Since the law is a broad issue that regulates the functioning of the whole society and is applied in all kinds of situations, many lawyers decide to specialize in only one area of law.
The family lawyers are then in charge of offering advice on all legal aspects related to the family, the family environment and the relationships and patrimony between family members. This area is known as family law.
This type of lawyer is in charge of advising clients on the best way to resolve a conflict, informing about the options available in their specific situation and making recommendations to solve a problem in the best possible way.
In addition to providing legal advice, a family lawyer writes relevant documents (such as a divorce petition or an adoption request), represents clients before the court and can perform all legal proceedings related to family law.
In most countries, it is necessary to complete a law degree and obtain a university degree that allows them to practice. This career usually focuses on understanding how the law works in general and how to understand and apply legal concepts to real life. After obtaining it, it is necessary to make a specific specialization in family law to be able to practice as a family lawyer.
Most people will need the help of a family lawyer at some point in their lives, regardless of whether they are complex cases such as contentious divorces or simple cases such as declaring the death of an older adult in the family.
If you are in any situation where you want to receive legal advice or solve a legal problem related to your family, with relationships between members or involving property or family assets, you will have to hire a family lawyer. When that time comes, you can consider going for such lawyers like Andrew Heft family law attorney.
Main cases in which a family lawyer intervenes
#1: Marriages, separations, and divorces
These are usually the main reasons why people hire a family lawyer. This category includes the legal part of the relationship between two adults. A family lawyer usually takes care of the following cases:
- Civil marriages
- Premarital agreements
- De facto unions
- Separations
- Contentious divorces
- Divorces by mutual agreement
- Regulatory agreements
- Food pensions between spouses
- Separation of Property
#2: Affiliation, custody, child support
The family law is also responsible for the relationship between parents and children and the responsibilities of the other. Family lawyers also deal with the part that involves children as a result of separation or divorce.
- Custody
- Food pensions
- Visits between parents and children and between grandparents and grandchildren
- Distribution of expenses
#3: Guardianships, adoptions, fatherhood
Apart from the legal responsibilities between parents and children, family lawyers also take care of minors in cases such as adoptions and guardianships (cases in which minors are in charge of other adults who are not parents). In cases where an adult wants to request a paternity test, it may also be useful to hire a family lawyer.
- Adoptions
- Guardianships
- Paternity tests
#4: Inheritances, successions, family patrimony
Family lawyers are also responsible for the legal part related to the family estate.
- Inheritances
- Successions
- Familiar patrimony
- Wills
#5: Abuse, mistreatment and domestic violence
Finally, family lawyers are responsible for dealing with cases in which there is abuse, abuse and domestic violence between couples, between parents and children or between relatives of any other type. In these cases, it is important to have the help of a lawyer to file complaints, get restraining orders, etc.
- Physical violence
- Psychological violence
- Sexual abuse
- Restriction orders
- Maltreatment
