Our last entry here on our Dallas family law blog about some of the family legal issues accompanying the rise in second marriages, or remarriages, may have got some of our readers thinking about the many differences in family life today as opposed to generations past. Even the phrase “family law” may seem a little strange to some. Sure, you’ll need an attorney if you’re going to get divorced, many might think, but isn’t that it?
The answer is that there are many instances in the lives of Dallas residents and their families where state or even federal laws control what kinds of decisions can be taken in which circumstances. And that’s even assuming there is no dispute between parties. But given frequently conflicting opinions over sensitive, emotionally charged issues, combined with laws that may not be well-known to those affected by them, and one begins to see why a professional legal representative can be of assistance.
Leaving aside divorce itself for the moment, there are some couples who either cannot or choose not to get married in the first place, yet still live together, share property and finances, perhaps even have children together. Unmarried couples like this face a number of potential legal complications should they seek to split, for example, or if one should pass away. Adoption for these couples – and, for that matter, even for married couples — can also be a challenging legal process in which a family law attorney’s advice may prove beneficial.
A child support dispute is another obvious example of a family law conflict where a lawyer can assist, but what about demands for child support when one parent either does not know about — or perhaps denies — paternity? Alternatively, today we sometimes find noncustodial parents paying child support and yet being denied visitation with the child. It can be difficult to know exactly what one’s rights are, much less how to enforce them, in such situations.
Our Dallas family law attorney page has more information on this subject for our readers. Family law today is a dynamic field that is growing and changing in response to the changes we see in society itself. Legal professionals, however, can help individuals understand what rights they do have and how to protect their interests.
