Family Law Flashcards
How can parties dissolve marriages that are invalid due to an impediment at the time of the marriage?
Marriages that are invalid due to an impediment at the time of marriage can be annulled
What are the two ways that valid marriages can be dissolved?
Valid marriages can be dissolved by either a (1) fault-based or (2) no-fault divorce
What does the court do with the couple’s property when a marriage is dissolved?
When a marriage is dissolved, the court will:
(1) divide the couple’s property, AND
(2) determine whether to award any form of spousal support
Are property division orders typically final? What about spousal support awards?
Property division orders = Typically final
Spousal support awards = CAN be modified if there is a substantial change of circumstance
If divorcing spouses have children, how will the court decide custody and visitation issues, generally?
If the spouses have children, the court will decide child custody and visitation issues based on the best interests of the child
Can child support be modified if there is a substantial change of circumstances (like spousal support can)?
Yes! Child support, like spousal support, can be modified if there is a substantial change of circumstances
What are the four requirements for two people to get married?
People are allowed to get married if:
(1) They are a both of a minimum age (18 unless otherwise indicated)
(2) They are not too closely related
(3) They both have capacity to consent
(4) Must not be in a current valid marriage
What are the two procedural requirements for a marriage?
(1) License
(2) Solemnization
What are the three requirements for a common law marriage?
(1) An exchange of consents between two people with capacity
(2) Cohabitation
(3) A holding out publicly of living together as spouses
What are the four requirements for an enforceable premarital contract?
(1) The agreement must be entered into voluntarily
(2) Contract is in writing signed by party to be charged
(3) Both parties make a full and fair disclosure of their financial worth
(4) The economic provisions must be fair and reasonable
What three grounds for annulment will make the marriage void automatically?
(1) Bigamy or polygamy
(2) Consanguinity
(3) Nonage, depending on state
What 5 grounds for annulment make the marriage VOIDABLE, but not automatically void?
(1) Incurable physical impotence
(2) Mental incompetence
(3) Lack of assent
(4) Duress
(5) Fraud involving the essentials of marriage
As they say…The Impotent are in Duress and the Incompetent commit Fraud; yet both Lacked my assent
What are two big kahuna grounds for no-fault divorce?
(1) The marriage is irretrievably broken (irreconcilable differences or incompatibility)
(2) The parties have ben living apart for a specified time
What are the five main grounds for a fault divorce?
(1) Adultery
(2) Willful desertion for a specified time
(3) Extreme physical or mental cruelty
(4) Drug addiction or habitual drunkenness
(5) Mental illness
What are 4 big traditional defenses to fault grounds for divorce?
(1) Collusion
(2) Connivance
(3) Condonation
(4) Recrimination
What is collusion?
Collusion is an agreement between the spouses to simulate grounds for divorce or to forgo raising a valid defense.
Is collusion a defense against a request for a fault divorce?
Yes - collusion is a traditional defense to fault grounds for divorce
What is connivance?
Connivance is the willing consent by one spouse to the other spouse’s misconduct.
Is connivance a defense against a request for a fault divorce?
Yes - Connivance is a traditional defense to fault grounds for divorce
What is condonation?
Condonation is the forgiveness of marital offenses with full knowledge of their commission
Is condonation a defense against a request for a fault divorce?
Yes - Condonation is a traditional defense to fault grounds for divorce
What is recrimination?
Recrimination is when the party seeking the divorce is also guilty of misconduct for which a divorce may be granted
Is recrimination a defense against a request for a fault divorce?
Yes - recrimination is a defense against a request for a fault divorce
Where is jurisdiction for a divorce action proper?
Jurisdiction is proper in a state if the party is a bona fide resident of the state
What venue is proper for a divorce action?
Venue is in the county where the spouses usually reside
What is required for a decree to be valid in all states?
As long as one of the parties that domiciled in the state that granted the divorce, the decree is recognized as valid in all other states.
