The family is at the heart of American Society. It is the family that raises and nurtures the next generation and that also cares for the elderly or disabled. However, though the bonds that unite a family are seldom actually destroyed, they are often rearranged as the family unit grows, shrinks, or reinvents itself. The legal area of family law is often an indispensable companion to a family in transition, helping it clarify its legal status and ensuring that all family members are protected.
What Is Family Law?
Family law is the area of civil law that focuses on all forms of legal domestic relations. It helps provide for the legal rights of individuals within the family as well as clarifying a legal relationship between individuals and what their legal responsibilities and rights are to each other. It helps protect an individual’s or a couple’s assets and finances and ensures that children of the union are legally cared for. Some specific specialties of family law include the following.
- Family Law Specialties
- Marriages
- Divorce
- Divorce Settlements
- Alimony
- Annulments
- Separation Agreements
- Adoption
- Surrogacy
- Child Support
- Child Custody
- Child Visitation
- Prenuptial Agreements
- Retirement Plans and Benefits
- Collaborative Law
- Mediation
- Paternity Testing
Family Law Requires Sensitivity and Legal Expertise
Family law requires both a great deal of legal expertise as well as sensitivity and understanding on the part of the family law attorney. Many family law matters are extremely emotionally charged, often involving one or more parties who feels hurt, betrayed, unsure of the future, or even emotionally traumatized. Even cases such as prenuptial agreements, adoption, or surrogacy, which accompany a positive life event, still require a great deal of patience and understanding on the part of the attorney as the individuals involved come to terms with their changing life circumstances and responsibilities.
Additionally family law requires a great deal of legal expertise, experience, and a deep understanding of the laws in a particular area. State laws vary significantly with regard to the way they recognize community property and assets, parental rights and obligations, and other family law intricacies. Furthermore, the arrangements settled upon in a family law case have the added burden of needing to address very long-term circumstances. It is not enough for family law to merely address immediate, present-day situations; family law must also consider the future needs of the adults and minors involved.
Individuals, couples, and families looking for a family law attorney need to choose very carefully. They need to consider the background and expertise of the attorney. They also need to assess how comfortable and at ease they feel around the attorney and whether or not the attorney truly understands their unique concerns.
Dies & Parkhurst’s Experience with Family Law
The law firm of Dies & Parkhurst is experienced in family law matters. Our attorneys are experts in Texas family laws and are dedicated to acting in the best interest of each of our clients. Whether our clients are prompted to visit us as the result of a happy event like a marriage or the arrival of a new child, or a more somber event such as a divorce or custody arrangement, they can depend on us to take the time to thoroughly get acquainted with their situations and needs. We are committed to protecting Texas families and helping them receive the legal care necessary for their changing circumstances.
