Legal Issues That May Arise With In Vitro Fertilization

In vitro fertilization is defined as a method of assisted reproduction in which a man's sperm and a woman's egg oocyte are combined in a laboratory dish, where fertilization occurs. The resulting embryo is then transferred to the uterus to develop naturally.

Self-emancipation of Minors

A minor may obtain a court order declaring him or her to be self-emancipated. A self-emancipated minor has most of the legal rights and duties of an adult. The parents of a self-emancipated minor have no further duty to support the minor.

Foster Care

Foster care is defined as the temporary placement of a child outside of her family. The child is removed from the family due to abuse or neglect issues. The child may be removed due to physical or sexual abuse by a parent or someone residing in the household. The goal of foster care is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for the child.

Child Support Enforcement and Paternity Issues

At common law, a putative or alleged father of a child produced out of wedlock had no duty to support that child. However, the statutory law changed the common law and required both parents to support the child.

Planning for a Disabled Child

There are many parents that have children with disabilities. It is important for those parents to plan for the care of their children when the parents are no longer living. Often times, when parental death occurs the responsibility of the disabled child falls on the siblings, other family members, or the community.