Family Law Basics

Whether you’re interested in learning more about appointing a legal guardian, protecting your rights as a parent, or learning about laws that affect you as a spouse, parent, or grandparent, you can find it in Family Law Basics.

Recent Stories

Sharing Fido: Does your state have pet custody laws?
Sep 2008

Conflicts over a pet can be just as important to divorcing spouses as any issue when both spouses have developed a special connection to a companion pet and wish to maintain it. This feeling can be even greater where the couple has no children, and the dog or cat has taken on the role of the couple's "child." But unlike real children, for which extensive case law and statutory measures exist, pets have been largely ignored as a critical concern in a divorce. more...

Having a Baby: Your Legal Rights and Responsibilities
Sep 2008

Having a baby is one of the most life changing events you will ever experience. So, once you get past the initial excitement about the impending baby, it is important to consider the practical matters of bringing a new life into the world - legal preparation. Read more to find out how you can protect yourself and your baby. more...

Can you get a Refund if the child you support isn't really yours?
Sep 2008

The mother of your child wants to break up and wants nothing to do with you. And oh, by the way, she has a news flash for you. You know the child you've been supporting? The little girl who's been calling you daddy and snuggling on your lap? Guess what... you're not the baby's daddy after all. What now? more...

Craziest Name Changes
Aug 2008

When a New Zealand court recently stepped in to change the name of 9-year-old Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii because her name "makes a fool of the child and sets her up with a social disability and handicap, unnecessarily," zany name changes caught the attention of the word over. So how crazy is too crazy when it comes to name changes? Here are five of the most recent unique requests. more...