Family

Legal Guides

• Marriage Laws and Licenses

  Written by Avvo Staff.

  

  Marriage laws are the rules and regulations that affect people once they marry. Marriage is a legal contract and married couples must follow its terms and conditions. Marriage laws vary from state to... more

• Are you ready for marriage?

  Written by Avvo Staff.

  

  If youve been in a relationship with one person for a long time, you may be thinking of marriage. Or maybe you havent found the right person, but family and friends are pushing you to take the plunge.... more

• Marriage ceremonies

  Written by Avvo Staff.

  

  Marriage is generally defined as a contract between two people to create a life together as a family. The marriage ceremony, or wedding, cements this contract and creates a legal kinship where none... more

• Common Law Marriage

  Written by Avvo Staff.

  

  A common law marriage is a marriage between a man and a woman that occurs without a marriage license or ceremony. For a common law marriage to be legal, a couple must live together and present... more

• How to Apply for Permanent Residency Based on Marriage to a US Citizen

  Written by attorney Karol Brown. STAFF PICK

  

  This legal guide shows you how to apply for a "green card" based on marriage to a US citizen.

• Prenuptial Agreements

  Written by Avvo Staff.

  

  Prenuptial agreements, or "prenups," are contracts two people create before they get married. Also sometimes called a premarital agreement, the prenup lists your assets and debts, and describes what... more

• Prenuptial after Marriage/Postnuptial Agreement

  Written by attorney Howard Lewis. STAFF PICK

  

  A postnuptial agreement could be considered a prenuptial after marriage. And like a prenuptial agreement, it's a legal contract between spouses that protects their individual interests. However, the... more

• Changing your name

  Written by Avvo Staff.

  

  Two of the most common reasons for changing your name are marriage and divorce, although plenty of people also change their names simply because they've never liked the one they have. In general, as... more

• Engagement breakups: Who get the ring?

  Written by Avvo Staff.

  

  Breakups happen and when they do, the woman often either returns or burns everything the man ever gave her to obliterate all reminders of the relationship. When its a broken engagement, however, she... more

• Grounds for Annulment of Marriage or Civil Union

  Written by Avvo Staff.

  

  An annulment is a legal procedure that retroactively states that a marriage or civil union never existed. It effectively dissolves the marriage or civil union and returns both parties to their prior... more