What Is The Term For Family Law?

4.5 rating based on 93 ratings

Family law, also known as matrimonial law or the law of domestic relations, is a branch of the legal field that deals with family matters and domestic relations. It regulates family relationships, including marriage and divorce, the treatment of children, and related economic matters. Family law has three main areas: matrimonial, finance, and children law. It may also cover issues like domestic violence, child abuse, and neglect.

Family law is a body of statutes, rules, regulations, and court procedures that govern relationships within family units. The laws in each state vary but are all aimed at regulating family relationships. Family law includes divorce, child custody, child support, property division, and spousal support. Family lawyers play a crucial role in these cases by providing empathetic approaches like mediation and collaborative law, prioritizing family-related issues and domestic relations.

An overview of family law includes marriages, domestic partnerships, or civil unions, prenuptial or postnuptial agreements, divorce, annulment, or legal separation, and division of property. Family law also covers legal issues within the family, such as divorce, probate, or family violence. It also covers the care and treatment of young persons.

Family law terminologies include action (a lawsuit or proceeding in a court of law) and advocate (a lawyer speaking on behalf of their client in a court setting). Family law deals with a range of legal options relating to family and domestic matters, including separation and divorce, maintenance, arrangements for family, and more.

In summary, family law is a unique branch of law that deals with the intricacies of family relationships and personal emotions. It encompasses various aspects of family law, including marriage, divorce, child custody, child support, restraining orders, name changes, and more. Family lawyers play a crucial role in handling these complex legal issues and provide empathetic approaches to help individuals navigate their family law challenges.

Useful Articles on the Topic
ArticleDescriptionSite
Family law | Definition, Examples, Types, & FactsFamily law, body of law regulating family relationships, including marriage and divorce, the treatment of children, and related economic matters.britannica.com
What Is Family Law & What Are the Types?The term “family law” applies to any legal situation that involves familial relationships. This could include custody, prenuptial agreements …metlife.com
What Does Family Law Entail?Family law is a specific segment of litigation in the legal system that focuses on issues related to domestic matters, families, and children.bencarrascolaw.com

📹 What is Family Law

Brief video lecture by David Jaroszewski, Director of Paralegal Studies at Lee College, Baytown, Texas.


What Is The Meaning Of Marriage Matrimonial
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

What Is The Meaning Of Marriage Matrimonial?

MATRIMONY, pronounced ˈma-trə-ˌmō-nē, refers to the union of two people as spouses or marriage. The adjective MATRIMONIAL pertains to matters concerning marriage, the married state, or married individuals. Marriage is a legally and socially sanctioned partnership that is governed by laws, customs, and societal beliefs, dictating the responsibilities and rights of the partners involved. The term "matrimonial consent" denotes the voluntary agreement between a man and a woman to marry.

Matrimonial law oversees marriage regulations, including separation and divorce proceedings, where it is often noted that men are more likely to have enforcement issues against them. In essence, marriage signifies a formal agreement recognized by law, emphasizing consent and the partnership's legal validity. MATRIMONY encompasses the state of being married, often associated with commitment for life or until divorce.

Ultimately, marriage is presented as a significant sacrament in various religious teachings, representing a profound personal and spiritual commitment, recognized publicly as a lifelong union reflecting both emotional and divine elements.

Can You Say Family In Law
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Can You Say Family In Law?

In English, relatives connected through marriage are typically referred to with the suffix "-in-law". Collectively, these are known as "in-laws." This includes a spouse's parents, siblings, and extended family. For example, my mother-in-law is my wife’s mother, while my brother-in-law is her brother. The term also encompasses the broader family of one's spouse; for instance, "my in-laws live in America." Often, parents extend familial affection to sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, treating them as true family members. The Oxford English Dictionary associates the term "in-law" with historical canon law relating to familial associations by marriage.

Despite its informal nature, "in-laws" is a practical term, often simplifying references to a spouse's family. The phrase "family-in-law" is rarely used in everyday conversation; instead, the word "in-law" suffices. While immediate family members are typically classified with the "-in-law" designation, some people in non-marital partnerships might still use these terms for their partners' families. Lastly, comfort levels vary regarding terms like "Mom" or "Dad" for in-laws, and clear communication about preferences can foster respect within these family ties.

What Is The Meaning Of Matrimonial Law
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

What Is The Meaning Of Matrimonial Law?

Matrimonial law regulates the rules surrounding marriage, including aspects like marriage licenses and the legal age for marriage. Originally a noun meaning "a marriage," matrimonial has evolved to include terms related to seeking a spouse. This body of law encompasses the legal criteria for marriage, such as the parties' ability to marry, mutual consent, and the legal marriage contract. Legally, marriage is seen as a contract allowing a man and woman to support one another in a shared life, with associated rights and responsibilities.

Marriage law covers details like marriage license requirements and the distinction of marital property. It asserts that marriage is a socially and legally acknowledged union, typically formalized by ceremony and documentation. In the United States, state laws govern marriage, varying by jurisdiction.

Common law marriage, an informal arrangement where couples cohabit as if married without formalization, is rooted in historical practices. This area of law, including family law, governs domestic relations, including marriage, divorce, and property rights. Matrimonial property law outlines asset ownership and division in the event of a divorce. Overall, matrimonial law establishes the framework within which marriages are initiated, maintained, and validated, emphasizing mutual consent and legal obligations between partners.

What Is An Example Of Civil Law
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

What Is An Example Of Civil Law?

