General Family Law

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...

Establishing paternity of a child can be done, even if you are not the biological father. If a father wants to take legal responsibility for a child that is not biologically his, he may do so....

If you are marrying someone who is not your child's biological parent and wish to change the minor's name to reflect the new family name, you will need to obtain the other parent's consent and...

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...

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...

People may want to change their names for a number of reasons; marriage, divorce, adoption, unhappiness with a current name, etc. Though the legal procedure for changing a name varies somewhat...

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...

You have two options when it comes to divorcing a wife who left the state, both of which depend on whether you know where she moved. You can get a divorce with just one signature, but the process...

North Carolina states that the petitioner must be separated for a year before filing a divorce action and must have been a North Carolina resident for at least six months. Once the petitioner has...

Do you have a relative or friend that requires assistance with daily tasks but cannot find anyone to help them? Many people become conservators of family members too old or sick to function from...

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...

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...

Family law varies from state to state. Some states require a separation period, and that period may be from a few months up to a year. Most states require a person to live in the state for a...

Grandparents have always had limited rights to custody and visitation of their grandchildren, but since 2000, when the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision in the case of Troxell v....

Family and divorce law varies from state to state, and sometimes even from county to county within a state. Each state has its own rules of civil procedure and statutes that govern divorce,...

A petition has been filed and you are awaiting a court date. The petition has been filed by either you or someone opposing you. If you are not the one who has filed the petition, then there is no...

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...

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...

The basic skills, mental capacities, and physical well being to accomplish simple, daily tasks are things most of us take for granted. However, various situations can deprive individuals of these...

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...

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...

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...

Individuals in Texas under the age of 18 (minors) who are capable of sustaining themselves financially sometimes wish to "emancipate" themselves from their parents or legal guardians. Law in the...

The ability to change your name at will is an iconic part of American freedom based in the equal protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. Minor children, however, don't have the ability to...

The legal term for a restraining order in Florida is "Injunction of Protection Against Domestic Violence," and anyone who is the victim of domestic violence, male or female, is eligible to get one...

People may want to get a name change for different reasons. Unlike changing your name when you get married, which just means notifying the right government agencies of your marriage. Choosing to...

Sometimes we run into a legal predicaments which require us to file a petition in the court. Finding where to start can be frustrating. There are many different types of petitions from a custody...

The word "petition" is deeply rooted in American history and law. In fact, "petition" isn't just a word; it's also a process. The founding fathers wanted a peaceful way to legally settle...

Family law cases are civil cases and are heard in the civil court. Some counties and states have a separate family law court, since there tends to be many family law cases.

Many people simply don't like their names. Luckily, it's perfectly within your legal right to change your name if you so choose. But you don't have to be an adult to change your name. Minors can...

Changing your name when you get married is easy. Changing your name for any other reason can be... well... a challenge.

Emancipation of a minor is the term for releasing a child from parental control and responsibility. A child may seek emancipation for reasons such as abuse, neglect, marriage, teen pregnancy,...

In general, the term "juvenile delinquents" is used to refer to people under the age of 18 who commit offenses that would be prosecutable if committed by an adult. Not all juvenile offenses are...