Frequently Asked Questions

Answers from a Lawrenceville Divorce & Family Law Attorney

What is family law?
Family law deals with issues regarding marriage, divorce, alimony, legal separation, child custody, child support, paternity, adoption and other area related to the family structure.

What is divorce?
Divorce, or dissolution of marriage, is defined as the legal end to a marriage. Issues associated with a divorce might include the following: division of property, spousal support or alimony, child custody, child visitation and child support.

What is alimony?
Alimony, also known as spousal support, is a payment from one spouse to another for support after a divorce or during a legal separation. There are three types of alimony in which you may be entitled: permanent, temporary or lump sum.

What is child custody?
Child custody deals with who gets custody of the children after a divorce or legal separation. There are four types of child custody: legal custody, physical custody, joint custody and sole custody. Physical support decides which parent a child will reside with and who will care for that child on a day-to-day basis. Legal control refers to the ability to make important decisions related to raising the child. Sole custody occurs when only one parent has custody, while joint custody involves the parents sharing custody.

What is child support?
Child support is a payment from one spouse to another for support of the children after a divorce or legal separation occurs. Child support payments are determined by several factors, including the needs of the children, income of the parent with custody, income of the parent without custody and the standard of living before the divorce. Typically, the paternity of the child or children must be established before child support can be awarded.

What is adoption?
Adoption refers to the process by which someone over the age of 18 becomes the legal parent of a child who is not his or her biological offspring. There are five types of adoption: international, independent, identified, relative and agency.

Do I need a family law attorney?
The decision to hire a family law attorney is a very personal one. Since many of the issues surrounding divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support and adoption are complex, it will likely be in your best interest and helpful to your case to have the advice of an experienced and knowledgeable family law attorney to guide you.

Have More Questions?

Fox Firm, P.C. represents people in need of an experienced family law attorney in Gwinnett County, Georgia and the surrounding areas. Our firm has an office located in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Contact the Lawrenceville family law attorney at our firm so he can answer more of your questions. We look forward to speaking with you in regards to your specific family law issues and the possible steps you can take to protect both you and your loved ones.