Understanding Family Law

by Gregory, John Dewitt; Swisher, Peter N.; Wolf, Sheryl L.

• ISBN13: 9780820552118
• ISBN10: 0820552119
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-07-01
• Publisher: Lexis Nexis Matthew Bender

Table of Contents

An Introduction to Family Law
General Introduction	1	(6)
Legislative Regulation of Family Law	2	(1)
Judicial Regulation of Family Law	2	(3)
The Role of the Family Law Practitioner	5	(2)
What is a Family?	7	(7)
The Traditional Family	8	(4)
The Nontraditional Family	12	(2)
State Regulation of Family Law	14	(2)
Federal Regulation of Family Law	16	(2)
Constitutional Parameters to Family Law Regulation	18	(3)
Marriage and Marriage Alternatives
Introduction	21	(1)
Consensual Alternatives to Marriage	22	(9)
Nonmarital Cohabitation: Contract Implications	24	(2)
Nonmarital Cohabitation: Property Issues	26	(1)
Nonmarital Cohabitation: Status Implications	27	(4)
Marriage: A Status or Contract?	31	(4)
Formal Statutory Marriage	35	(1)
Informal Marriages	36	(8)
Common Law Marrige	37	(2)
Putative Marriage	39	(1)
Marriage by Proxy	40	(1)
De Facto ``Marriage''	41	(1)
``Marriage'' by Estoppel	42	(2)
The Last-in-Time Marriage Presumption	44	(2)
Proof of Marriage	46	(1)
Capacity and Intent to Marry	46	(13)
Void and Voidable Marriages	46	(2)
Same Sex Marriage	48	(2)
Bigamous and Polygamous Marriage	50	(2)
Incestuous Marriage: Prohibited Degrees of Kinship	52	(2)
Underage Marriage	54	(1)
Mental and Physical Incapacity	55	(1)
Mental Incapacity	55	(1)
Physical Incapacity	55	(1)
Fraudulent Marriage	56	(1)
Marriage under Duress	57	(1)
Sham Marriage	58	(1)
Marriage in Jest	59	(1)
Conflict of Laws: Which Marriage Laws Govern?	59	(1)
Annulment of Marriage	60	(5)
Annulment Jurisdiction	60	(1)
Annulment Grounds and Defenses	61	(2)
Property and Support Rights on Annulment	63	(2)
Property and Support Rights During Marriage
Introduction	65	(1)
The Common Law Theory of Property Rights	66	(1)
The ``Feme Sole Estate'' and the Married Women's Property Acts	67	(1)
The ``Feme Sole Estate''	67	(1)
The Married Women's Property Acts	68	(1)
Tenancy by the Entirety	68	(1)
Common Law Property Rights on Death of a Spouse	69	(3)
Common Law Dower and Curtesy	70	(1)
Elective Share Statutes	71	(1)
The Community Property System	72	(2)
The Uniform Marital Property Act	74	(2)
Marriage as an ``Economic Partnership''	76	(2)
Support Rights and Obligations	78	(1)
The Doctrine of Necessaries	79	(3)
Common Law Separate Maintenance	82	(1)
Statutory Support Obligations	83	(2)
Spousal and Child Support Statutes	83	(1)
Criminal Non-Support Statutes	84	(1)
Pendente Lite Statutes	85	(1)
Rights of Consortium	85	(2)
Relative Responsibility Statutes	87	(2)
Support Enforcement Remedies	89	(2)
Marital Contracts and Agreements
Introduction	91	(3)
Marriage Promises and Premarital Gifts	94	(3)
Breach of Promise to Marry	94	(1)
Fraudulent Inducement to Marry Actions	95	(1)
Contracts Restraining or Promoting Marriage	95	(1)
Premarital Gifts	96	(1)
Premarital Agreements	97	(5)
Traditional versus Modern Approaches	97	(3)
The Uniform Premarital Agreement Act	100	(2)
Contractual Agreements Between Husband and Wife	102	(1)
Postnuptial and Separation Agreements	103	(8)
Separation Agreements: Necessary Elements	104	(4)
Separation Agreements: Application of Principles	108	(3)
Procreation
Introduction	111	(1)
Paternity and Legitimacy	112	(21)
Historical Background and Current Perspectives	112	(2)
The Presumption of Legitimacy	114	(2)
Children of Void and Voidable Marriages	116	(1)
Constitutional Protection of the Nonmarital Child	117	(1)
Paternity Grounds and Actions	118	(2)
The Uniform Parentage Act	120	(1)
Jurisdictional Issues	121	(1)
Private Promises and Contracts	121	(1)
Scientific Testing in Paternity Proceedings	122	(4)
Inheritance Rights	126	(2)
