Q: What is the legal definition of marriage?
A: Most states define marriage as a civil contract between a man and a woman to become husband and wife. The standard way to marry is to get a marriage license from a state-authorized official, then participate in a formal civil or religious wedding ceremony.
Q: What are the legal effects of marriage?
A: There are several federal and state laws that benefit married couples. Some examples include the right to:
- file joint income tax returns with the IRS and state taxing authorities
- create a family partnership under federal tax laws, which allows you to divide business income among family members-often lowering income tax
- create a marital life-estate trust
- receive spousal and dependent Social Security, disability, unemployment, veterans, pension and public assistance benefits
- receive a share of your deceased spouse's estate under intestate succession laws
- claim an estate tax marital deduction
- sue a third person for wrongful death of your spouse and loss of consortium
- sue a third person for offenses that interfere with the success of your marriage, such as alienation of affection and criminal conversation in some states
- receive family rates for insurance
- avoid the deportation of a non-citizen spouse
- enter hospital intensive care units, jails and other places where visitors are restricted to immediate family
The attorneys at the law offices of Mylordos, Pollock & Harris have helped thousands of women and men find family law solutions that worked for their family. Whether your concern is divorce and the related matters of child support, visitation and custody, and property division, or you are seeking to establish paternity or adopt a child, our family law lawyers are experienced and diligent in their efforts to provide exceptional family law representation.
Family law is the term applied to the laws and rules developed regarding family relationships. Family law rules define not only the relationships between members of a family but also between a family and society as a whole. More than any other area of the law, family law reflects the values society shares regarding how people who are related should treat each other.
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There are more than 13 million divorced parents with sole custody of their minor children in America. Federal legislation and uniform state laws exist to make enforcement and collection of child support easier for America's single parents. Every state uses its own guidelines for establishing child support and each has various methods to set support amounts and recover support when it is overdue.
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Deciding to pursue divorce is one of the most difficult and emotional decisions you will ever make, particularly if you have children. Divorce also involves business and legal questions that must be resolved. An experienced family law attorney will help you to understand the basic issues and use a rational perspective to approach the process.
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When parents divorce, it is important to learn about the child custody and visitation options that are available and the legal standards that apply. In most cases, divorcing couples can ultimately agree on custody and visitation issues without the need for a court order. When an agreement cannot be reached, knowledgeable advice and representation from an experienced family law attorney often makes the difference.
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Marriage is a voluntary, private contract between a man and a woman. While it is a personal and emotional commitment, it is also a legal relationship that changes the legal status of both parties. The legal technicalities of marriage are best understood with the help of an experienced family law attorney.
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American Bar Association-Family Law Section
National organization of family law attorneys web site designed for general use by the public. Contains tables and summaries addressing differences in state laws and requirements for divorce, child support and other important family law issues.
The Legal Information Institute
A trusted resource for learning more about divorce law.
FindLaw: State Resources
State family law resources and forms.
