A person who is the subject of an adoption. Depending on the age of the person being adopted, consent may be needed before the adoption is complete. Once the adoption is complete, all legal responsibility shifts from the biological to the...
family & personal matters
adoption
Adoption refers to the act where an adult formally becomes the guardian of a child and incurs the rights and obligations of a parent. At the conclusion of the formal process, a legal relationship between child and guardian will have formed....
Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number (ATIN)
An Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number (ATIN) is a unique nine-digit number issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a temporary taxpayer identification number for a child in a domestic or foreign adoption process. Taxpayers must...
adoptive parent
An adoptive parent is a person who becomes the parent of a child through adoption. In order for an individual to become an adoptive parent, they must complete all the legal requirements necessary to adopt a child that is not related to them....
adult
An adult is an individual who has reached the age of majority. The age of majority refers to the age at which a person will be defined by law to be an adult. This will be accompanied by the rights and responsibilities of adulthood. The age of...
adultery
Adultery is a form of extramarital sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not a party to the marriage. In a fault divorce, adultery is one of the grounds for divorce. In addition to obtaining a divorce, some states...
advance directive
An advanced directive is defined as a legal document that takes effect if one cannot make decisions due to illness or incapacity. Several different types of advance directives exist. Some, such as a living will, give instructions on which...
advancement
An advancement is a gift made during a donor’s life to a family member, usually when the donor anticipates their own death. The value of the advancement is included in the calculation of the net probate estate when the donor dies. Therefore,...
adverse interest
There are three main types of adverse interests.
An adverse interest can mean an interest, claim or right that is against another’s interest. For example, a plaintiff and defendant have adverse interests. A witness with...age of consent
In family law, age of consent refers to the age one can give meaningful consent. If over the age of 18 years, meaningful consent is presumed. However the presumption may be negated if the person lacked capacity due to developmental disability...