Family law covers legal issues regarding relationships between spouses and other relatives. Judges rule on these types of matters in a state's supreme and family court systems. The following brief guide explains where to begin filing, so you know how to proceed with your case. 

3 Types of Family Law Cases

1. Divorce

To end a marriage, you would file a petition in family court. When a couple can't reach a settlement, a judge will intervene, basing the division of assets on the state's laws. For instance, Utah requires an equitable division of marital property, meaning that assets acquired during the marriage are divided fairly and not necessarily equally. A judge will also divide a couple's debts. If one spouse requests alimony, the court takes the length of the marriage and the person's contributions into account to determine how much financial support they will receive and for how long.  

2. Child Custody & Support 

Which parent retains custody of the kids is often one of the issues addressed during a divorce or legal separation. The child lives with the parent awarded physical custody, while the parent with legal custody makes decisions regarding the youngster's upbringing, including schooling, health care, and religious beliefs. The judge considers what arrangement will be in the child's best interests, taking each parent's living situation, relationship with the child before the divorce, history of neglect, and additional factors into account to reach a decision. The judge might decide to give one parent sole physical custody and the other visitation rights or grant joint physical custody. Legal custody can be sole or shared, too. Who owes child support is determined and calculated in family court, based on a standard base requirement, medical expenses, and other child care costs.   

3. Protection Orders

No one should experience physical or verbal abuse at the hands of a domestic partner. A protection order can be filed in family court to get the abuser to stay away. Signed by a judge, the document limits interactions an abuser has with their victim and any children they share and establishes how long the order is valid. An individual could be arrested for violating an order of protection.

If you are facing divorce, child custody issues, or other matters of family lawn, turn to Craig C. Halls, Attorney at Law in Blanding, UT, for assistance. Serving clients in southeastern Utah since 1984, the attorney will help you navigate a no-fault or contested divorce, negotiate settlements, and work out parenting plans. Visit online to learn more about this experienced attorney, or call (435) 678-3333 to schedule a consultation.