Adoption and Safe Families Act - Reasonable Efforts
 
The Family Preservation and Support Services Act required states to make "reasonable efforts" to reunify families and prevent the permanent removal of a child from his or her home. The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) attempts to clarify the "reasonable efforts" requirement. More...
 
Actions between Spouses or Domestic Partners for Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
 
Virtually every state recognizes intentional infliction of emotional distress as a civil tort. Most states have adopted the definition of the tort that provides no physical injury need be shown, but the plaintiff must show severe emotional or mental distress caused by the defendant's ''outrageous'' intentional or reckless conduct.More...
 
The Marital Home
 
The marital residence is often the most valuable asset of the marriage. Sometimes, it is the only asset of the marriage. Thus, its classification for property distribution purposes is very important. More...
 
Overview of a Putative Father
 
A putative father is an alleged father or a father out of wedlock. The putative father typically claims that he is the biological father of the child even though the mother failed to recognize his identity on the child's birth certificate. More...
 
Status Offenders
 
A status offense is an act of noncriminal misbehavior committed by a person under the age of majority. Running away from home, being truant from school, and refusing to obey lawful and reasonable parental demands are examples of status offenses. The state may intervene when juveniles commit any of these acts solely because of their age. More...