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FAQ: Family Law

Family Law

When a Couple Marries, is One Spouse Required to Take the Other's Surname?

By law, women are entitled to their maiden name. Generally, taking a husband's surname is a custom and not a statutory requirement. Some states have statutory authority regarding name change upon marriage. In those states, a married person may use her birth-surname, the spouse's surname or a combination of the two names (generally hyphenated). However, there are still a few other states that have statutes to the contrary; upon marriage, a wife takes her husbands surname. Although, even in states where the wife is assumed to take her husband's surname, professional use of a woman's maiden name has been a longstanding use.

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Family Law

What is the difference between an agency adoption and an independent adoption?

Under what circumstances will the court award alimony or spousal support?

How is the amount of child support calculated?

Once a court issues a child support order, can the amount of support that is paid be changed?

How is child support collected if the person responsible for paying it moves to another state?

What are parents' obligations to their children?

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