Family Law Articles & FAQs
- Adoption Court Procedures FAQ
Frequently asked questions explaining the involvement of courts and lawyers in the adoption process. - Adoptive Parents FAQ
Frequently asked questions for those who want to adopt a child, including advice for single people and unmarried couples. - Agency Adoptions FAQ
Frequently asked questions that describe the procedures and costs involved when you adopt a child through an agency. - Can You Claim Your Partner as a Dependent on Your Tax Return?
There is just one situation in which this is possible. Learn about it here. - Changing Your Name After Marriage
What you need to do to change or keep your name after marriage. - Choosing a Guardian for Your Children
If you have young children, you should choose a personal guardian -- someone to raise them in the highly unlikely event you can't. - Common Law Marriage FAQ
Learn what common law marriage is and in what states it's recognized. - Consent to Adoption FAQ
Learn whose consent is necessary before a legal adoption can take place. - Costs of Adoption FAQ
Adoptions can cost a bundle. These questions and answers help you weigh the financial aspects of different types of adoptions. - Domestic Partnership Benefits
Learn about the benefits of domestic partnerships -- and whether they may be available to you. - Domestic Violence: Civil Liability FAQ
Information to help you take legal action against your abuser. - Domestic Violence: Taking Action FAQ
Suggestions to help you stop domestic violence. - Establishing and Maintaining a Guardianship FAQ
What to do if you want to obtain legal guardianship of a child. - If Same-Sex Marriage Were Legal
Fast facts to help you decide whether you'd want to pop the question if you could. - International Adoptions FAQ
Frequently asked questions about adopting a child from another country. - Is a Prenuptial Agreement Right for You?
These steps will help you decide whether a prenuptial agreement makes sense for you. - Leaving Property to Young Children
It's easy to arrange for someone to manage any property you leave to young children. - Living Together Contracts
Learn what a living together contract is and whether or not you need one. - Making Medical and Financial Decisions for Your Partner
If you're in a committed relationship, you probably want your partner to take care of things for you if you can't speak for yourself. To ensure this, you must prepare the right legal documents. - Marriage Requirements, Procedures and Ceremonies FAQ
What you need to know and do to get married. - Marriage Rights and Benefits
Learn some of the legal and practical ways that getting married changes your life. - Married Couples: Who Owns What?
Be sure you know what property is yours to leave or give away. - Name Changes FAQ
How to legally change your name. - Nature of Guardianship FAQ
Frequently asked questions explaining guardianships of children, including the guardian's duties, the difference between guardianship and adoption, and more. - Non-Agency Adoptions FAQ
Answers to common questions about independent adoptions. - Open Adoptions FAQ
Frequently asked questions about adoptions where there is some degree of contact between the birthparents, the adoptive parents, and sometimes the adopted child. - Parental Rights for Same-Sex Partners
Understand your legal rights over children you take care of. - Parenting Issues for Unmarried Couples FAQ
Unmarried partners who want to raise children together face a host of unique concerns. - Prenuptial Agreements -- An Overview
What you need to know if you're considering a prenuptial, or premarital, agreement. - Property Rights of Unmarried Couples FAQ
Answers to help unmarried couples determine who owns what. - Same-Sex Marriage: Developments in the Law
The same-sex marriage battle intensifies: A history of the law and the latest news. - Same-Sex Parenting: When Adoption Isn't Possible
Learn about protections for same-sex parents who are raising a child without the benefits of legal adoption. - State Marriage License and Blood Test Requirements
Do you need a blood test to get married? And how soon can you marry after you get your marriage license? This state-by-state chart answers these and other questions related to marriage. - Stepparent Adoptions FAQ
Most adoptions in the United States are stepparent adoptions. Here are answers to some common concerns about the process. - The Home Study FAQ
All states require adoptive parents to undergo an investigation to make sure they are fit to raise a child. Here's what to expect. - The Return of the Ring
The engagement is broken. Long after the heartbreak has healed, one nagging question often remains: Who gets to keep the ring? - Types of Adoption
A brief overview of agency adoptions, independent adoptions, international adoptions, and more. - What Is Domestic Violence?
Knowing the definition of domestic violence can help you take action against it. - What You Can (and Can't) Do With a Prenuptial Agreement
Understand what you can accomplish by making a contract before you marry. - When Guardianship May Be Necessary FAQ
These frequently asked questions explain when you do -- and don't -- need to seek legal guardianship of a child in your care.