A family law attorney is a lawyer who specializes in cases involving family members. Husbands, wives, children, grandparents, guardians, and domestic partners are among those who may be represented by a family law attorney. She can handle a wide range of legal issues, including divorces, premarital agreements, and postmarital agreements, as well as child custody, child support, and alimony cases. Adoption, juvenile delinquency, paternity, and visitation rights are some of the other legal issues that this type of attorney frequently handles.
Divorces and legal separations are two of the most common problems that a family law attorney is expected to deal with. She could try to divide marital property, resolve child custody issues, determine the amount of child support or alimony to be paid, and establish visitation rights on behalf of her client. Of course, the opposing party may have his or her own legal counsel working on the same issues. If the issues cannot be resolved, they may be brought before a judge in a courtroom. In most cases, the judge would issue a final order deciding these and other issues.
Although most people consult an attorney when their relationship is in trouble, the lawyer can also help people who are having a good time. If a couple wants to adopt a child, for example, there are several steps that must be followed in order for the adoption to be legal. Nearly every jurisdiction has different laws, which also differ depending on the age of the child. In some jurisdictions, the birth parents may relinquish all parental rights, while in others, they always retain a limited set of rights.
In some cases, a family law attorney will draft documents in order to avoid problems in the future. She could, for example, draft a prenuptial agreement that specifies how assets will be divided in the event of a divorce. Others prefer to draft a postnuptial agreement that specifies not only how assets should be divided, but also child custody and visitation arrangements. Depending on the attorney’s level of expertise, she may also be able to establish a trust fund in the name of a spouse or children.
In some cases, a family law attorney may also be called upon to handle criminal matters. Attorneys can specialize in a variety of fields, including juvenile law and domestic violence. A spouse may become violent, or a child may break the law. In these situations, a criminal defense attorney can be extremely beneficial.