6 Types of Cases Heard In Family Court

What is Family Court?

Family court is the legal forum in which matters involving families and familial units are brought in the form of a hearing in order to undergo judicial review. Family court provides a setting in which applicable legislature and legal procedure with regard to family law takes place. This type of legislation may include any or all legal events, classifications, and legislative statutes identified as a result of the involvement of family members.

A family court will convene to decide matters and process orders in relation to family law. This body of law typically hears matters that involve the custody of children or the affirming of a divorce. In the majority of common-law jurisdictions, a family court will implement statutes that aim to enforce equitable matters that have devolved from a court of inherent jurisdiction.

Types of cases heard in a Family Court

In the majority of common law jurisdictions throughout the United States, a family court can be subdivided into 2 primary classifications. Each category will be responsible for hearing and evaluating cases of a particular subject matter. The issues are divided into legality issues that involve parents, guardians or custodians, while the other family court division will administer legality issues involving children and minors.

Divorce Cases heard in Family Court: In the event of dissolution of marriage, different procedures can be used to terminate a failing marriage, including annulment, separation, or divorce. In certain cases, the couple in question may decide that a legal separation may be more productive with regard to irreconcilable differences.

Alimony Cases heard in a Family Court: These types of cases involve the prearranged agreements prior to marriage. Certain married couples may have facilitated awards granted to the other party upon the dissolution of a marriage.

Nuptial agreements are set forth prior to the finalization of a marriage agreement. In certain cases, agreements mandated in family court can be facilitated that prevent the awarding of alimony subsequent to the termination of a marriage.

Paternity Test Cases in a Family Court: A family court may authenticate the results of paternity tests. These tests are classified as investigative scientific measures that are taken in order to determine the validity of paternity claims brought forth within a paternity lawsuit.

Custody Cases in a Family Court: A legal procedure used in conjunction with the determination set forth by the presiding court with regard to the responsibility of guardianship or custodianship of any or all children shared by a married couple. A presiding family court will typically be required to mandate custodial decisions.

Child Support Cases in a Family Court: Child support is a means of financial restitution in which a non-custodial parent can contribute to the expenses of raising children produced by a marriage. With regard to family court, Child support mandates are undertaken with regard to jurisdictional family law legislation.

As a result, the amount of payment is determined by a variety of social, economic, and professional factors. A child support payment is monies paid by the non-custodial parent to the parent acting as the primary care custodian or the custodial parent.

Guardianship matters in a Family Court: In the event that a minor seeks to emancipate themselves from their respective legal Guardian or adjust the implied status of guardianship responsibility, a family court will review a petition of emancipation. Upon emancipation, a Guardian will be relinquished of their responsibility of Guardianship.

Adoption: A family court will typically oversee the authentication of legal adoption. Prospective parents undergoing the adoption process will be able to participate in the judicial review of any or all implicit authenticity, substantiation, and validation concerning issues under the jurisdiction of legality.

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