Artificial Insemination	128	(1)
Custody Issues	129	(1)
Claims and Defenses in Paternity Actions	130	(3)
The Fundamental Right to Procreate	133	(1)
Contraception	134	(3)
Abortion	137	(10)
General Introduction	137	(1)
Constitutional Parameters: Roe v. Wade	138	(2)
Constitutional Parameters: The State Response	140	(1)
Rights of the Potential Father	140	(1)
Rights of Minors	141	(1)
Health and Safety Regulations	142	(1)
Funding and Facilities	143	(2)
Re-evaluation of Roe v. Wade	145	(1)
Abortion Demonstrations	146	(1)
Voluntary and Involuntary Sterilization	147	(7)
Voluntary Sterilization	148	(1)
Involuntary Sterilization	149	(5)
Artificially Aided Conception	154	(19)
Artificial Insemination	156	(4)
Surrogate Motherhood	160	(7)
In Vitro Fertilization	167	(6)
Adoption
Adoption and Termination of Parental Rights	173	(20)
Introduction and Overview	173	(1)
Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights	174	(1)
Introduction	174	(1)
Statutory Requirements	174	(1)
Constitutional Considerations	174	(2)
Grounds for Termination of Parental Rights	176	(1)
Abandonment	176	(1)
Child Abuse, Neglect and Dependency	177	(1)
Failure to Provide Child Support	178	(1)
Unfitness	178	(1)
Mental or Physical Disability of the Parent	179	(1)
Best Interests of the Child	180	(1)
Independent or Private Adoption	180	(2)
Agency Adoption	182	(2)
Consent	184	(1)
Who Must Give Consent?	184	(1)
Consent of the Unwed Father	184	(3)
Consent of Minor Parent	187	(1)
Revocation of Consent	188	(1)
Subsidized Adoptions and Children With Special Needs	189	(1)
Adult Adoption	190	(1)
Equitable Adoption	190	(1)
Effects of Adoption	191	(2)
Unique Family Issues
Introduction	193	(1)
Intrafamily Tort Immunity and Liability	194	(4)
Interspousal Tort Actions	194	(2)
Child and Parent Tort Actions	196	(2)
Parental Discipline of a Child	198	(1)
Parental Liability for a Child's Act	199	(1)
Medical Care for the Child and the Spouse	200	(3)
Wrongful Death, Wrongful Birth, and Wrongful Life	203	(1)
Regulation of a Child's Education	204	(3)
Domestic Violence	207	(10)
Spousal Abuse	208	(5)
Child Abuse	213	(3)
Spousal Rape	216	(1)
Children in Need of Supervision	217	(1)
Family Rights versus Individual Rights	218	(3)
Divorce Grounds and Defenses
Introduction	221	(5)
Historical Background	221	(1)
Fault Grounds for Divorce and the No-Fault Revolution	222	(2)
Current Divorce Concerns and Statistics	224	(2)
Jurisdiction and Venue	226	(20)
Divorce Jurisdiction in General	226	(1)
The Domiciliary Requirement	227	(4)
Venue	231	(1)
Service on the Defendant	232	(1)
Bilateral Divorces	232	(1)
Ex Parte Divorces	233	(1)
Migratory Divorces	233	(1)
Sister State Divorces	233	(4)
Foreign Country Divorces	237	(2)
The Divisible Divorce Doctrine	239	(2)
Long-Arm Statutes	241	(1)
Collateral Attack and Estoppel	242	(4)
Divorce Grounds and Defenses	246	(22)
Introduction	246	(1)
Fault Grounds for Divorce	246	(1)
Bed and Board Divorces and Absolute Divorces	246	(1)
Adultery Grounds	247	(1)
Cruelty Grounds	248	(2)
Desertion Grounds	250	(2)
Other Miscellaneous Fault Grounds	252	(1)
Defenses to Fault-Based Divorce	253	(1)
Connivance	253	(1)
Collusion	253	(1)
Condonation and Cohabitation	254	(1)
Recrimination	255	(1)
Justification	256	(1)
Other Defenses	256	(1)
Divorce Based upon Living Separate and Apart	257	(3)
No-Fault Divorce Grounds	260	(2)
Effect of Fault on Property Division and Spousal Support	262	(2)
``Economic Fault''	264	(1)
Divorce Practice and Procedure	265	(2)
Appellate Review	267	(1)
Ethical Issues for the Family Lawyer	268	(13)
Dual Representation in Divorce Proceedings	268	(4)
Confidential Information	272	(2)
Attorney Fees on Divorce	274	(1)
Sexual Relations with Divorce Clients	275	(2)
Candor Toward the Court and Withdrawal from the Case	277	(1)
Pro Se Divorces	278	(2)
