Find a Family Law Lawyer Continued…

Areas covered by Family Law Family law, whether within the jurisdiction of state or federal courts, now covers a wide range of legal topics including children's rights and custody, divorce, adoption, paternity proceedings, elder law, name changes, domestic violence and issues surrounding unmarried couples living together. Family law also extends into other areas — insurance, employment, education and elder law, for example. In the area of employment the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA), for example, was instituted to permit employees up to 12 workweeks of unpaid leave during the period of one year in order to attend to family matters (such as the birth of a child). Currently the only family matter not heavily regulated is parent-child discipline. Legal Agreements Family law has also incorporated such practices as using legal documents to place binding (upheld in court) parameters on a marriage arrangement. Co-habitation agreements, stating mutually agreed-upon conditions for unmarried couples living together, are used to determine rights to property, child support and alimony if the couple decides to separate. Pre-nuptial agreements are also common legal instruments. Selecting a Family Law Attorney Lawyers specializing in family law are often in small law firms or may be sole practitioners. This is not a cause for concern; family law is an area that does not necessitate the lawyer calling upon other resources and expertise. Two guidelines are best to keep in mind when making a decision about retaining a family law attorney: (1) the lawsuit is bound to be fraught with emotional issues, so it's best to choose a lawyer with whom you can feel comfortable at such times. If you know of friends or relatives who can give you a referral of just the right lawyer for your circumstances, this is a good starting point. (2) Be aware that family law sometimes has touchy-feely aspects, and there are no guarantees about how a judge will rule in a particular case. Therefore, be wary of a lawyer who promises certain outcomes in a case. By Kathleen Goolsby