This is the Family Law lecture for Nilsen's Crime and Law class

1. Family Law
Crime and Law – Nilsen

2. •Steps you have to
take to get married:

3. •Some states require a
blood test (not Missouri).

4. •All states require
a marriage license.

5. •Most states require a waiting
period between getting the
license and having the wedding.

6. •A marriage ceremony
is required by all states.

7. •Reasons to annul a marriage:

8. •One or both spouses are too
young (18 in Missouri).

9. •The spouses are
too closely related.

10. •One or both spouses
was already married.

11. •One or both spouses did not
freely give their consent.

12. •The marriage was based
on some sort of fraud.

13. •Non-traditional relationships:

14. •A common law marriage is
created when people act as if
they are married, but do not go
through the proper procedures.

15. •Unmarried couples can enter
into contractual arrangements
while cohabiting, which may
be enforced.

16. •Same-sex couples have limited
rights to marry in some states.

17. •What is needed to get a divorce?

18. •Most states require a
separation period – not
Missouri, necessarily.

19. •If both spouses agree
that the marriage is
“irretrievably broken,”
then a divorce is granted.

20. •If both parties do not agree, then
one of them needs to show fault.

21. •Fault is shown by:
• Adultery
• Unreasonable Behavior
• Abandonment for 6 months
• Voluntary separation for 12 months
• Separation for 24 months

22. •How are things divided
in a divorce?

23. •Property you have before the
marriage is separate property.

24. •Everything else is marital
property – owned equally.

25. •In a divorce, separate property is
kept by its owner, and everything
else is divided equitably.

26. •In community property states,
separate property is kept by its
owner, and everything else is
split in half.

27. •One spouse may be required to
make alimony payments.

28. •Custody of children is decided
based on the best interests of the
child.

29. •This may include joint custody
arrangements or sole custody
arrangements.

30. •One spouse may be required to
make child support payments.