Navigating relationships can be tricky, complicated, and messy, as most people know. This is hard enough to do on your own, so imagine all the complications that can ensue with those relationships being governed by the law.
Such is the case with most family relationships; for example, between spouses and between parents and children. Given that terms like marriage and paternity are legally defined, any issues relating to these must be dealt with according to legal proceedings. The specific legal field that focuses on these issues is called family law.
Family law is dedicated to issues that involve family relationships. Today, with the legalization of same-sex marriage by the Supreme Court, this extends to LGBT couples and their children, if any. While a divorce attorney in Albuquerque and the rest of the United States are primarily known as the go-to people in these cases, they also oversee a wide variety of other concerns not having to do at all with marriage, such as adoption, paternity, and emancipation.
Here is a more in-depth guide of the most important responsibilities of a family lawyer:
Divorce
Family attorneys sometimes begin their involvement even before marriage, with the signing of a prenuptial agreement should a couple choose to do so. A couple may also opt to enlist the advice of a family attorney during their marriage for matters regarding marital property (property acquired during a marriage that can be subject to division upon divorce) and their finances, such as individual and joint assets and liabilities.
When a couple decides to divorce, a family attorney helps with the filing of divorce paperwork and reaching a final settlement involving the division of assets, liabilities, and resources, and child custody and support, if applicable. Some individuals may also request for alimony from their spouses, and the proceedings regarding this are also dealt with by a family attorney
Child Custody and Support
Usually, a part of the larger divorce proceedings, child custody, and support involves determining all arrangements regarding the children of a couple undergoing divorce. This includes with whom the children will live, any visitation rights, as well as the financial responsibilities of each parent.
While these are normally settled and finalized together with the divorce, these conditions may be separately revisited should conditions change. For example, a parent’s financial or living situation may be altered, resulting in an individual’s inability to honor the terms of child custody and support. If these are determined to be detrimental to a child’s best interest, a court may intervene and make alterations to the child custody and support arrangements.
Adoption
Apart from divorce, one of the proceedings that require a family attorney the most is adoption. This is because adoption laws vary from state to state, and according to the types of adoption that exist (the kinds of adoption differ according to the circumstances surrounding the adoption). Hence, to ensure that an adoption process goes smoothly and will end up legally recognized, it is recommended to consult a family attorney as soon as a couple begins planning to adopt a child.
Having to deal with legal proceedings in addition to navigating the complexity of relationships can be tough on anyone. This is why it is recommended to always have a family lawyer within reach who can help mediate and resolve any such complications that may arise.
