Family Law
Family law covers the legal side of family life: marriage and its end, children's custody and support, adoption and protection from abuse. Most of it is state law, so the same question can have different answers across state lines.
What Does Family Law Cover?
Some family matters, such as getting married or changing a name, rarely need a lawyer. Others go through family court and have lasting financial and personal consequences: dividing property in a divorce, deciding where children live, setting child support and alimony, establishing paternity, and obtaining protective orders. Each state writes its own rules on how property is divided, how support is calculated and what a court looks at when it decides a child's best interests.
Marriage
Getting married and what marriage means legally, such as:
Divorce
Ending a marriage and dividing what it built, such as:
Children
Custody, support and children's rights, such as:
Protection From Abuse
Safety for spouses, partners and children, such as:
Older Relatives
Care, capacity and planning for parents and grandparents, such as:
Inheritance
What happens to family property after a death, such as:
Family Law Lawyers in Your State
State law decides deadlines, forms and procedure, so start with the state where your matter is. Each page lists local attorneys and the cities where they work.
- Alabama94
- Alaska17
- Arizona99
- Arkansas67
- California381
- Colorado96
- Connecticut59
- Delaware10
- Florida240
- Hawaii33
- Idaho35
- Illinois224
- Indiana91
- Iowa52
- Kansas70
- Kentucky106
- Louisiana39
- New Jersey234
- New York330
- Texas304
When Do You Need a Family Law Lawyer?
A couple generally does not need a lawyer to marry, and an uncontested divorce with no children and little property can sometimes be handled with court forms. A lawyer is worth it whenever children, a house, a business, retirement accounts or support payments are involved, or when the other side already has counsel.
Family lawyers usually bill by the hour against a retainer paid up front. Ask for an estimate for the whole case, how often you will be billed, and whether mediation could settle the matter for less. If you are in danger, a protective order can be requested the same day, often without a lawyer.
Common Questions
- How many years do you have to live together for a common law marriage?
- What is common law marriage?
- What is family law?
- Which states recognize common law marriage?
- What is a Romeo and Juliet law?
- What is elder law?
- When should I hire an elder law attorney?
Related Practice Areas
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This guide explains general rules in the United States and is not legal advice. Laws and deadlines differ by state, and only a licensed attorney can tell you how they apply to your situation.