Civil law addresses injuries or disputes involving individuals, organizations, or private parties, including corporations. Key issues under civil law include defamation (libel and slander), breach of contract, negligence leading to injury or death, and property damage. It encompasses various legal domains such as contracts, torts, property, and family law, structured around comprehensive legal codes. Originating from the Roman Empire and influenced by the Justinian Code, civil law differs from common law, prevalent in the U.

S. legal system, which categorizes offenses into criminal and civil law. Civil law involves conflicts that typically concern monetary compensation among individuals or entities, beginning when one party initiates a lawsuit against another. Examples of civil law cases include contract disputes, personal injury claims (like car accidents), and family law matters (such as divorce and child custody). The Napoleonic Code, established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1804, serves as a prominent example of a civil law code that has shaped legal systems globally.

Civil law provides mechanisms for individuals to seek redress for wrongs and establish their rights without engaging in criminal proceedings, solidifying its role in maintaining private rights and legal remedies.

What Is Legally Binding In Marriage
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

What Is Legally Binding In Marriage?

Marriage is a lasting commitment between two partners that primarily arises from romantic interest, but it is fundamentally a legally binding contract. This contract creates specific legal rights and responsibilities regarding assets acquired during the marriage, known as "marital property." Essential elements for a valid marriage include the legal ability of both parties to marry, mutual consent, and the contract itself. Upon marriage, individuals gain rights related to inheritance, property, and legal obligations, such as filing jointly for taxes and medical consent.

While marriage stands as one method to legally unite two individuals, alternatives exist, such as domestic partnerships and common-law marriages, which can provide similar legal recognition. Marriage contracts, often referred to as prenuptial, antenuptial, or postnuptial agreements, dictate financial matters and property division within the marriage.

In addition, marriage affords legal protections that include tax benefits, inheritance rights, and hospital visitation privileges. Commitment ceremonies, in contrast, are not legally binding, signaling the difference between a ceremonial expression of love and a legal union. Ultimately, marriage is a significant legal arrangement that not only emphasizes commitment but entails specific obligations and rights under the law.


📹 Family Law Explained

The focus of this video, presented by Aubrey Brown Lawyer and Family Law Team Leader Kate O’Grady, is on family law and …


Freya Gardon

Hi, I’m Freya Gardon, a Collaborative Family Lawyer with nearly a decade of experience at the Brisbane Family Law Centre. Over the years, I’ve embraced diverse roles—from lawyer and content writer to automation bot builder and legal product developer—all while maintaining a fresh and empathetic approach to family law. Currently in my final year of Psychology at the University of Wollongong, I’m excited to blend these skills to assist clients in innovative ways. I’m passionate about working with a team that thinks differently, and I bring that same creativity and sincerity to my blog about family law.

About me

4 comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Great information. I’ve been perusal some articles preparing myself to further my career in my passion. I must say awesomeeeeee job sir. Thanks fot sharing. I want to be in family law because like you said any area ties into it, especially litigation and criminal. Most importantly the court appearances in general. Thanks again

  • So many different parts of law, family practice is so important and a tough discipline. Let’s say large depositions of anger infused court documents, sometimes fueled by billable hours and perceived and misperceived levels of ROI… sometimes can be awful. These documents are also of public record… the liable and slander (in court) created is sometimes breath taking and sometimes true and not true… It’s also true that other outside influence needs understanding and the care and integrity of paralegals, lawyers, judges, law enforcement… these things matter a great deal. And, it’s a very loaded system. Many times there are no good answers but competitions of good and not so good. So many echoes… The corrective improvements of jurisprudence involves the case laws but also the procedures.

  • Well I have an issue with the child support order thing, and use of the word court, and judge, and court order, especially pertaining to the issue of child support. 1. Child support “laws” are really well there’s no such thing. Child support is whats called by members of the legal society “private law” which is really contract law, private law is something one contracts into, only applies to those who contracted into it. Unlike public law, which applies to everyone. The problem is no one seems to know when they entered into a contract with child support enforcement. So much for full disclosure. Then there’s fraud on the”court”, they operate under color of law, conspiracy to deprive of rights and deprevation of right under color of law, duress, coercion, misrepresentation. I’m pretty sure that voids any contract. 2. What judges? There are no such thing as judges as it pertains to child support. ” All child support hearings must be presided over by an individual who is not a judge of the court.” CSEP MANUAL ( CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM MANUAL) PG 22. IT ALSO TAKES CARE OF number 3. There’s no court for child support, not under the judicial branch of government not presided over by a judge acting in a judicial capacity ” The child support enforcement agency has decided to go with an expedited administrative process rather than a court of law.” CSEP MANUAL PG 22. Child support is a private for profit corporation, I have their dunn’s number. They are contracted with the executive branch of government to collect child support.

  • Family law is just the state transferring the man’s wealth to the female. The house is transferred to her via a quick claim deed, the savings and investments are transferred to her via QDRO paperwork, and child support is set up via wage garnishment. Alimony is paid by decree and court order. The man gets nothing from family law and has no rights in court. Please tell the truth, it’s all set up to transfer his wealth to her. His children are set up for visitation- he loses them in time too.

Divorce Readiness Calculator

How emotionally prepared are you for a divorce?
Divorce is an emotional journey. Assess your readiness to face the challenges ahead.

Tip of the day!

Pin It on Pinterest

We use cookies in order to give you the best possible experience on our website. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies.
Accept
Privacy Policy