Family Law Newsletters

Institutional Facilities for Delinquents and Civilly Institutionalized Juveniles

If a state institutional facility has deprived a juvenile of his right to mental treatment or has deprived him of any of his civil rights, the juvenile may opt to file suit against the institutional facility. There are two basic methods that the juvenile may seek with respect to relief.

International Adoption – Home Study

United States immigration laws require prospective parents to undergo a “home study” before they can adopt a child from a foreign country. A home study is an investigation into the prospective parents’ fitness to raise an adopted child. A home study is conducted by an individual or agency that is licensed by the prospective parents’ home state.

Matrimonial Actions and Health Insurance

Health insurance issues must be considered in matrimonial actions. In some jurisdictions, as a matter of law, one must pay for the medical necessaries of one’s children and spouse even during legal separation.

Planning for a Disabled Child

There are many parents that have children with disabilities. It is important for those parents to plan for the care of their children when the parents are no longer living. Often times, when parental death occurs the responsibility of the disabled child falls on the siblings, other family members, or the community.

Self-emancipation of Minors

A minor may obtain a court order declaring him or her to be self-emancipated. A self-emancipated minor has most of the legal rights and duties of an adult. The parents of a self-emancipated minor have no further duty to support the minor.