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your tools --> <div class="addthis_horizontal_follow_toolbox"></div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <!-- /liinavbarstuff --> </nav> </div> </div> <!-- /include header --> <!-- /.container--> </header> <div id="page" class="main-container container-fluid"> <!-- header excised - see Zen theme for original code --> <div id="main"> <div id="content" class="col-sm-8" role="main"> <ol class="breadcrumb" itemprop="breadcrumb"><li><a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu">LII</a></li><li><a href="/wex">Wex</a></li></ol> <div id="main-content"> <h1 class="title" id="page-title">family law</h1> <!-- here if we decide to print the summary in the page display --> <div id="content1"> <div class="view view-taxonomy-term-revised view-id-taxonomy_term_revised view-display-id-page_1 view-dom-id-b3ef292b7b06ae37480e0f99cce3b969"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first"> <span class="views-field views-field-title"> <h2 class="field-content"><a href="/wex/ab_initio">ab initio</a></h2> </span> <div class="views-field views-field-body"> <span class="field-content"><p dir="ltr">Ab initio is a Latin term that means "from the beginning” or “from inception.” Ab initio is used to indicate that some fact existed from the start of a relevant time period. It is often used as part of the phrase “void ab initio,” meaning...</span> </div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even"> <span class="views-field views-field-title"> <h2 class="field-content"><a href="/wex/ab_intestato">ab intestato</a></h2> </span> <div class="views-field views-field-body"> <span class="field-content"><p dir="ltr">Ab intestato is a Latin term meaning "by intestacy." The term refers to laws governing the succession of property after the previous owner of the property dies without a valid will.</p> <p dir="ltr">[Last updated in June of 2022 by the Wex...</span> </div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd"> <span class="views-field views-field-title"> <h2 class="field-content"><a href="/wex/abandon">abandon</a></h2> </span> <div class="views-field views-field-body"> <span class="field-content"><p dir="ltr">Abandon refers to the act of abandonment. A party can “abandon” in multiple fields of law and abandoning generally, though not always, involves voluntarily giving up a right.</p> <p dir="ltr">See abandonment for more information. </p>...</span> </div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-4 views-row-even"> <span class="views-field views-field-title"> <h2 class="field-content"><a href="/wex/abandonment">abandonment</a></h2> </span> <div class="views-field views-field-body"> <span class="field-content"><p dir="ltr">Abandonment is a term that applies to a variety of areas of law. These areas include matrimonial law, civil procedure, and property. </p> Matrimonial Law <p dir="ltr">In matrimonial law, abandonment is a form of marital misconduct which...</span> </div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-5 views-row-odd"> <span class="views-field views-field-title"> <h2 class="field-content"><a href="/wex/absolute">absolute</a></h2> </span> <div class="views-field views-field-body"> <span class="field-content"><p dir="ltr">Absolute is used commonly in property law and in divorce law meaning final or without limitations.</p> Property: Absolute is used in property law to describe an estate that is free from any limitations. Only a fee simple may be...</span> </div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-6 views-row-even"> <span class="views-field views-field-title"> <h2 class="field-content"><a href="/wex/abuse">abuse</a></h2> </span> <div class="views-field views-field-body"> <span class="field-content"><p dir="ltr">Abuse is an action that intentionally causes harm or injures another person. This can refer to physical abuse, psychological abuse, mental abuse, or child abuse (see below). </p> <p dir="ltr">Abuse is also to misuse something - e.g., abuse...</span> </div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-7 views-row-odd"> <span class="views-field views-field-title"> <h2 class="field-content"><a href="/wex/access">access</a></h2> </span> <div class="views-field views-field-body"> <span class="field-content"><p dir="ltr">Access is the right to use, communicate, or approach something or someone. Some common usages of the term “access” in a legal sense include: </p> In the context of copyright, the term “access” refers to the ability of a potential...</span> </div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-8 views-row-even"> <span class="views-field views-field-title"> <h2 class="field-content"><a href="/wex/acknowledged_father">acknowledged father</a></h2> </span> <div class="views-field views-field-body"> <span class="field-content"><p dir="ltr">The acknowledged father is the admitted biological father of a child born to an unmarried couple. It refers to the person who has admitted to being the father of the child. The admission may be made by signing a voluntary written...</span> </div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-9 views-row-odd"> <span class="views-field views-field-title"> <h2 class="field-content"><a href="/wex/acknowledgment">acknowledgment</a></h2> </span> <div class="views-field views-field-body"> <span class="field-content"><p dir="ltr">Acknowledgement refers to a formal declaration before an official that one has executed a particular legal document. Some common usages of the term “acknowledgement” in a legal sense include: </p> Cases such as this one from Nebraska,...</span> </div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-10 views-row-even views-row-last"> <span class="views-field views-field-title"> <h2 class="field-content"><a href="/wex/acquisition_of_citizenship">acquisition of citizenship</a></h2> </span> <div class="views-field views-field-body"> <span class="field-content"><p dir="ltr">Acquisition of citizenship refers to the ability of individuals born abroad to achieve U.S. citizenship because at least one of their parents is a U.S. citizen. If the child meets the complex requirements, the child “acquires” citizenship...</span> </div> </div> </div> <h2 class="element-invisible">Pages</h2><div class="item-list"><ul class="pager"><li class="pager-current first">1</li> <li class="pager-item"><a title="Go to page 2" href="/wex/category/family_law?page=1">2</a></li> <li class="pager-item"><a title="Go to page 3" href="/wex/category/family_law?page=2">3</a></li> <li class="pager-item"><a title="Go to page 4" href="/wex/category/family_law?page=3">4</a></li> <li class="pager-item"><a title="Go to page 5" href="/wex/category/family_law?page=4">5</a></li> <li class="pager-item"><a title="Go to page 6" href="/wex/category/family_law?page=5">6</a></li> <li class="pager-item"><a title="Go to page 7" href="/wex/category/family_law?page=6">7</a></li> <li class="pager-item"><a title="Go to page 8" href="/wex/category/family_law?page=7">8</a></li> <li class="pager-item"><a title="Go to page 9" href="/wex/category/family_law?page=8">9</a></li> <li class="pager-ellipsis">…</li> <li class="pager-next"><a title="Go to next page" href="/wex/category/family_law?page=1">next ›</a></li> <li class="pager-last last"><a title="Go to last page" href="/wex/category/family_law?page=24">last »</a></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> <div id ="page-bottom"> <div class="region region-bottom"> <div id="block-liidfp-2" class="block block-liidfp first last odd"> <div class="gfs"><div id='div-gpt-ad-bottom'> <script type='text/javascript'> <!-- googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-bottom'); 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