Family law is a very broad area of law and pre-eminently the area in which personal emotions play a major role, and… can get in the way.
The laws and regulations within this area of law aim to protect the rights and interests of individuals within their family context and to resolve conflicts. It covers a wide range of legal issues and regulations that relate to family relationships and affairs. Some of the major topics covered by family law include:
- Divorce, dissolution of registered partnership, breach of cohabitation contract or termination of cohabitation: The legal procedures and requirements for ending a marriage, including issues such as property division, alimony, child custody and visitation arrangements.
- Child custody: The rules and guidelines for parental custody of minor children, including determining the child’s whereabouts and making important decisions regarding the child’s upbringing and well-being.
- Alimony: The financial obligations between former spouses or parents, including child support and spousal support.
- Principal residence and care/access arrangements: Establishing or changing the children’s primary residence or access arrangements during or after divorce proceedings.
- Adoption: The legal procedures and requirements for adopting a child, including the rights and obligations of adoptive parents and the rights of the adopted child.
- Parentage: The legal relationship between parents and children, including recognition and denial of paternity and establishment of biological parentage.
- (Family) Guardianship: The care and protection of minor children in situations where their parents are unable to care for them, such as foster care, guardianship and family custody.
- Mediation and Conciliation: Offer alternative dispute resolution methods, such as mediation and conciliation, to resolve conflicts within families without court intervention.
- Matrimonial property law: The rules governing the management and distribution of property and finances during a marriage, including community of property and prenuptial agreements.
- Name change: The change or improvement of first and last names. Here, the rules for changing a surname are stricter than those for a first name.
- Curatorship, guardianship and mentorship: Curatorship is for people who cannot manage their financial and personal affairs themselves. Guardianship is for those who cannot manage their financial affairs themselves. Mentorship is about making decisions about the person’s care, nursing, treatment and supervision.
It is important to see a lawyer in personal and family law because of the complexity and legal aspects involved in a divorce, for example. A lawyer specialized in family law can advise and guide you throughout the process.
vFAS lawyer
Marianne Smit is the only vFAS lawyer in the Zaanstreek. The abbreviation vFAS stands for Vereniging van Familierecht Advocaten en Scheidingsmediators. The vFAS is a professional association of lawyers specializing in the law of persons and family law, particularly in divorce and other family-related issues. In order to be affiliated with this association as a lawyer-mediator, Marianne Smit had to complete a specialized education and she must therefore meet high quality requirements.
What makes these lawyers special is their specialization and expertise in family law. They have extensive knowledge of the legal and emotional aspects involved in divorce and other family law matters. They understand the complexity of these cases and are able to provide strategic advice and find solutions that are in the best interests of all parties involved, especially the children.
The vFAS lawyers are distinguished by their focus on finding constructive and lasting solutions. They are trained in mediation techniques and try as much as possible to work towards a joint settlement between the parties, representing the interests of all involved. They strive to avoid escalations and lengthy legal proceedings, which can lead to faster and more satisfactory results for all parties. Marianne Smit provides further explanation in the video below.