Family law.

Family law is an area of legal practice covering issues commonly faced by families and people in long-term, legally recognized romantic relationships. Some of the issues related to family law, such as adoption and paternity, relate to the creation and building of the family unit. However, most are related to the breakdown and dissolution of the family unit. Examples of these issues include child custody, child support, and child visitation rights; divorce, spousal support, and alimony; and the division of financial assets and liabilities when a common-law or married couple ends their relationship. Lex Mundi, a Houston, Texas, professional legal services association, notes that a large majority of family-related legal cases reach the stage of court proceedings when a marriage or common-law relationship ends. In the United States, most family law-related matters are administrated at the state level in a system of family courts.