Family Law Newsletters

Abortion and Consent

The medical procedure of abortion is one of the most performed procedures in the United States. Prior to a woman seeking an abortion she should have sufficient information about the procedure. In some states abortion clinics may make the woman wait a period of time prior to performing the procedure. The most common period of time is a 24-hour window between the time that the woman enters the clinic requesting an abortion and the time that the procedure is actually performed.

An Overview of Abortion

Abortion is a controversial topic in the United States. An abortion is defined as the spontaneous inducement that results in the expulsion of a fetus. There are statistics that support the contention that 40% of all women will have an abortion at some point during their reproductive lives. Abortions are one of the most frequently performed medical procedures in the United States. Women from every socioeconomic group obtain abortions.

Misuse of Adoption Affecting Economic Rights

Courts generally prohibit parties from using the adoption process to achieve purposes that would have a detrimental economic effect on the children involved. An attempt by a birth parent to adopt his or her own children for the purpose of terminating the other birth parent's relationship with the children is a misuse of adoption. Also, an agreement to release birth parents from support obligations in exchange for their consent to an adoption is a misuse of adoption.

Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003

In 2003, the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act was enacted. The Act authorizes fines and/or jail terms of up to two years for any doctor who performs a partial birth abortion. A partial birth abortion is defined as an abortion in which the baby is delivered past the baby's navel outside the body of the mother or after the entire fetal head is outside the body of the mother. Most partial birth abortions are performed between 20 and 26 weeks.

Types of Child Custody

There are many types of child custody arrangements. The law uses certain terms to describe these arrangements. It is important for parents to understand these terms because they define the rights of the parents.