Who Is a Family Lawyer?

Family law attorneys provide invaluable assistance for many matters related to divorce, child custody and adoption as well as creating prenuptial agreements or helping minors gain their independence through emancipation proceedings.

When selecting a family lawyer, make sure they have experience handling cases similar to your own. They’ll be better equipped to guide you through the process with minimal stress.

Marriage and Divorce

Family attorneys provide invaluable services for couples navigating divorce proceedings by drafting legal documents, negotiating on their behalf and representing them in court. In addition to these legal services, they also specialize in family issues like guardianship for incapacitated loved ones or creating prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.

Family law cases can be highly emotionally draining. Therefore, experienced family attorneys make an extra effort to understand and respond to the needs and concerns of their clients in an attempt to provide them with an ideal result with minimum conflict or strain. Counseling services may also be offered as necessary.

Child Custody and Support

Family law attorneys specialize in legal issues surrounding families, such as child custody and support. Custody cases often include making major decisions regarding education or religious upbringing for the child in question as well as resolving disputes over parenting time. Child support payments typically depend on state guidelines that consider both incomes involved.

Child custody and support disputes can quickly become contentious when either parent has a criminal background. Experienced family lawyers are equipped to guide clients through these challenges and protect their rights; they can even provide guidance regarding domestic violence matters.

Adoption

Adoption is the legal process by which non-biological parents or stepparents assume parental rights and responsibilities for a child who does not belong to either of them biologically. A family lawyer can guide clients through this often complex procedure that differs by state and country.

Adoptive parents must undergo a home study – an assessment of their suitability as parents – prior to adopting. This typically entails visits to their home, health exams, proof of income and insurance coverage documents, criminal background checks and references checks.

Family lawyers require both dedication and strong people skills. Consider reaching out to law schools offering family law programs so you can explore this rewarding career option.

Paternity

Paternity is the legal determination of who a child’s father is. Once this relationship is established, his name can be listed on their birth certificate and they will have legal rights and obligations towards their offspring.

Paternity can give biological fathers custody rights or establish child support obligations; on an emotional level, however, it provides children with a sense of identity and belongingness.

Putative fathers may either sign a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity or their mother can initiate legal proceedings to establish paternity. DNA tests of both child and purported father typically are utilized to confirm paternity.

Guardianship

Guardianship is the legal designation given to an individual to manage either personal activities (guardianship of the person) or property management (guardianship of the estate) of another who cannot do this on their own. A guardian may also serve as a representative payee for government benefits like Social Security, Veterans Administration benefits, Railroad Retirement Board pension payments or welfare payments for an individual receiving them.

Guardians tend to be well-meaning family members, yet their authority presents opportunities for abuse. To mitigate this risk, qualified volunteers monitor guardian actions through the Guardian Monitoring Project (GMP), with reports entered into a state monitoring system for further oversight and reduced risks to an incapacitated person.

Foster Care

Foster care involves temporarily placing children who cannot live with their biological or legal parents/guardians into alternative living arrangements. Foster children range in age from newborns to teenagers and come from diverse backgrounds – many having experienced some form of trauma.

Foster care providers aim to reunite children safely with their biological families if possible; otherwise they may place the child with relatives or seek adoption for him/her.

If you are considering becoming a foster parent, consult with a family law attorney immediately. At Cohen Clair, their attorneys have earned Martindale-Hubble’s AV Preeminent rating and are widely respected throughout clients, publications and industry.