Some forms required for stepparent adoptions are fairly universal and are similar from state to state. In general, your spouse must consent to the adoption, the child's other parent must consent, and sometimes, if she is over the age of 12, the child must consent as well. The exact procedure usually......[Read More]

There are four steps to obtaining an annulment in Texas. The procedure is handled by the state court in the county in which the petitioner lives. An annulment, however, is only available to parties that satisfy a specific set of criteria set forth in the Texas Family Code, section 6, subchapter B. A......[Read More]

Civil liberties are the fundamental individual rights U.S. citizens have that are protected by law against unwarranted governmental or other interference. The original first 10 amendments of the Constitution, called the Bill of Rights, was ratified on December 15, 1791. These amendments were, and st......[Read More]

It is easy to spot abuse when it comes in the package of a man who stays out all night, drinks, uses drugs, is obviously having affairs, is irresponsible with money, can't keep a job, and displays both verbal and physical abuse at home.Men with these kinds of characteristics can be labeled or d......[Read More]

Trying to obtain guardianship of your minor sibling may or may not be difficult based on the circumstances. If guardianship is voluntarily being signed over it is a relatively easy process and may occur if your parent has a health condition that leaves them unable to care for your sibling. Obtaining......[Read More]

A newlywed woman has several options concerning her last name after she walks down the aisle. She can choose to take her husband's surname, hyphenate or simply stick with her original maiden name. However, taking the husband's name is an established tradition, and for those who want a change, there ......[Read More]

Laws related to marriage licenses are found in the Colorado Revised Statutes under Title 14, which concerns "Domestic Matters," and Article 2 entitled "Marriage and Rights of Married Women," which outlines the requirements for obtaining a marriage license. As of 2010, only couples composed of one ma......[Read More]

If you're a father going through a divorce or custody battle in Austin, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Often it may seem like the legal system unjustly favors mothers. Fathers' rights organizations can help you by informing you of your rights and offering guidance throughout the legal process. Thoug......[Read More]

A prenuptial agreement is a written contract between an engaged couple in which both parties determine how to divide their possessions and savings in case of a divorce. While prenuptial agreements are increasingly popular in Europe and North America, Christian couples seeking a church wedding may fi......[Read More]

People need guardians for a variety of reasons. They often cannot make legal or medical decisions on their own and need someone to make these decisions on their behalf. Children sometimes need legal guardians when their parents cannot care for them, while elders who slowly start losing their ability......[Read More]

When you are on the outside looking in as many of us are the solution seems perfectly clear. As a matter of fact you may have stated this to the person on numerous occasions. No doubt there hemming and hawing or their blatant refusal to take the advice from people who obviously mean well probably ha......[Read More]

Parental permission is required to get certain licenses.moody teen image by pixelcarpenter from Fotolia.comTo obtain a license for a child under the age of 18, including a driver license, work permit or marriage license, the child often must have permission from a parent or guardian. Some.........[Read More]

When you write a will, you take into account the people in your life. You name beneficiaries who will receive parts of your estate. As your life continues, however, you may need to change your will to change its provisions. Even small discrepancies can make a big difference when your estate is bein......[Read More]

B.J. Thomas may sing "Even the bad love is better than no love, and any kind of love is better than no love at all" but I don't believe him and neither should you.Millions of women are stuck in abusive relationships from which they cannot extricate themselves.We don't seek out ba......[Read More]

When the economy dips, domestic violence often increases, affecting the workplace. This is the second of two articles on preventing DV from hitting your office. We discuss why an employee might need to discuss a domestic violence situation with you, and how you can helpfully respond to her concerns,......[Read More]

Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects over 7.5 million Americans every year, according to a report published by the department of justice. This uncomfortable and harmful subject is a serious problem and the social stigmas often keep it hidden. Because of the nature of the relationship between the ......[Read More]

The Ukrainian Embassy in Washington, DC, as of May 1, 2005, does not require citizens of Switzerland or the European Union (EU) to apply for visas, including Business visas, to enter the country. However, if you are from another country and you are considering doing business in the Ukraine, you must......[Read More]

Things have sure changed in the United States in the last hundred years. Did you know that 40% of all the domestic violent attacks are caused by women against men, and not by men against women? It's true, and yet we know for a fact that in many male-dominated societies for some reason it is sti......[Read More]

Abused spouses tend to take the blame for being abused. Children are drawn into the guilt by association, that is compounded when the abused spouse seems to allow and accept the abuse.The abuse pattern is sometimes so ingrained in the family that it takes on a sense of normalcy. Clint Van Zandt, in ......[Read More]

So you have married and decided to change your last name. Depending on whether you take your spouse's last name or change to some other surname such as a combination of your surname and your spouse's, you may have to follow different procedures to change your surname in California. Just furnishing a......[Read More]