One of the most contentious issues in many divorce cases is spousal support. This issue can have a huge financial impact on one or both partners in the marriage and is often fiercely contested. Here are some important facts about spousal support, also known as alimony, that everyone who is considering getting a divorce or facing the dissolution of a marriage needs to know. Eligible The question of who is eligible to receive alimony is typically decided by the court on a case-by-case basis.

If you've made the sad decision to divorce your child's step-parent, you may be worried about the legal decisions and processes that await. And if you'll be losing contact with step-children of your own during and after divorce, you may be wondering whether there's anything you can do to legally maintain this connection. Custody decisions between two natural parents can be tough enough and adding step-parents into the mix can complicate matters, but you don't need to write off step-parent visitation just yet.

An annulment of a marriage is different than a divorce. While a divorce legally ends a marriage, an annulment granted by the court means that your marriage was never legally valid and essentially did not exist. Getting an annulment is a lot more difficult than getting a divorce, and people can't choose to get an annulment just because they want one. An annulment is a complicated legal matter that can take some time to complete, if a person is eligible for one.

Seeing a family attorney may not be the first thing on your wedding planning list, but it should be there somewhere. You and your fiance can create an agreement that lays out provisions for almost anything connected to your finances. Furthermore, the act of making the decisions required to complete the agreement can be enlightening for you as a couple and gives you a chance to be on the same page financially.

In the context of family law, a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) is a court-appointed person whose main duty is to look after the best interests of a child. GALs have traditionally been required in abuse and neglect cases, but not in divorce cases. However, the use of GALs in divorce cases is becoming more common with time. Why a GAL is necessary As broadly defined above, a GAL is needed to ensure that the child's interest and welfare are catered for during the divorce.

Just before you have surgery, a doctor or medical provider will have you sign a paper that gives your consent for the doctor to do the procedure, but this document is also giving consent when you know that there are certain risks involved. A lot of people assume that because they have signed this paper, there is not much they can do if they wake up after surgery and something is terribly wrong.