Family law
Family law or domestic relations is an area of the law that deals with family-related issues such as marriage, spousal abuse, divorce, child residence, visitation, adoption and domestic partnership agreements. Where contentious issues arise, such as in the division of the spouses' or co-habitees' property, orders can be made by the court. Where the parties agree, this is known in the UK as a consent order.
Often family law is administered by a family court, which may hear matters involving children, such as:
Family law in the UK is an area associated with considerable unrest to many of those who have encountered it in their lives. Bob Geldof has written: 'When it comes to access to children, divorced men haven't a chance. Family law as it currently stands does not work. It is rarely of benefit to the child and promotes injustice, conflict and unhappiness.'
Same-Sex Unions
The acceptance of adoption by same-sex couples, civil unions or the recognition of same-sex marriage in some jurisdictions has broadened the scope of family law to deal with issues affecting same-sex couples.
Usage
The use of the term 'divorce' has been replaced with 'dissolution of marriage' in all the states of the United States except New York. Most other countries still use the term divorce.
Referenced By
Consanguinity | Extended family | Family | Illegal | Law topics | Laws | List of legal topics | Sibbling | TheLaw
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