Divorce law attorneys are among the most frequently sought in the U.S. Usually practicing as attorneys for family law, they handle cases dealing with everything from divorce to issues of paternity to adoption. Though during Anglo Saxon times, marriage, divorce, and other family and domestically related issues were regarded as private matters, they are today dealt with in the court system, a practice that has been around at least since the Colonial period. During that time, divorce was extremely rare because the process of obtaining a divorce decree required legislative action, which was costly and time consuming. Today, the field of family law is much different.

What is a Family Law Attorney?

Generally speaking, family law deals with family related matters and domestic relations. The field has expanded as the years have drawn on, now including fault and no fault divorces, division of assets, legal establishment of paternity, adoption, and many other issues.

Divorce

Divorce is one of the primary situations that attorneys for family law deal with. In most states, no fault divorces are allowed, meaning that if one party wants a divorce, the court will grant it. These divorces are often referred to as being caused by “irreconcilable differences.” In other states, however, one party must accuse the other of some crime or unforgivable action like adultery, cruelty, or abandonment in order to obtain a divorce. The best family law attorneys know how to help couples negotiate smooth separations with fair and equitable divisions of property and parental responsibility, if necessary.

Issues of Paternity

Because our culture now accepts cohabitation and children born out of wedlock much more easily than it did even 30 years ago, family law information now encompasses relevant issues very readily. One major issue is the establishment of paternity for children born out of wedlock. For a father to have a legal say in a child’s life or for the mother to receive child support, paternity must be legally established. An action must be filed with a superior court to officially establish paternity. Attorneys for family law can help couples sort through that process.

Family law is a large field that deals with myriad issues. If you’re locked in a family or domestically related legal issue, don’t hesitate to contact an experienced family law attorney. She or he can almost certainly help you sort through the legal issues at hand and to reach a fair conclusion. More info like this.