Not a Narrow Specialty

Family Law Touches Everything

People sometimes assume family law is a narrow corner of the legal system. It isn't. Here's the full range of law a family law case can require.

When someone calls family law a “narrow” specialty, it usually means they haven’t practiced it. As an attorney, I need to be — or become — familiar with everything important or applicable to my clients’ entire lives as they go their separate ways. On the bench, that list only grows.

Areas of Law Family Law Intersects

Administrative LawUnderstanding the effect of an administrative order (like a child support order) versus an order out of Superior Court.

Appellate LawAnalyzing the standard on review to advise clients how to seek review of an unfavorable decision, then following that process to its conclusion.

Business LawValuation of businesses and investments, what can and cannot be divided, obligations to shareholders, decision-making authority.

Constitutional LawParents' rights to raise their children as they choose, and whether there's a basis to find a parent unfit; whether and to what extent access to firearms should or could be restricted; procedural safeguards around due process, notice, and the opportunity to be heard.

Contract LawThe effect of a prenuptial agreement or separation contract, ensuring terms are binding where needed, or knowing how to challenge terms that are flawed.

Criminal LawWhat behavior might implicate criminal charges, and when to invoke Fifth Amendment rights.

Education LawHomeschooling, private schooling, and other educational options — especially for children with special needs.

Elder LawIdentifying situations where a vulnerable adult may need protection.

Estate PlanningKnowing enough to advise clients on the effect of a divorce on prior wills and the need to revisit (or not) beneficiary designations across various assets.

Evidentiary LawWhat's required for evidence to be admissible, how to object, how to overcome objections, how to authenticate records.

Guardianship LawDetermining whether a client or party needs a guardian because of limitations affecting their ability to take part in developing their case or understanding proposed settlement terms.

Immigration LawHow threats related to immigration status can affect a party, the effect of non-residential status on earning ability, or a sponsoring spouse's responsibility to provide ongoing support for an immigrant spouse.

Privacy LawComplying with HIPAA when submitting medical records — mental health, substance abuse, treatment of injuries — or ensuring financial records are filed under seal.

Property LawReal property transfer requirements and valuation, including the effect of zoning or other regulatory restrictions.

Tax LawTaxation of different kinds of income and assets.

Tort LawWhether there are potential civil causes of action for harmful behavior (personal injury), and how to protect a party from liability exposure arising from a partner's actions.

Trust LawAn option for long-term planning for minor children where assets are available but trust between parents is low.

From the Bench

And that’s before the docket even starts

From the bench, add to all of the above: courtroom protocol, managing a docket, ruling on objections in the moment (hearsay, relevance, violations of page limits, insufficient notice), considering motions to continue, granting interim relief, confirming sufficiency of service, allowing or excluding testimony, weighing sanctions, setting terms of bail for in-custody calendars on nonpayment of child support, and imposing appropriate purge conditions for contempt — exercising sound discretion in all of it, and more.

“Family law” may be the lens and the application — but there really isn’t a body of family law that doesn’t intersect with several other categories of law in order to effectively represent, or adjudicate, any given case.

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