General Family Law

A dissolution of marriage decision is sometimes known as a divorce decree. It is a legally binding court order issued by a judge that may contain rulings on property and asset division, custody,...

If the vital records agency or hospital made an error on your birth certificate or that of your child, you will need to petition the court to correct the name. Likewise, if you wish to change you...

Legally changing the middle name of a child is accomplished through the judicial system. In most states, the probate court deals with changing the middle name of a child. In some states, this type...

If you have recently changed your last name or if you will be taking a new last name and want your child's surname to match yours, you will need to check out the laws for name changes in your...

A restraining order is a court order that can protect you from threats and injuries made by your husband. The court will order your husband to stop harassment and threats of violence and to stay...

If you are a victim of domestic violence, there are legal procedures to protect you from future abuse. Every state has laws regarding your right to request protective or restraining orders against...

To seal records is to conceal court documents that would otherwise be a matter of public record. Sealing records is not the same as expungement, common in criminal matters, where the records are...

Divorce cases are emotionally and legally challenging. Indeed, divorce procedures seem complex and even frustrating to an individual who is unfamiliar with the judicial system. The ultimate...

If you are represented by a lawyer in your divorce, custody matter, paternity suit or adoption and wish to terminate your relationship with your attorney, you will need to file paperwork with the...

A civil court summons is a notice served on people letting them know that a complaint or petition has been filed against them. A civil court summons usually includes a date and time that the...

You were just served with court papers but you don't know what they mean. The court papers refer to people known as "petitioner" and "respondent," but you don't know who those people are. Court...

In order to be legally recognized, a marriage must be recorded in the county or municipality where the marriage license was obtained and the ceremony, whether civil or religious, was performed....

Before you will be able to write an appeal to a family court decision, you will need to determine the proper jurisdiction for your case. Because the rules governing each state's court system...

In the state of Georgia, legally changing a person's name falls under Georgia State Code: Sec. 19-12-1.(reference 1) The state code requirements are fairly straight forward, but do require the...

State laws govern the changing of children's last names. Because the laws vary, it is advisable for parents to discuss their jurisdiction's laws with an attorney or the clerk of the court before...

Changing a name on a Texas birth certificate can be a lengthy process. It is recommended that a person seek the services of an attorney in order to receive an official court order for the name...

An order of protection is also known as a restraining order. It is a legally enforceable court order for one person to stop hurting or threatening another. You don't need a lawyer to file for a...

Changing back to your maiden name is not a difficult thing to do. People change their names for professional and personal reasons. Perhaps you want to create a new beginning for yourself, or you...

Oklahoma law provides for a power of attorney and a guardianship. To determine which might be the best choice, it is important to understand the differences between them.

Subpoenas are written requests for documents or testimony. They are issued in conjunction with many types of family law cases, including divorces, custody hearings, paternity suits, child support...

A court may issue a restraining order to safeguard one individual from harm or harassment at the hands of another. Typically, such orders can be issued against a member of one’s family or...

Abortion laws change almost daily in our country, largely because of a 1992 court ruling that gave states the right to determine some of their own abortion laws. These laws are constantly being...

Knowing the right time to speak to an elderly relative about going to a nursing home is a difficult and complex matter. Even if you are sure that the time is appropriate, your elderly relative may...

You can legally change the middle name of child in the state of Colorado as long as the child lives in the county where you're filing a petition. If the child is a subject of a child support case,...

A juvenile petition concerns a child under 18 years old. The petition might be used to determine custody. The petition may be regarding the child's delinquent behavior. The petition could be for...

Family law issues vary and involve everything from adoption to divorce. Most common family law questions relate to issues leading up to and following divorce, including child support, legal...

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, "An estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year." Because of the prevalence of...

A guardian is a person appointed to make decisions for another person. A guardian is appointed by the probate court. The guardian makes decisions for a ward. The guardian can decide both health...

Grandparent rights generally relate to visitation rights and custody rights. "Grandparent" can include both individuals who have a biological relationship to the child by being the parent to the...

Protective orders are issued by a judge upon the request of a victim of domestic violence or someone who is threatened with domestic violence. Protective orders are court orders that prohibit the...

Despite the fact that you have yet to reach adulthood (the age of 18 in most states), you have concluded that you want to "divorce your parents." The technical legal term for such a legal action...

Part 1 will tell you whether or not YOU qualify to STOP your California divorce. Part 2 will discuss exactly what California Court Forms you use and how to fill them out.

A Petition for Order of Protection may also be known as an Injunction for Protection Against Domestic Violence, depending on which state you are located in. Some states enter a temporary...

Often a married couple files for divorce but then changes their mind and decides to stay together but separated. This is often done because of a financial situation--usually taxes as a couple may...

9 things your divorce lawyer doesn't want YOU to know.

Certain circumstances require that a child's surname be changed. Maybe the child has been adopted, or has a different last name from her father. As long as there is a justifiable reason and the...

The most widely recommended method to change a name is to obtain a court order. This allows the new name to be recognized by banks and the government without problems. To receive this court name...

A court report is a document written on behalf of someone who has been found guilty of committing a crime, and it is submitted before sentencing. Its purpose is to provide background information...

Changing a child's surname in Oklahoma is a relatively easy and inexpensive process. The parent, custodian or guardian of the child must file a Petition for Change of Name of Minor with the court...

The process for changing a child's legal name is similar to that for changing your own as an adult. You are required to file a petition with a court and attend a hearing, after which a judge will...

Every now and then you can experience life circumstances that result in the desire to change your legal name. Those reasons can include marriage or divorce, religious conversion, or career-related...

Grandparents visitation rights establish the ability of grandparents to have visitation, including court ordered visitation, with their grandchildren. The issue of grandparents visitation rights...

Committing the elderly to a nursing home must be done legally through the local court systems, unless the elderly patient agrees to move into the home. There are a few steps that must be taken in...

These days, parents often give their children unique and original names. But a child may one day want to forgo that unique name in favor of a more traditional one. Or a person may decide to change...

Regardless of whether you're interested in pursuing education to work in the legal field or if you've had to hire an attorney to represent you in your divorce case, you may wonder about the...

When people cannot care for themselves, the lucky ones have a caring individual step up and become their legal guardian. Most people associate this process with disadvantaged children whose...

Family lawyers specialize in family law. Their job can involve a number of different responsibilities. They may assist people in legal matters outside the court. Other times they may draw up legal...

The laws of emancipation vary widely by state. Some states do not allow you to legally separate from your parents when you are under 18 years at all, and in those states, you're more likely to end...

Your divorce is final and you're ready to begin life anew. But first you must achieve one initial step before the journey begins: changing your last name. Changing your last name can be as simple...

Child support is regulated by the federal and state governments. If you are seeking child support or visitation for the first time, you will need to go through your local child support enforcement...