Family Law Firm
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A family law firm specializes in legal matters involving families though this basic definition has been expanded to include domestic partnerships, too. Most of these matters involve families in some type of crisis. For example, married couples who are seeking a legal separation or a divorce need legal assistance to help them get through the difficult task of dividing up their marital property in a fair and equitable manner. Because of the intense emotional nature of a separation or a divorce, it may be difficult for the couple to make these types of decisions on their own. Additionally, the laws regarding a legal separation and divorce vary from state to state. A few states are community property states and the remaining ones are considered equitable distribution states. This distinction makes a difference when it comes to the division of marital property. A person may need to hire an attorney from a family law firm to ensure that the other person has not hidden assets.
The adverse affects of divorce are even greater when minor children are involved. If the parents can't agree on custody issues, a judge will need to decide what is in the best interests of the children. Each parent will want to engage the services of an attorney from a family law firm to present his or her case to the judge. However, it would be a conflict of interest for both the parents to have attorneys representing them that work for the same firm. Laws regarding custody arrangements and child support also vary from state to state. The formulas for determining child support are often established either in state statute or by departmental regulation. Spousal support, or alimony, may also be a contentious issue between the two individuals. The attorneys will need to provide the judge with all the income and asset information so that fair decisions can be made on all these important issues. If, in later years, circumstances change enough to warrant making changes to these decisions, the individual will once again want to seek the advice and perhaps even engage the services of an attorney from a family law firm. For example, an individual who is receiving alimony may end up getting a great job that pays significantly more than that person was earning at the time of the divorce. The person who is paying the alimony will probably want to return to court and have the alimony payments either lowered or stopped completely.
Attorneys from a family law firm may also find themselves involved in cases involving the emancipation of minors or the termination of parental rights. These are very sad and tragic cases that can extremely harmful to emotional, and oftentimes the physical, well-being of a child. Children who reach a certain age may choose to separate themselves from their parents. By emancipating themselves, they become financially responsible for themselves. Mature teens may find that living on their own, though it can be a financial struggle, is better than living in a difficult home situation. Parental rights are most often terminated when a judge determines that parents are unfit to raise or care for their children who have most likely already spent a great deal of time in foster care situations. The parents may have gone through parenting classes and other types of counseling, such as anger management workshops, to help them develop parenting skills. But if the home situation doesn't improve, a judge may eventually terminate the parental rights, thus freeing the child to be available for adoption by a new family. A parent may choose to fight the state department that is seeking parental termination and may need to hire an attorney from a family law firm to represent him or her at the court proceeding.
Not all family civil issues are filled with sadness and anger. A family law firm that specializes in adoptions brings the fulfillment of a dream to many families. This is a fun and exciting time for both the adopting parents and the child that is being adopted. Especially for older children, this can be a very special day. Some families continue to celebrate the day an adoption became legal, year after year, almost like a second birthday for the child. The blessing of adoption has spiritual significance. As the apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Ephesus, God chose "us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved" (Ephesians 1:4b-6). There are so many children in need of good homes, both in this country and internationally. An attorney who assists with the adoption process can receive great satisfaction in bringing new families together.
Aspiring family law attorneys will want to take specialized courses in the types of cases that they will be handling on behalf of clients. Litigation, negotiation, and counseling skills will be required for this profession, as well as good time management and organizational skills. As a student, the individual may want to intern in a family law firm to be sure that this is the type of work she will find both energizing and fulfilling. Handling divorces and child custody/support issues can be emotionally draining, so the attorney will need to know how to separate her professional life from her private life. But families are going to go through crises, and some families are going to experience the joys of adoption. Each group may need the services of a family law attorney to help navigate the court system.
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