Family Law
Your rights in divorce, child custody, child support, domestic violence, and parental rights — federal baselines and state-specific rules explained in plain language.
Child Custody Basics
When parents separate or divorce, a court decides who the children will live with and who makes big decisions about their lives. There are two kinds of custody:Legal custody — the right to make import...
Divorce Process
Divorce is the legal process of ending a marriage. Every state now allows no-fault divorce, which means you do not need to prove your spouse did something wrong. You can simply state the marriage is "...
Child Support Rights
Both parents are legally required to support their children financially — regardless of whether the parents were ever married. When parents live apart, the non-custodial parent typically pays child su...
Domestic Violence Protections
If you are a victim of domestic violence, powerful federal and state laws protect you. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), 34 U.S.C. § 12291 et seq., is the primary federal law. Originally passed i...
Parental Rights
Parents have a fundamental constitutional right to raise their children. The U.S. Supreme Court has recognized this as a liberty interest protected by the 14th Amendment's Due Process Clause. The gove...