ABA Family Legal Guide

Family Law

It is difficult to give simple answers to many of the legal questions that a person may have about marriage, parenthood, separation, or divorce, because the laws vary from one state to another. In addition, because so many of the issues before a court require the exercise of judicial discretion, judges applying identical laws may decide cases with similar facts in different ways.

This chapter describes some of the laws and court rulings common to most states. If you have questions or simply want to be sure you understand these basic answers about how the law would be applied to a specific factual situation or in your state, contact a lawyer in your state. You may wish to contact a specialist. Many lawyers in urban areas work only on family law matters or make it a large part of their general practice. Lawyers specializing in family law also may refer to themselves as specialists in "domestic relations" or "matrimonial law."

1. Marriage
1. Requirements for Getting Married
2. Invalid Marriages
3. Duties of Marriage
4. Living Together Outside of Marriage
5. Domestic Violence
2. Money Matters During Marriage
1. Premarital Agreements
2. Ownership of Property
3. Debts and Taxes
4. Doing Business Together
3. Children
1. The Decision to Have Children
2. Abortion
3. Childbirth
4. Rights and Responsibilities of Parents
5. Adoption
6. Paternity
7. Abuse and Neglect Laws
4. Separation, Annulment, and Divorce
1. Separation and Separate Maintenance
2. Annulment
3. Divorce
4. Property
5. Alimony/Maintenance
6. Custody
7. Visitation/Access/Parenting Time
8. Joint Custody
9. Moving the Child out of State
10. Child Support
11. Grandparents and Stepparents
12. Mediation and Collaborative Law