Representing Children	280	(1)
Alternative Dispute Resolution	281	(8)
Divorce Mediation	281	(4)
Arbitration	285	(4)
Spousal and Child Support on Divorce
Introduction	289	(2)
Jurisdiction for Spousal and Child Support	291	(3)
The Doctrine of Continuing Jurisdiction	291	(1)
The Doctrine of Divisible Divorce	291	(1)
URESA, RURESA, and UIFSA	292	(1)
State Long-Arm Statutes	292	(1)
Child Support Jurisdiction: The Kulko Case	292	(2)
Spousal Support Factors and Judicial Discretion	294	(3)
General Factors	294	(2)
Fault as a Factor In Spousal Support	296	(1)
Forms of Spousal Support	297	(7)
Temporary Spousal Support Pendente Lite	297	(1)
``Permanent'' Spousal Support	298	(1)
``Rehabilitative'' Spousal Support	299	(3)
New or Hybrid Forms of Alimony	302	(2)
Modification of Spousal Support	304	(8)
Child Support and Maintenance	312	(38)
Basic Concepts	312	(4)
Temporary Child Support Pendente Lite	316	(1)
Statutory Child Support Guidelines	316	(8)
Duration of the Child Support Obligation	324	(3)
Modification of Child Support	327	(4)
Enforcement of Spousal and Child Support Orders	331	(1)
Support Arrearage Issues and Defenses	332	(1)
State Enforcement Remedies	333	(1)
Contempt Proceedings	333	(2)
Other State Law Remedies	335	(1)
Interstate Enforcement	336	(1)
Traditional Interstate Enforcement	336	(2)
The Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act	338	(5)
The Uniform Interstate Family Support Act	343	(2)
Federally Mandated Support Enforcement Remedies	345	(1)
Income Withholding	346	(1)
Security for Payments	347	(1)
Income Tax Refund Intercepts	347	(1)
Child Support Guidelines	348	(1)
Parent Locator Service	349	(1)
The Child Support Recovery Act of 1992	349	(1)
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996	350	(1)
Federal Tax Consequences of Child and Spousal Support	350	(9)
Alimony or Spousal Support Payments	351	(2)
Child Support Payments	353	(1)
Dependency Exemption for Children	354	(1)
Deductibility of Legal Fees	355	(1)
Other Divorce Related Taxation Issues	355	(1)
Transfer of Property	355	(1)
Head of Household Status	356	(1)
Joint Returns	357	(1)
The Family Home	357	(1)
Retirement Plans	358	(1)
Stock Transfers and Redemptions	358	(1)
Federal Estate and Gift Taxes	358	(1)
Bankruptcy	359	(10)
Support Obligations	359	(6)
Property Division Debts	365	(1)
Marital Liens	366	(1)
Automatic Stay	367	(1)
Exempt Property	368	(1)
Equitable Distribution of Property
Introduction	369	(1)
Community Property Origins	370	(1)
Characterizing Property for the Purpose of Equitable Distribution	371	(2)
Dual Property Equitable Distribution Jurisdictions	371	(1)
All Property Equitable Distribution Jurisdictions	372	(1)
Characterizing Property as Marital or Separate: Change in Classification	373	(5)
The Marital Property Presumption	374	(1)
Judicial Development of Classification Rules	374	(1)
Inception of Title	374	(1)
Source of Funds	375	(1)
Transmutation	376	(1)
Tracing	377	(1)
Appreciation of Separate Property During Marriage	378	(3)
Gifts and Inheritances	381	(5)
Statutory Approaches	381	(1)
Judicial Treatment	381	(1)
Gifts or Inheritances From a Third Party to Either Spouse	382	(1)
To the Spouses Jointly	382	(1)
Interspousal Transfers	383	(2)
Was There a Gift?	385	(1)
Personal Injuries and Workers' Compensation	386	(1)
Introduction	386	(1)
Approaches to Classification	386	(1)
Licenses, Degrees and Enhanced Earnings	387	(7)
Overview	387	(1)
Statutory Treatment	388	(1)
Degree or License Not Property	388	(2)
Degree or License as Marital Property	390	(2)
Alternative Remedies for the Supporting Spouse	392	(1)
Overview	392	(1)
Reimbursement or Rehabilitation	393	(1)
Professional Goodwill	394	(9)
Goodwill: Definitions and Basic Concepts	394	(1)
Classification of Professional Goodwill	395	(1)
Community Property Influences	395	(1)
