The Law Dictionary for Everyone
The foster care system is responsible for placing at-risk children with families other than their own, in group homes, or in institutions when they are unsafe, or are at risk of harm in their current situation. Other situations in which a child may be placed in foster care include the loss of his parents due to death, the inability of […]
Read moreThe term imputed income refers to the treatment of an individual’s income as if it is greater than what he is actually earning. While income may be imputed for a variety of purposes, from taxation to healthcare, it is most commonly used in reference to the determination of child or spousal support in family law matters. For example, if the […]
Read moreThe term dissolution of marriage refers to the ending of a marriage through legal proceedings, the same as divorce. In many jurisdictions, a couple may file a petition for the court to terminate their marriage pursuant to a written agreement between the parties. Such an agreement must cover all issues pertaining to the dissolution, allowing the matter to be concluded […]
Read moreA family law facilitator is a legal professional who is experienced in dealing with family law related court cases. Facilitators often work for the court system, and represent neither the petitioner nor the respondent. Many jurisdictions offer the services of a family law facilitator to act as a neutral party to provide a variety of services. In some jurisdictions, the […]
Read moreWhen a couple divorces, children are not the only subject of custody battles, as family pets often become the center of a dispute. While there are plenty of laws surrounding child custody, all of which take the best interests of children into consideration, pet custody laws deal with property. Unlike children, pets are considered personal property, rather than the valued […]
Read moreThe legal term exclusive use and possession refers to an agreement, or court order, for one spouse to use and maintain possession of certain marital property during a divorce. When a couple divorces, the issue of who will live in the family home, or who will use the family car, must sometimes be decided by the court. Being given exclusive […]
Read moreThe legal term guardian ad litem (“GAL”) refers to an individual appointed by the court to represent the best interests of a minor child in legal proceedings, such as divorce, child custody, child abuse and neglect, and parental rights and responsibilities cases. A guardian ad litem has a unique responsibility to the child, protecting only his interests in cases that […]
Read moreWhen a couple divorces, the responsibility to provide for the family’s needs still exists. A great gulf often exists between the financial needs, earning capacity, and actual income of the individual spouses. The courts maintain that both parties are entitled to maintain the standard of living enjoyed during the marriage, or as close to it as possible. Also, the lower-earning […]
Read moreThe absence of fathers in the lives of their children in the United States is an issue of epidemic proportions. While some fathers choose to not share in the upbringing of their children, others seem to be left behind, as they fail to understand their rights as fathers under the law. Both biological parents have a legal right to request […]
Read moreEquitable distribution in divorce is the legal principle of dividing marital property during the dissolution of marriage. The majority of states recognize the principle of equitable distribution, using it when the court must determine how the property will be divided in the event the divorcing couple is unable to reach an agreement. In divorce, the term “equitable” does not mean […]
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