Family Law Newsletters

Adoption and Safe Families Act - Termination of Parental Rights

The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) requires a state to file a petition to terminate a parent's parental rights to a child if:

Divorce Generally

A divorce is the termination of a marriage between two parties. It is ordered by a court after one spouse files a petition for divorce. After a divorce is finalized, both parties are free to remarry. They may even remarry one another.

Separation and Divorce Between United States Citizens and Non-citizens

Separation and divorce between citizens and non-citizens can occur just as separation and divorce occurs between two citizens. Non-citizens who reside in the United States are entitled to the same rights as legal citizens residing in the United States. If both the citizen and non-citizen reside in the United States, both have access to the same court system and procedures.

Raising Grandchildren

In this day and age there are a lot of grandparents raising their grandchildren for numerous different reasons. Sometimes the grandparent may seek custody of their grandchild due to the parents' incapacity to raise the grandchild. Other times the grandparent may have no choice but to raise the grandchild due to the situation at hand.

Child Welfare Agency's Potential Malpractice Liability for Violating Parental Rights

Although intervention by a child welfare agency is sometimes required for the protection of a child, sometimes the investigation may become over zealous or slanderous in nature. Investigating claims that a child is the subject of mistreatment is difficult. The agency should attempt to investigate all claims made with a balanced outlook.