When it comes to family law, there are many branches to look into. Three of the most important ones are those dealing with marriages and other types of unions, the planning of estates, and issues with child custody.
Relationships
It seems eons ago that most people were involved in traditional relationships. Even though the characters were different, the setting was usually the same. A young man would meet a young woman and fall in love with her. He would then court her for a few months or even a year. He would send flowers to her every day, write poems, and do whatever it took to be on the good graces of her parents. After a while, they would get married and live happily ever after with one or several children.
Throughout the years, the concept of traditional marriage has evolved into a wide variety of possibilities, including same-sex unions, civil weddings, and domestic relationships. With each one comes a different set of responsibilities and rights.
For example, a domestic partnership allows two people of the same gender to live under the same roof and have equal rights to their married counterparts. It is true regardless of whether the couple is allowed to get married or not.
Like nuptials, there are also plenty of lawyers to the cake when it comes to separation. As a result, you should be aware of the legal ramifications each one entails. In this case, the best course of action would be to hire a reputable attorney to handle divorce documents when needed. The last thing you want is to be in a long, dragged-out process that benefits no one.
Estate Planning
Verse ten of chapter six of the book of Timothy in the King James Bible states, “for the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
Despite being written over two thousand years ago, this verse still rings true today. It is often seen in disputes between siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews, and any other family member you can imagine when the patriarch of the family passes away. Of course, if there is little money to account for, issues with estates and wills will be resolved easily.
Yet, when there is a lot to gain, be it in financial assets, property, or company ownership, this is when the claws come out, and the bonds of blood and brotherhood are broken.
But what can people do to prevent this from happening? How can families maintain a semblance of dignity and respect when everyone wants a piece of the pie? The answer is careful estate planning and the proper handling of wills.
By cutting the head of the snake before it can divide itself into many, families will not only be protecting the legacy of their ancestors but also preventing future legal headaches and exhausting disputes.
Child Custody
Japan is considered by many to be a highly male-dominant society. Even in the 21st century, most upper management positions are held by men, and more often than not, women are much more responsible for raising children and taking care of the home.
But, there is one area in which women seem to hold all the cards in the deck. That is the raising of children. If a Japanese woman has a child and gets a divorce, she will get custody of this child in 99.9% of all cases. Also, the father will be forced to pay for child support but does not have the right to see his son or daughter without the mother’s permission.
For non-Japanese fathers, this comes as a shock. There is nothing they can do to prevent their ex-wives from hiding the children from them until they turn 18.
Different countries have different laws on child custody. Sure, nobody gets married and has children with the intention of one day engaging in a long and expensive court battle. Nonetheless, if you think your marriage might be coming to an end, it doesn’t hurt to do your due diligence as it pertains to your kids.
The reason is two-fold. First, you will not be surprised when something you didn’t know or were not aware of hits you straight in the face. Second, you will have the tools to make the best decision concerning yourself and your little ones.
We have seen three important branches of family law. Even if you are not currently in any of these situations and you don’t have to make any immediate decisions, it would be beneficial for any person to at least be familiar with them.
