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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  • Uzamere v. Bush, et al
    Plaintiff Cheryl D. Uzamere alleges that Defendants government officials failed to act on her report that her husband Ehigie Edobor a/k/a Godwin Uzamere entered into a sham marriage with her and committed bigamy by marrying another woman at the same time.
    New York Eastern District Court
    Plaintiff
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Plaintiff: Cheryl D. Uzamere Defendant: George W. Bush, Condoleeza Rice, Michael Mukasey, Michael Chertoff, Dr. Emilio T. Gonzalez and others...
    Last Docket Report Change Found: October 15, 2008

    (October 14, 2008)

Legislation AddThis Feed Button

Regulations AddThis Feed Button

  • Rule - State Parent Locator Service; Safeguarding Child Support Information
    Child Support Enforcement Office
    Rule
    State Parent Locator Service; Safeguarding Child Support Information
    ,
    11879-11880 [E9-6165]
    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children and Families Office of Child Support Enforcement 45 CFR Parts 302, 303 and 307 RIN 0970-AC01 State Parent Locator Service; Safeguarding Child Support Information AGENCY: Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Department of Health and Human Services. ACTION: Delay of effective date. SUMMARY: In accordance with the memorandum of January 20, 2009, from the Assistant to the... [read document]
    View Document | Download PDF

    (March 18, 2009)
  • Rule - State Parent Locator Service; Safeguarding Child Support Information
    Child Support Enforcement Office
    Rule
    State Parent Locator Service; Safeguarding Child Support Information,
    56422-56446 [E8-22054]
    Part V Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Office of Child Support Enforcement 45 CFR Parts 302, 303 and 307 State Parent Locator Service; Safeguarding Child Support Information; Final Rule DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children and Families Office of Child Support Enforcement 45 CFR Parts 302, 303 and 307 RIN 0970-AC01 State Parent Locator Service; Safeguarding Child Support Information AGENCY: Office of Child Support... [read document]
    View Document | Download PDF

    (September 25, 2008)
  • Proposed Rule - Computerized Tribal IV-D Systems and Office Automation
    Child Support Enforcement Office
    Proposed Rule
    Computerized Tribal IV-D Systems and Office Automation,
    33048-33064 [E8-13042]
    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Office of Child Support Enforcement 45 CFR Parts 309 and 310 RIN 0970-AC32 Computerized Tribal IV-D Systems and Office Automation AGENCY: Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE), Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ACTION: Notice of proposed rule making (NPRM). SUMMARY: This proposed rule would enable Tribes and Tribal organizations currently operating a comprehensive Tribal Child Support Enforcement... [read document]
    View Document | Download PDF

    (June 10, 2008)
  • Proposed Rule - Tribal Child Support Enforcement Program
    Child Support Enforcement Office
    Proposed Rule
    Tribal Child Support Enforcement Program,
    32668-32669 [E8-13073]
    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Office of Child Support Enforcement 45 CFR Parts 309 and 310 Tribal Child Support Enforcement Program AGENCY: Office of Child Support Enforcement, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services. ACTION: Notice of open consultation. SUMMARY: 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... [read document]
    View Document | Download PDF

    (June 9, 2008)

Government AddThis Feed Button

  • Notice - Award: Non-Competitive Successor Award to the State Information Technology Consortium
    Child Support Enforcement Office
    Notice
    Award:
    Non-Competitive Successor Award to the State Information Technology Consortium
    ,
    11960 [E9-6119]
    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Office of Child Support Enforcement Notice To Award Non-Competitive Successor Award to the State Information Technology Consortium (SITC) AGENCY: Office of Child Support Enforcement, ACF, DHHS. ACTION: Notice to award Non-Competitive Successor Award to the State Information Technology Consortium (SITC). CFDA#: 93.601. Legislative Authority: Legislative Authority: Section 452(j) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 652(j), provides Federal funds for... [read document]
    View Document | Download PDF

    (March 18, 2009)
  • Notice - Privacy Act: Systems of records
    Child Support Enforcement Office
    Notice
    Privacy Act:
    Systems of records,
    21200-21203 [05-8214]
    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS) Office of Child Support Enforcement Privacy Act of 1974; Amended System of Records AGENCY: Office of Child Support Enforcement, ACF, HHS. ACTION: Notice of amended system of records. SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirement of the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) is publishing notice of its amendment of its systems of records entitled ``The Location and Collection System'', No. 09-90-0074. DATES:... [read document]
    View Document | Download PDF

    (April 24, 2005)

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Google News & Tags: divorce alimony spousal-support law lawyer attorney

Blog Posts AddThis Feed Button

  • Florida Annulment
    A Florida Annulment is not a common practice in family law, but they do occur. Florida divorce attorneys do not see annulments on a regular basis because the standard of proof is very difficult to achieve. Recently, I was successful in getting a fraudulent marriage annulled in Jacksonville, Florida. The facts the case were perfect for showing that the marriage was based on fraud by one party against the other, however, that is typically not the case. For those who don't really understand what...
    (April 23, 2009)
  • Coming up: Free Divorce Seminar
    Folks, I really want some feedback here. Please. I have been planning a divorce seminar for the past month. Work has been such that I have not gotten much beyond the planning stage - deciding a theme, looking at a location for the seminar. Here is the theme: the things you need to know about Indiana divorce law. I have ideas - well, I always have ideas - but they come from my lawyer's perspective. I would like to hear from those divorce what they wish they had known. So please feel free to use...
    (April 23, 2009)
  • New Ky Ethics Rules Online
    Here is the link to the sweeping new ethical rules issued by the Kentucky Supreme Court last week. We all will have to study them carefully. They become effective July 15, 2009.
    (April 23, 2009)
  • Should a personal protection order restrain speech?
    Can and should a trial court granted a request for a personal protection order ("PPO") that prohibits a person from stalking another by continuing email or phone contact and also from writing or communicating slanderous statements with the other's employer, community, & associates?
    (April 23, 2009)
  • FAMILY COURTS: NEW RULES WON’T CREATE OPEN, TRANSPARENT SYSTEM
    I have just received this News Release from Resolution: FAMILY COURTS: NEW RULES WON'T CREATE OPEN, TRANSPARENT SYSTEM New rules to open family courts to the media rushed in by the government represent a missed opportunity to allow thorough and effective public scrutiny, family lawyer's group Resolution warned today, as it called for the establishment of a Family Courts' Inspectorate. From Monday accredited journalists will be allowed to attend divorce, custody and care proceedings, unless the...
    (April 23, 2009)