An ex parte divorce is a divorce that is granted within a jurisdiction where only one of the spouses is validly domiciled. It is valid even if one spouse never resided within the jurisdiction where the divorce was granted or subject to...
marriage
extreme cruelty
Extreme cruelty is a type of fault divorce where a spouse claims the other spouse committed some form of physical or mental cruelty against them. Most divorces now are now no-fault divorces, but for the few states that continue allowing fault...
extrinsic fraud
Extrinsic fraud is an act of deception or misrepresentation outside the event itself which deprives the victim of material information or participation. Compare to: intrinsic fraud.
Extrinsic fraud commonly arises in...
family
A family is a group of people that are connected by either genetics or legal systems. This might include biological parents, children, siblings, or any extended blood relatives. Those not connected by consanguinity might become family through...
family allowance
Family allowance gives a surviving spouse and children access to a passing spouse or parent’s estate in the interim between passing and the distribution of the estate. The family allowance gives spouses and children necessary financial...
family court
Family court (often referred to as domestic courts) is a court of limited jurisdiction that hears cases involving family law. For example, family courts typically hear cases involving divorce, child custody, and domestic abuse. Given that the...
family law
Family law, also referred to as domestic relations in many states, is the broad body of law that covers marriage, divorce, child custody, adoption, domestic violence, reproductive rights, and other matters regarding family relationships. Much...
family pot trust
Family pot trusts (also called discretionary or sprinkling trusts) are a type of trust where the trustee is allowed to disperse funds according to the needs of the beneficiaries. Family pot trusts are created by parents for their children,...
fault divorce
Fault divorce may be granted when one spouse proves that the other spouse did something which resulted in the failure of the marriage. The fault grounds for divorce vary by each state, but some of the traditional fault grounds for divorce are...
forced share
Forced share (also called elective share) refers to the amount state laws entitle a spouse or other person to regardless of what is in a will. Usually, forced share will refer to the amount a person will be able to receive when their spouse...