Classification of Goodwill for Equitable Distribution	396	(1)
Professional Goodwill as Divisible Property	396	(2)
Professional Goodwill Not Divisible	398	(1)
Professional Goodwill Divisible if Independent of Individual	399	(1)
Valuation	400	(1)
Book Value	401	(1)
Capitalization of Excess Earnings	401	(1)
Buy-Sell Agreements	402	(1)
Discount for Minority Interest	402	(1)
Pensions and Retirement Benefits	403	(8)
Overview	403	(1)
Basic Terms and Concepts	403	(1)
Characterization of Pension Benefits	404	(1)
Majority View -All Pensions Marital Property	404	(2)
Classification of Pensions -Minority View	406	(1)
Valuation and Distribution of Pensions	406	(2)
Disability Benefits	408	(1)
Federal Pensions	409	(1)
Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs)	410	(1)
Military Retirement Benefits	410	(1)
Valuation of Assets: General Principles	411	(1)
Fair and Equitable Distribution	412	(9)
Introduction	412	(1)
Factors in Equitable Distribution	413	(1)
Equal Division and Starting Points	414	(1)
Dissipation of Assets and Marital Misconduct	414	(1)
Overview	414	(1)
What Conduct Constitutes Dissipation?	414	(1)
Burden of Proof	415	(1)
Remedies for Dissipation	416	(1)
Marital Misconduct or Fault	416	(1)
Marital Debts and Liabilities	417	(1)
The Marital Home	418	(3)
Child Custody and Visitation
Introduction	421	(1)
Child Custody Jurisdiction	421	(22)
Traditional Rules and Habeas Corpus Actions	422	(4)
The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act	426	(1)
Jurisdictional Prerequisites	427	(3)
Restraints on Jurisdiction	430	(1)
Recognition and Enforcement of Custody Decrees under the UCCJA	431	(1)
Effect of a Party's Conduct on Jurisdiction	432	(2)
The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act	434	(1)
The Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act of 1980	435	(1)
Scope of Application	435	(1)
Similarities and Differences between the PKPA and the UCCJA	436	(4)
Personal Jurisdiction	440	(1)
The Hague Convention on International Child Abduction	440	(3)
Factors in Disputed Child Custody Cases	443	(19)
The Best Interests of the Child	443	(2)
Doctrinal Presumptions	445	(1)
The Tender Years Presumption	445	(1)
The Natural Parent Presumption	446	(2)
The Primary Caretaker Presumption	448	(2)
The Effect of Parental Conduct on Custody Determinations	450	(1)
Statutory Provisions Relating to Parental Conduct	450	(1)
Judicial Approaches	450	(3)
Relative Considerations Between Fit Parents	453	(1)
The Gender of the Parents	453	(1)
The Child's Preference in Custody Determinations	454	(1)
Statutory Treatment	454	(1)
Judicial Approaches	455	(1)
Race	456	(1)
Religion	457	(3)
Physical Condition of the Custodial Parent	460	(2)
Joint Custody	462	(4)
Introduction and Overview	462	(1)
Statutory Joint Custody Provisions	463	(1)
Judicial Treatment of Joint Custody	464	(2)
Visitation	466	(12)
Right of Noncustodial Parent to Visitation	466	(1)
Illustrative Statutes	467	(1)
Enforcement of Visitation	468	(1)
Statutory Remedies	468	(1)
Judicial Remedies	468	(2)
Restrictions on Visitation	470	(1)
Visitation and Child Support	471	(1)
Illustrative Statutes	471	(1)
Case Law	472	(1)
Visitation by Third Parties	472	(1)
The Common Law Rule	473	(1)
Third Party Visitation Statutes	473	(1)
Grandparent Visitation	474	(1)
Stepparent Visitation	475	(1)
``De facto parent'' Visitation	476	(2)
Modification of Child Custody	478	(2)
Introduction and Overview	478	(1)
Judicial Standards for Modification of Custody Decrees	479	(1)
Relocation of Custodial Parent	480	(3)
Statutory Restrictions	480	(1)
Court Ordered Limitations on Relocation by a Custodial Parent	481	(2)
Interference With Child Custody	483	(2)
State Criminal Sanctions	483	(1)
Tortious Interference With Custody	484	(1)
Mediation of Child Custody Disputes	485