What Exactly Is Family Law?

 The term family law is not exclusive to divorce, though that is a common misconception. Family law encompasses many areas of the law, from annulments to adoption procedures. There is constant research being conducted in the family law arena in an effort to provide the best service to adults and children alike.
  With an ever-expanding section of the law, it pays to stay informed about the latest findings. Questions have been raised about a parent's legal responsibility in a bullying situation, and this is exactly where a family law attorney would come in to play. Your child has rights, and they deserve to be protected in ways not related to divorce. There has been a recent discovery with the courts having success with allowing a child to meet the judge and be questioned in custody hearings.
  Recently family law has even started protecting and fighting for visitation rights of pets. Some states even have pet custody laws. Having an experienced family law attorney on your side will help with a plethora of legal situations, from changing your child's last name to adjusting the amount of child support that you are responsible for. A good family law attorney will encourage mediation when possible, and will protect you from becoming further entwined in a legal battle.

9 Questions To Ask Before Filing For Divorce

You may feel that you have tried everything possible but a divorce is unavoidable, and that is something that is your decision to make. Consider first if you have in fact tried everything before heading for divorce, because it can be a painful process. Huffington Post put together a list of questions to ask before calling the divorce lawyer.

There's a big difference between an unhappy marriage and an un-salvageable one. Couples often tell me they're contemplating divorce when what they're facing are ordinary -- though difficult -- relationship challenges that they have been unable to resolve. Divorce is a radical step to take when what you're seeking is change.

— Huffington Post

What Mickey Rooney Taught Us About Financial Elder Abuse

Financial Elder Abuse is a very real dilemma, and there is not enough awareness about it in the media. Mickey Rooney's passing was sad, but before his death he tried to call attention to his own financial abuse. Make sure to watch the video on financial elder abuse that is attached to the article.

In September 2011, Rooney's court-appointed conservator, Michael. R. Augustine, filed suit against the actor's stepson Christopher Aber, and the stepson's wife, Christina, alleging elder abuse and misappropriation of his likeness. The suit alleged that after Rooney let his stepson handle his personal and business affairs, the couple stole Rooney's money for their own use, kept him in the dark about his own finances, used threatening and abusive language, and refused him basic necessities like food and medicine. In October 2013, Rooney's conservator agreed to a $2.8-million stipulated judgment against the couple.

— Consumer Reports

Advice For Estate Planning

When one thinks of estates and wills, money and financial assets come to mind. But what about the other items that are more valuable than money? How do you decide who gets the necklace passed down five generations? Reading article like the following one will help you when planning your estate.

In fact, such “stuff”—the legal term is “non-titled property”—is often the biggest source of unhappiness among families, says Wynne Whitman, an attorney in Spring Lake, N.J. Certain items might have monetary worth, and others are cherished for their sentimental value. But that 25 cent Christmas ornament or dog-eared copy of “Winnie the Pooh” can come at a costly emotional price. Without investing time and thought into how to distribute personal possessions, you can unwittingly leave a legacy of rancor and resentment.

— Consumer Reports

The Most Important Estate Planning Documents To Have

You may think that it is too soon to plan your estate, or maybe that you have nothing to plan for, but that is not the case. It is never too soon to consider estate planning,nor is it ever too soon to organize your important documents. This piece from The Wall Street Journal gives advice on the most important estate-planning documents that you should have.

An important part of the will is naming the executor who is in charge of managing an estate, including paying bills. While you don't need to tell anyone what is in your will, it's important to let your designated executor know he or she has been chosen to do that job, and it might be a good idea to inform other family members, too.

— The Wall Street Journal

Conscious Uncoupling And Estate Planning

Have you heard the term conscious uncoupling? It has been touted in the media as a more civilized manner of dissolving a marriage, but how does it apply to divided assets? The following article examines how conscious uncoupling affects estates and trusts.

Although both Paltrow and Martin have certainly created a considerable amount of wealth (3) since they got married in 2003, it is important to remember that they had already achieved substantial success when they met. “Whatever they brought to the marriage is perfunctorily considered separate property, and any earnings after the wedding become marital assets in the absence of an effective premarital instrument to determine what should rightfully and separately belong to husband and wife,” explains Mr. Beatrice.

— Virtual Strategy

Ways To Tell You Are Ready For A Divorce

Staying in an unhappy marriage is not healthy for either person. It is always recommended to try therapy or counseling before deciding on divorce, but some people do not want to consider such a thing, or maybe they feel that the relationship is past the point of redemption. The following article goes in depth about ways to tell that divorce is your only answer.

Sometimes divorce is a selfish and short-sighted choice. But sometimes it’s a choice for life and health. Your inner guidance will know the difference if you take a little time to get quiet and honest with yourself. If you know you need to leave, see it as a life-affirming choice, not a mean action or a sin.

— Read More At Huffington Post