Family Law

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....

Each state has established guidelines as to how and when termination of parental rights occurs. For many jurisdictions, a substantial reason to terminate parental rights---such as an adoption or...

When the parents of a child no longer live together, courts become involved to develop a plan or set of rules regarding what each parent's role will be in the life of the child.

A father might want to give up his paternal rights for several reasons, but the major one is wanting his child to be adopted out. Every state differs in how they go about terminating a father's...

Paternal rights in child support cases are used to establish a father's legal obligation to provide financial support for his biological child. A father who has a child born within a marriage...

Same-sex marriage and civil unions are two topics that have been the center of controversy for quite some time now. As church, state and government bodies have attempted to establish the...

Fathers have a right to care and make decisions for their children. These rights important to both fathers and their sons and daughters. Children with fathers who play an active role in their...

Issues such as child custody, child support and parenting time (visitation) are often primary considerations in a divorce case. Children have certain rights that protect them when the divorce...

In preparing to file for divorce you must understand your basic legal rights. Your basic legal rights in a divorce case are divided in categories that include property and finances, children and...

If you are seeking a divorce because of domestic violence, you have certain important rights. Ensure that your rights are protected fully through your divorce case by educating yourself and being...

Divorce is traumatic when children are involved. Once children are born, fathers have the right to see their children and be involved in their lives (if abuse, neglect or drug addiction is not a...

There are instances in which parental rights are terminated improperly. In most cases, the wrongful termination of parental rights involve the rights of a father as a result of an order in a...

"Fathers' Rights" refers to the legal rights and allowances that a father has with respect to his children. In courts, many fathers find themselves getting the short end of the stick on alimony...

Assisted living can be trying. There are many emotional challenges to overcome and daily obstacles to surmount. Knowing what your rights are or what the rights of an aging family member's are is...

There has been a struggle between the governing bodies of the United States and the people since the early 1900s to develop a solid understanding of parental rights. There currently is no federal...

When parents divorce and a custody battle ensues, more often than not primary custody of the children is given to the mother. The "tender years" doctrine, as it is known according to Expert Law,...

In South Dakota, grandparents may be granted reasonable visitation rights, after proving such visits are in the best interests of the child and that there is either no interference in the...

Adoption rights of birth mothers are well established by law in each of the 50 states in the United States. If you are expecting a child that you intend to "put up" for adoption--or if you are...

In the United States, fathers have specific legal rights regarding paternity, custody, visitation, child support and termination of parental rights. A father can be designated "absent" based upon...

State laws vary regarding the rights of a stepparent during and after divorce. The predominating factor that courts recognize is deciding what is in the best interest of the child.

In Alaska, grandparents are awarded reasonable visitation rights only after the court considers key factors such as personal contact, the child's best interest, abuse or domestic violence, prior...

Due process rights set forth certain procedures that must be followed when persons face criminal allegations or civil suits. Many situations within family law, including divorce, termination of...

A mother's rights during a divorce proceeding will depend on what the court or judge orders the mother to do. Most courts tend to favor the mother over the father when determining contested...

In a divorce or other type of proceeding involving child custody, the law establishes certain rights of each parent. Mother's rights for child custody set forth parameters through which the family...

Although courts do not like terminating a father's parental rights, they'll do so when the circumstances make it necessary. Rights can be terminated in cases of abuse and neglect, or when the...

A father in Colorado who does not have primary custody if a child has the right under the law to maintain a meaningful relationship with that son or daughter. Colorado law establishes specific...

Equal rights for divorced fathers is a concept that is now firmly a part of the family law system in the United States. Certain presumptions that previously favored mothers in divorce cases have...

Divorce rights for women protect a wife in regard to everything from child custody to maintenance issues. A major change in family law is the development of guidelines in these areas to protect...

Historically, in practice men's rights in divorce cases tended to take a procedural backseat to those of women, particularly in areas of custody, visitation, child support and alimony. But because...

Visitation rights with divorce underwent a considerable evolution beginning in the late-'80s across the United States, ensuring that both parents in a divorce have a meaningful and substantial...

Full custody is a legal term that refers to the physical care for a child, and the responsibilities and rights afforded to parents. Contrary to the plain-language implications of the term, "full...

When a couple with children decides to divorce, an agreement about child support will have to be made. Typically, although certainly not always, the children will live with their mother while...

Adoption is a process through which an adult guardian of a child takes on the legal responsibilities and rights of a parent. This legal relationship also results in the termination of a...

Many men who face divorce do not know their rights as fathers. As a result they are separated unnecessarily from their children. Other men who perhaps are not married to the mother of their...

Divorce lawyers have worked closely with their male clients to protect and pursue the rights of these men in different family law related proceedings. Men are placed in a better position today to...

Fathers interested in asserting their custody rights in regard to their minor children no longer have to battle alone. There are attorneys and different support organizations available to provide...

A biological mother of a child arranged for adoption is referred to as the birth mother. Depending on the place where she resides, her rights may be limited. Laws that govern adoption issues,...

There are several reasons a father may sign over his parental rights: he may not be able to financially support the child and may not have contact with the child, or a stepparent may be...

The Texas Family Code provides explicit guidance to the termination of parental rights in the state. The establishment of the Paternity Registry in 1997 encourages men to be financially...

Like abortion, gay marriage is a very divisive issue in America. For this reason some states have passed laws to provide a compromise so that same-sex relationships have some or all of the rights...

I want to help people with this article know what to do if the CPS is at your door. It is a very scary situation and often people are innocent and treat their children fine. Most people...

Even though the grandparent is not the biological parent of the grandchild, the grandparent still has legal rights in divorce cases. In an impending divorce, the child is not just being separated...

Fathers paying child support have certain visitation rights to their children if the court does not order sole custody for the mother. Courts only order sole custody to one parent if the other...

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...

Sometimes in adoption cases very little regard is paid to the concerns or possible rights of the birth grandparents. Birth grandparents have gained a stronger position when it comes to their...

Both spouses have important rights in a divorce, and if you understand those rights you may be able to work out an agreement more easily. Laws about divorce are set by the states, so you need to...

It can be very painful for grandparents if they are cut off from their grandchildren due to disputes or because of a divorce or separation. State law governs child custody and visitation, and all...

Not all birth fathers have any legal rights to their child. There are two categories of birth fathers. A man must meet one of several requirements to be considered the presumed birth father. ...

A father has as many rights in a divorce and custody situation as a mother does. Early in history--prior to the 20th century--custody was commonly awarded to the father, because children were...

Fatherhood brings both reward and responsibility. When families are split, though, custody issues come to the forefront, and fathers need the facts to understand their custody rights.