Exam 53: Family Law

David and Lisa were married for 9 years,during which time they had only one child named Chloe.Chloe,at the time of the couple's divorce,was 6 years old.Since Chloe was used to having only the best of everything,including a butler and a private attendant to help select which clothes she would wear for any given day,she had a lifestyle atypical of most children her age.Lisa wants David to pay the largest amount of child support allowed by law.What are some of the factors that the court will consider in determining the amount of child support to be paid?

Why are prenuptial agreements important in some relationships?

Parents have a right to select schools for their children as well as the religion they will practice.

John and Jennifer are engaged to be married.Shortly before the wedding,John gets cold feet and calls the whole thing off.What happens to the ring?

Mediators in divorce proceedings are helpful in that they are empowered to make decisions regarding settlement of the issues.

An annulment is a confirmation of a couple's love for one another.

Modern law allows the identity of biological parents to be revealed to adopted children.

Separate property loses its status by virtue of the marriage itself.

The health of an individual is a factor that the court will consider when determining the fair distribution of property.

A pro se divorce refers to the fact that the parties are representing themselves in the divorce proceeding.

An independent adoption usually utilizes an agency to make the adoption official.

Debts that are incurred during the marriage for necessities are the joint responsibility of each spouse.

All property acquired during the marriage using income earned during the marriage is considered community property.

Which of the following may be allowed to marry one another?

The court must approve an agency adoption,but need not approve an independent adoption before the adoption becomes legal.

Diana and William have lived together on and off for about 17 years.Both refer to one another as each other's spouse.Diana now wants to obtain a divorce claiming that she has rights in this relationship.William's main defense is that the couple was not married and she is therefore not entitled to anything.Applying the applicable law,how will the court decide this issue of marriage?

Individuals under a certain age cannot be married.

Cohabitation is sufficient to establish a common law marriage.

Most states require a waiting period of at least 6 months between the filing of a divorce petition and the granting of a divorce.

Tony and Roseanne,a married couple,both had full-time jobs working for a construction firm.Tony had a gambling problem and needed more money to satisfy his habit.As such,he moonlighted by getting a job at a local bar as a bartender.Suppose Tony used the cash from his second job to buy a boat for the couple to use on weekend outings at the lake.Further,suppose that the couple began to have problems which resulted in a divorce.Roseanne now wants Tony to sell the boat and give her half of the proceeds from selling it.Tony now claims that the boat is his separate property as his side job paid for it.What will be the most likely outcome?