Family Law

Overview

Family law generally concerns domestic relations and family-related matters such as marriage, civil unions, domestic partnerships, adoptions, paternity, guardianships, domestic abuse, surrogacy, child custody, child abduction, the dissolution of marriage and associated issues. According to U.S. Census data the make-up of the American family has been changing. For instance, the 2000 Census revealed that less than a quarter of American families are married couples with minor children compared with 45% of such households in 1960.

A large percentage of marriages end in separation or divorce. When a couple decides to terminate their marriage, one of the parties will petition the court for a divorce. Besides seeking a legal termination of the relationship, the couple will also ask the court to divide the marital assets, grant child custody to one or both parents, and impose child and spousal support obligations, if applicable.

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  • Rule - State Parent Locator Service; Safeguarding Child Support Information

    In accordance with the memorandum of January 20, 2009, from the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, entitled ``Regulatory Review,'' this action temporarily delays until May 22, 2009, the effective date of the final rule entitled ``State Parent Locator Service; Safeguarding Child Support Information,'' published in the Federal Register on September 26, 2008 [73 FR 56422]. The temporary delay in effective date is necessary to give Department officials the opportunity for further review of the issues of law and policy raised by this rule.

  • Proposed Rule - Computerized Tribal IV-D Systems and Office Automation

    This proposed rule would enable Tribes and Tribal organizations currently operating a comprehensive Tribal Child Support Enforcement program under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act (the Act) to apply for and receive direct Federal funding for the costs of automated data processing. This proposed rule addresses the Secretary's commitment to provide instructions and guidance to Tribes and Tribal organizations on requirements for applying for, and upon approval, securing Federal Financial Participation (FFP) in the costs of installing, operating, maintaining, and enhancing automated data processing systems.

  • Proposed Rule - Tribal Child Support Enforcement Program

    Notice is hereby given for the dates and locations for one informational meeting and three Tribal consultations on the Computerized Tribal IV-D Systems and Office Automation Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). On June 11, 2008, the Federal Register will publish an NPRM that would enable Tribes and Tribal organizations currently operating a comprehensive Tribal Child Support Enforcement program under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act (the Act) to apply for and receive direct Federal funding for the costs of child support automated data processing. This proposed rule addresses the Secretary's commitment to provide instructions and guidance to Tribes and Tribal organizations on requirements for applying for, and upon approval, securing Federal Financial Participation (FFP) under the Tribal IV-D program in the costs of installing, operating, maintaining, and enhancing child support automated data processing systems. The public comment period for this regulation will be 60 days from the date of the publication of the NPRM. The Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) will host one meeting to introduce the proposed rule and three consultations to receive public comment on the proposed rule. This notification provides specific information for the informational meeting and consultations.
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