No family is without its drama. For those families that find themselves looking for a family law firm for family law legal advice, you may have many questions. Here are a few basic questions on family law that are commonly asked to get you started in your search.

What is family law?
Family law is composed of a wide variety of legal topics revolving around both marriage and children. Common legal topics include divorce or annulment, child custody, child support payments, and also spousal support or alimony.

What is the difference between a divorce and an annulment?
While both involve court proceedings to dissolve a marriage, they are vastly different. The biggest difference is that unlike a divorce that states that the two parties are no longer married, an annulment acts as though the marriage never happened at all. In the United States, a divorce is finalized every 36 seconds. Almost 50% of first marriages and 60% of second marriages end in divorce in the United States.

What is child support?
Child support is the money a parent is required by law to pay to the spouse whom the court has issued primary custody of for the child. It typically pays for the basic needs of a child including food, shelter, clothing, health and medical care, as well as educational expenses. In 2011, the average child support amount was around $500 per month.

What is spousal support?
Spousal support involves regular payments made to one spouse from the other during a separation or following a divorce. Its purpose is to recognize the recipient spouse’s contribution to the marriage as well as to help them eventually become independent.

What is family law mediation
Some of the of the biggest questions people have when seeking family law legal advice is about mediation and what family law mediation tips are available. Family mediation is a method used to resolve family issues. A neutral third party mediator helps the family to address and resolve their issues in a safe environment. One highly recommended suggestion is to seek this type of resolution first before proceeding with legal documents and trials as the costs of such can quickly add up.

Now that you have an understanding of what family is, you can now begin looking for family law attorneys to help you with family law legal advice. Family law attorneys in orange county are well connected and can refer child custody attorneys as well as divorce lawyers if your situation requires further assistance. Educate yourself on the solutions and potential outcomes so that you can make the right decision with your family in mind.