Family law

Family law

Law that deals with family-related issues such as spousal abuse, legitimacy, adoption, surrogacy, child abuse, and child abduction.

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Family law

merrill factors

Legal services; Family law

The judge uses a set of factors to reach a fair and equitable property division in a divorce action. You can read the list of factors.

trial brief

Legal services; Family law

A written summary or statement explaining your position or a particular issue to the judge. The trial brief states the facts, evidence, and legal arguments that you plan to present at trial and ...

mediation-arbitration (Med-Arb)

Mediation-arbitration is a combination of mediation and arbitration. Parties work to come up with their own agreements, but give a neutral third party the authority to make a decision if mediation is ...

ex parte protective order

Legal services; Family law

When certain acts of domestic violence have happened, the victim may ask the court for a 20-day order for protection. These requests are generally heard ex parte - without the other side present.

decision

Legal services; Family law

A court's judgment, order or decree that settles a dispute and decides an issue.

sole legal custody

Legal services; Family law

One parent is given the legal authority to make the major life decisions affecting the child's welfare, such as where the children goes to the doctor, goes to school or how money matters are handled. ...

proof of service

Legal services; Family law

The document proving that the other party was formally served. Generally, you only need a proof of service at the beginning of the case to prove the defendant received the complaint and summons ...