Collection: FAMILY LAW

Family Law is the branch of the legal system dedicated to matters arising from domestic and familial relationships, covering virtually every aspect of a family's life under legal scrutiny. Its scope begins with the establishment of family units through marriage and paternity actions, and extends to the breakdown of those units through divorce and annulment. Central to Family Law are the proceedings that determine the financial and residential lives of children, including establishing and modifying child support obligations and determining child custody and visitation schedules, known as timesharing. Beyond separation, Family Law also includes essential mechanisms for protection and safety, primarily through the filing of Protective Orders (or restraining orders) against family violence and harassment. Finally, it governs the creation of new legal families through adoption and handles state intervention in matters of child welfare, known as Juvenile Dependency or Child Protective Services (CPS) cases, where the court oversees the safety and potential reunification of a child with their parents.