FAMILY LAW

When people hear the term “family law,” many of them immediately think of divorce lawyers. While family law does include areas such as divorce and dissolution of marriage, it is so much more. It includes important issues such as child support, child custody, and spousal support, to name a few.

FAMILY LAW: PROTECTING THE INDIVIDUAL

While there are many areas that fall under the family law umbrella, they all share a common goal: To protect each individual within the unit of a family. This can manifest itself in many different scenarios: 

• Divorce law addresses the needs of each spouse in a marriage. Whether that divorce is filed as fault or no-fault, both spouses deserve protection both physically and emotionally.

• Dissolution of marriage, while usually more amicable than divorce, prompts many of the same concerns for both spouses. Each individual needs to end the marriage in a way that’s in line with their best interests.

• Child support brings the needs of each child into play, but that isn’t to say that it doesn’t have heavy ramifications for the parents, too. Each child needs protection and support, and each parent needs a solution that’s fair and reasonable.

• Child custody goes even further than child support. Not only does the child need to be supported financially, but they need to be supported in terms of medical care, food, emotional care, shelter, and education.

• Spousal support, similar to child support, ensures that an individual is financially supported while also seeking to find an arrangement that’s reasonable for the supporter.

These are only a few examples of how multiple individuals within a group must be protected by the law. In many cases, a family law attorney offers the perfect perspective to ensure that each individual reaches the most favorable outcome through an extremely difficult time.

PEOPLE AFFECTED BY FAMILY LAW CASES

One important thing to remember is that family law isn’t reserved for individuals who have said “I do.” It can apply to any legal relationship, which can include domestic partnerships, same-sex couples, and even non-married couples.

Sometimes, family law cases also reach beyond the immediate family. Especially in the case of child custody, relatives such as siblings, grandparents, aunts, and uncles may be called to step in.

Once the guardian is appointed, they will be responsible for the following, according to the Ohio Attorney General: 

• Maintaining custody, allowing the guardian to choose where the child lives.

• Making decisions regarding education, including where the child enrolls in school, how to keep up with educational expenses, and how to ensure the child meets satisfactory attendance requirements.

• Providing support by purchasing everyday items that benefit the child’s well-being.

• Making medical decisions, such as authorizing medical care, tests, and/or counseling.

Even this brief overview shows how even a small family of three can quickly affect extended family members long-term. Ultimately, the goal is for every person in a family-like relationship — including partners, spouses, children, siblings, and grandparents — are protected. That is precisely what a family law attorney is hired to do.