Family Law: What Is It?

Family Law is an area of the law covering a wide spectrum of family-related issues and domestic relations. Included in these issues are divorce, child custody and support, adoption, civil unions and domestic partnerships, and property settlements. This area of the law maintains the legal balance of the basic units of society and contributes to the harmony of the community.

Generally, the scope of Family Law covers three major categories based on the nature, ramifications and dissolution of marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships. The nature of matrimony, as a part of the law, discusses the beginning of marriage through ceremony or legal proceedings. The law requires parties to be formally married in the presence of an administrator, such as church leader or an adjudicator, with full understanding of the underlying legal obligations.

Marriage is expected to begin the formation of a family. Throughout marriage and the development of the family, many issues can arise including spousal abuse, legitimacy and adoption. This is covered by the second category of family laws pertaining to the repercussions of actions within and throughout the marriage. Cities like Jacksonville are home to a lot of lawyers specializing this category of Family Law.

Spousal abuse is an issue arising after marriage commonly leading to divorce and/or annulment. Family Law has a particular provision protecting each party from physical or emotional battery from the other. If the couple does not have or is incapable of having children, family law also allows for child adoption. Any family attorney Jacksonville has can administer or make the necessary arrangement for adoption.

By different conditions, Family Law does not prohibit marriage dissolution despite provisions pertaining to lifetime commitment. Divorce and annulment of marriage are allowed by law but normally undergoes a long process before being fully granted by court. The dissolution of marriage and all its resulting issues comprise the third category of Family Law that any family attorney Jacksonville has is capable of handling.

Included in the resulting issues are property distribution between separated parties, alimony, and parental responsibilities. A family attorney Jacksonville normally handles all of these issues during or after the settlement of a divorce or annulment. These underlying issues make divorce or annulment complicated, influencing the decision of many couples to pursue the case in court and subsequently resort to separating without legal intervention.