Divorce & Family Law

Rules for prenuptial agreements, marriage, and divorce, along with the laws on child support, child custody, adoption, same-sex issues, and elder care.

Below you'll find detailed yet easy-to-understand Divorce & Family Law articles from our legal pros. These articles are organized by category to help you find what you're looking for.

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Learn some of the legal and practical ways that getting married changes your life.

What you need to know if you're considering a prenuptial, or premarital agreement.

Here's an overview of the legal rules that affect property and other rights of unmarried couples who end their relationship.

Deciding child custody is often one of the more difficult and emotional parts of a divorce. Prepare yourself by learning more about the ins and outs of child custody.

The divorce process can be expensive and time-consuming. It can also cause heartache and damage to already fragile relationships. Many times, it's best to look for ways to minimize the cost, time, and damage that comes from a traditional contested divorce.

Learn the rules on child support, including who has to pay it, how the amount is determined, and when a support order can be changed.

Learn about the different ways you can adopt a child.

Learn more about the guardianship process.

Learn how to apply for your child's SSN at birth, after birth, or during or after an adoption.

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Changing your name can be both exciting and overwhelming. Some situations require you to ask the court for permission, while others don't. Learn how to get a court-ordered name change.

Learn more about the requirements for making changes to your child's birth certificate.

Empower Yourself: DIY Products by Nolo

Sidestep the lawyers with do-it-yourself books, documents, and software.

Use these three books to help you end a marriage as quickly and inexpensively as possible, whether you decide to hire an attorney or not.
Avoid child custody battles and save money, time, and grief.

Nolo offers hundreds of consumer-friendly, do-it-yourself legal products for all types of legal situations. Browse our full product list.

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