Families come in all shapes and sizes; however, one thing remains constant—the law has an impact on many aspects of family life (a fact few people realize!). Whether it be establishing paternity, getting married, or adopting a child, the law and the courts will play a crucial role in many family changes. This section of the ABA Home Front Information Center should help you work through family law issues as they relate to you and your family. One word of caution: keep in mind that this site cannot and does not pretend to provide legal advice. Only a lawyer who understands the facts of your particular case can do that. Although every effort has been made to present material that is as up-to-date as possible, laws can and do change and vary from one state to the next.
Marriage and Divorce
Children
Domestic Violence
Adoption
Content in this section has been adapted from a former ABA publication, "Complete Personal Legal Guide: The Essential Reference For Every Household,"….. and a variety of resources and publications from the Section of Family Law, including Family Advocate magazine and the Military Law Committee's website. Content has also been adapted from Legal Eagle handouts authored by Mark E. Sullivan (COL, USAR – Ret.).
A special thanks to the Family Law Section's Military Law Committee members Henry DeWoskin and Mark E. Sullivan (COL, USAR – Ret.); Young Lawyers Division members Jill Hasegawa, Tom Farrell, Mike Besmer, Peter Stambleck, and Tabitha R. Brown; the ABA Family Law Section; the ABA Young Lawyers Division; the ABA LAMP Committee; and the ABA Division for Public Education.
IMPORTANT: The materials included on this website are for informational purposes and not intended as legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed by the use of the information from our site or the links from our site to other servers. Military personnel and their family members who are entitled to legal services through a military legal assistance office are encouraged to meet with a military attorney to obtain further help with these matters. For information on eligibility and locations of military- and civilian-provided legal assistance, visit our Directory of Programs.