Family, Divorce & Domestic Matters
Browse published legal information questions related to Family, Divorce & Domestic Matters.
Is it legal for my spouse to cash out stocks before the divorce hearing?
In Indiana, a spouse may be able to sell or cash out stocks before a divorce hearing, but that does not always mean the move is automatically allowed or harmless in the divorce case. In general, once a divorce is filed,...
Can My Employer Deny Sick Leave Because I Didn’t Find Coverage?
In Oregon, an employer usually cannot require you to find someone to cover your shift before allowing protected sick leave, but the answer can depend on the type of leave involved and the employer’s policies. If the abse...
Can I sue if a dog bit my child at daycare?
Yes, a lawsuit may be possible in some situations, but the answer depends on the facts and on Wyoming law. In general, a dog bite claim after an incident at daycare may involve more than one possible legal theory, includ...
Can I record a conversation if the other person is threatening to sue me?
In California, the answer is often no unless you follow California’s recording-consent rules. California is generally treated as a two-party consent state, which means recording a confidential conversation usually requir...
What happens if someone violates a restraining order issued by an Alabama court?
If someone violates a restraining order issued by an Alabama court, the person who sought the order may be able to ask the court to enforce it. In general, a violation can lead to serious court consequences, and the resp...
Can I ask the court to order my spouse to return personal items and family photos?
In Utah, you can usually ask a court to help with the return of personal items and family photos, but what the court can do depends on the type of case, the facts, and whether the items are treated as marital property, s...
Can a prenuptial agreement protect me from my fiancé’s credit card debt?
In general, a prenuptial agreement may help set expectations about debts before marriage, but it does not automatically stop a creditor from trying to collect a debt that already exists or was incurred in ways the law tr...
Can I file for divorce without hiring a lawyer if we agree on everything?
Yes, in Utah, some people are able to file for divorce without hiring a lawyer, especially when both spouses agree on the major issues. That usually means agreement on property division, debts, child custody, child suppo...
How do I revoke a prenuptial agreement after we are married?
In general, a prenuptial agreement does not have to last forever. After marriage, spouses may sometimes revoke or replace it if both agree and the change is made in a legally proper way. In Vermont, the specific rules ca...
Is it legal for a spouse to file for divorce just to stop an immigration sponsorship?
In general, a spouse may be able to file for divorce even if the timing affects an immigration sponsorship, because divorce is usually a state-law family-law matter. But that does not mean a person can use divorce as a t...
What are my rights if the prenup was drafted only by my spouse’s lawyer?
If your spouse’s lawyer drafted the prenup, that fact alone does not automatically make the agreement invalid. In general, a premarital agreement can still be enforceable if both people signed it voluntarily, had a fair...
Can child support be taken from disability benefits?
In general, child support may sometimes be taken from disability benefits, but the answer depends on the type of disability benefit and the facts of the case. In Utah, as in many states, the key issue is often whether th...
Do I have to split rental property that I owned before marriage?
In general, rental property that you owned before marriage may start out as separate property in an Oregon divorce. That means the property itself is not always split just because you are getting divorced. But the answer...
Is it legal for someone to threaten to release private photos unless I talk to them?
In general, a threat to release private photos in order to pressure someone into talking, meeting, or complying may raise serious legal concerns. In Washington, the answer often depends on what exactly was said, what the...
What happens if one spouse wastes marital assets on gambling before separation?
In Wisconsin, gambling losses or other spending that reduces marital assets before separation may matter in a divorce, but the legal effect depends on the facts. Courts generally look at whether the spending was ordinary...