Family Law Newsletter

Unmarried Cohabitants

''Cohabitation'' can be defined as a relationship involving a heterosexual or homosexual couple who live more or less permanently in the same household and who mutually assume those rights, duties, and obligations that are typically manifested by a married couple, including sexual relations. While a cohabitation relationship may resemble a marriage, it does not legally qualify as a ceremonial, common-law, or putative marriage.More...

Right of Putative Father to Visitation

A "putative father" is a man who may be a child's father, but who was not married to the child's mother before the child was born and has not established the fact that he is the father in a court proceeding. When the child's natural parents have never married and the putative father is seeking visitation with his child, he must first prove his paternity before a court will entertain his petition for visitation. More...

Adoption and Safe Families Act - Permanency Plans and Hearings

The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) requires states to conduct a permanency hearing within 12 months of a child's placement in foster care and at least every 12 months thereafter for as long as the child is in foster care. The date of the child's placement in foster care is the earlier of the following two dates: the date of the first judicial finding that the child is abused or neglected, or 60 days after the removal of the child from his or her home. More...

Abortion and Consent

The medical procedure of abortion is one of the most performed procedures in the United States. Prior to a woman seeking an abortion she should have sufficient information about the procedure. In some states abortion clinics may make the woman wait a period of time prior to performing the procedure. The most common period of time is a 24-hour window between the time that the woman enters the clinic requesting an abortion and the time that the procedure is actually performed. More...

Establishment of a Guardianship

A guardianship is a legal right given to an individual to be responsible for the care, housing, and basic necessities of another individual, commonly referred to as the ward, who is deemed incapable or unable to care for themselves. More...