There is a law dedicated to all aspects of our modern lives, but, the sector that we average citizens are most likely to deal with is family law, a subdivision of civil law that is concerned with matters pertaining to families and family relationships, with divorce and parental rights being a prime example. Protecting the legal rights of family members and deciding their obligations is the primary purpose of family law.
For example, if there is a case involving domestic violence, it would be covered by family law. In the unfortunate event of such a thing happening in your home, your best course of action would be to seek help from Sydney family lawyers who can offer abuse victims legal recourse and guide them to apply for restraining orders and other legal procedures that will protect them.
If it is a family-related issue it will most likely be regarded as a family law case. Here are some examples of the situations that family lawyers commonly deal with:
Civil Partnership and Marriage – A couple who wants to officially register their civil partnership or marry will require the assistance of a legal professional. The family lawyer will help them draft and sign any pre-civil partnership agreements and binding financial agreements before they enter into their official marriage or partnership. In these cases, an attorney would be appointed to assist and represent both parties separately during the necessary proceedings at the Federal Circuit Court.
Custody of Children – Parents are responsible for the welfare and care of their children until they reach the age of 18. It is well known that separating a child from either parent in the event of a divorce can be extremely harmful to the well-being of the child as well as the parent. The well-being and best interests of the child must always come first during discussions of parental problems in family court. It is the duty of the family lawyer to ensure the protection and preservation of the child’s rights.
Adoption of a Child – When the biological parents of a child decide to give up their parental rights and obligations to pass them on to adoptive parents, they are put through the process of legal adoption, which in some states requires the state’s Supreme Court to issue the adoption orders. The process of legally terminating parental rights for birth parents is assisted by a family lawyer. This will involve making sure that the birth parents are giving legal consent to allow their biological child to be adopted, and are aware of and will follow all the requirements of the adoption process. The family lawyer will also ensure that the adopting parents understand their rights and responsibilities, the goal of all of this always being to foster a situation that is in the best interests of the child.
The Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department has more information on family law on their website. If you feel that your family has entered into a situation that requires legal counselling do not hesitate to call your family lawyer immediately, they are there to help resolve the situation in a way that best benefits you and your entire family.
