Family Law

Family Law includes marriage, domestic partnerships, guardianship, adoption, divorce, child custody and related matters.

Nothing is more important than your family, and issues that impact the family unit are uniquely stressful. We are sensitive to these issues and are always standing by to assist with any family law matters. Please do not hesitate to contact us.

Terms to know in Family Law

Adoption – Refers to the act by which an adult formally becomes the guardian of a child and incurs the rights and responsibilities of a parent. At the conclusion of the formal process, a legal relationship between child and guardian will have formed.

Divorce – Also known as dissolution of marriage, is the termination of a marriage or marital union, the canceling or reorganizing of the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage, thus dissolving the bonds of matrimony between a married couple under the rule of law of the state.

Uncontested Divorces – Generally available to couples who have no remaining disagreements regarding the basic divorce issues: child-custody, property division and spousal support. Like a contested divorce, an uncontested divorce begins by one side filing for divorce. Uncontested divorces usually have streamlined paperwork, in which property and child custody information is filed, along with a statement of the grounds for divorce.

Guardian – One who has or is entitled or legally appointed to the care and management of the person or property.

Paternity – The quality or state of being a father.

Joint Legal Custody – The sharing, by both parents, of the right to make important decisions about a child’s welfare.

Joint Physical Custody – The sharing, by both parents, of the actual physical care and custody of a child.

Non-Custodial Parent – The parent who does not have physical custody of the child(ren).

Equitable Distribution – The distribution of marital assets by a court in a divorce action in accordance with statutory guidelines that are designed to produce a fair but not necessarily equal division of the property.

Conservatorship – A Conservatorship is a court proceeding in which a Judge appoints a family member, friend or other responsible person (conservator) to care for another adult (conservatee) who cannot care for themselves and/or their finances.

If you have questions regarding a family law matter, you should contact Parker Stanbury, your Legal Shield provider firm for advice.