Family law encompasses legal issues that affect all areas of family life. Most commonly, family law issues center around the termination of a couple’s marriage in either a divorce or dissolution proceeding or in postdivorce child custody proceedings.

Family law encompasses child custody issues between unmarried persons, including paternity and child support, and in situations where a non-parent, such as a grandparent or other relative, seeks custody of a child. Unfortunately, these issues often sometimes also involve situations of domestic violence where a civil protection order is needed to help protect a family member’s safety. Sometimes family law cases can also include situations where Children Services are involved in an abuse, neglect or dependency case in juvenile court or in probate court in the context of adoptions, or the guardianship of a disabled adult child.