Newsletters
Changing a Minor's Last Name
The issue of changing a minor's name is a rapidly emerging issue due to divorce, same-sex marriages, and parents using different last names. In the United States, there has been a tradition for centuries and a general assumption that a child born in wedlock will carry their father's last name or surname.
Sexual Harassment in Schools
A school cannot be held liable for ignoring the usual schoolyard behavior such as teasing and cruel behavior. However, the school may be liable for failing to take reasonable action against serious and long-term student sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is defined as harassment on an individual on the basis of their gender.
Incestuous Marriages
An incestuous marriage is a marriage between close family members. The validity of an incestuous marriage depends on the law of the state where the parties intend to reside. In the state where the incestuous marriage is regarded as a crime, the incestuous marriage is not accepted for immigration purposes even if the marriage was legally contracted somewhere else.
Overview of Malpractice Actions Against Child Welfare Agencies or Caseworkers
There are major problems with respect to the way in which child welfare agencies and caseworkers operate in the child welfare system. The agency or caseworker may neglect the child, not provide adequate avenues for the child, or may even in extreme cases lose the child in the welfare system. There has been a large increase of malpractice actions filed by children and their parents against both agencies and caseworkers.
Cohabitation Agreements
A cohabitation agreement is an understanding between two unmarried persons who live together as to how they have agreed to treat their individual assets and how they agree to manage, control, acquire and dispose of assets in the event the relationship terminates. The advantage of a cohabitation agreement is that, if properly drawn, it will reduce the stresses that would be involved if the cohabitation relationship terminates.
