custody and child support if the couple has children.