A family lawyer deals with marriage, domestic partnerships, civil unions, and parent-child issues.

  • Family law also governs spousal abuse, legitimacy, adoption, surrogacy, child abuse, and child abduction (but many issues fall under criminal law as well).
  • Divorce, alimony, annulment, child custody, visitation, child support awards, property settlements, and parental responsibility orders, all fall under the jurisdiction of family courts.