Will a divorce be valid in all states if neither party is domiciled in the state that granted the divorce?
No - At least one party must be domiciled in the state that grants the divorce in order for it to be valid in all states
Are provisions of the decree relating to property rights, spousal support, or child support, etc. given full faith and credit if the court does not have personal jurisdiction over the defendant?
NO - Provisions of the decree relating to property rights, spousal support, child support, etc. are given full faith and credit only if the court has personal jurisdiction
What are the three approaches to dividing property upon divorce?
(1) Community property
(2) Equitable division of ALL property owned by either spouse, acquired before or after the marriage
(3) Equitable division of marital property
What is the most common approach to dividing property upon divorce?
Equitable division of marital property is the most common approach to dividing property upon divorce
Is property acquired through gift, bequest, devise, or descent ever marital property?
No! Property acquired by gift or inheritance is not marital property.
Is property acquired in exchange for a property that a spouse owned before the marriage marital property?
NO - property acquired in exchange for a property that a spouse owned before the marriage is NOT marital property
If you own a house in your own name and then get married and sell that house, are those proceeds are yours alone, or does your spouse have a right to those proceeds?
Those are your proceeds - tell him to get his bread up
Is property acquired in exchange for property that the spouse acquired through gift or inheritance marital property?
NO - Property acquired in exchange for property that the spouse acquired through gift or inheritance is NOT marital property
Is the income from or appreciation of property that a spouse owned before the marriage or acquired through gift or inheritance usually marital property?
NO - income from and appreciation of separate property is usually not marital property, unless either spouse contributed to the property’s increase in value
When is the income from or appreciation of property that a spouse owned before the marriage or through gift marital property?
Income or appreciation of a property that a spouse owned before the marriage or through gift is marital property ONLY when either spouse contributes to the property’s increase in value
In what two situations does separate property become marital property?
Separate property may become marital property if:
(1) It is inextricably mingled to the extent that it can no longer be traced
(2) It is treated in a way that evidences an intention for the property to be marital property
Will the court ever consider the age, education, or background of the parties when dividing property?
Yes - Age, education, and background are factors that the court considers in dividing property
When dividing property, will the court ever consider the earning capacities, incomes, vocational skills, employability of the partners, or the standard of living during the marriage?
YES - the court will consider how much financial worth and potential each party has when dividing property
When dividing property, will the court ever consider the assets/debts/liabilities of the parties? Or their opportunity to acquire future income and assets?
Yes! The court will consider the assets, debts, and liabilities of each parties and their future likelihood of acquiring more of those when dividing property
When dividing property, will the court consider the source of money used to purchase the property? The amount that each party contributes to the existing marital assets?
Yes! The court will consider both the source of money used to purchase the property AND each party’s contribution to the acquisition of, or enhancement of the value of, the existing marital asset.
When dividing property, will the court ever consider the health or needs of the parties?
Yes! The court will consider both the health and the needs of the parties when dividing property
When dividing property, will courts factor in the child custody provision of the divorce decree?
Yes, the court will consider the child custody provisions when dividing property
When dividing property, will courts consider the duration of the marriage, and whether there were any prior marriages?
Yes! The court will consider both the duration of the marriage and whether there were any prior marriages when dividing property.
When dividing property, will the courts consider whether the distribution is in addition to, or in lieu of, spousal support?
Yes! When dividing property, the courts will consider whether the distribution is in addition to, or in lieu of, spousal support.
When dividing property, will the courts consider each party’s contribution as a homemaker to the family unit?
Yes! When dividing property, the court will consider each party’s contribution as a homemaker to the family unit!
When dividing property, will the courts consider whether either party has dissipated marital property?
Yes! Whatever the fuck that means
What does it mean for a spouse has dissipated marital property?
What are factors the court considers BOTH when awarding spousal support and dividing property?
(1) Duration and standard of living of the marriage
(2) Age/physical and emotional condition of parties
(3) Financial resources and contribution to the marriage
When awarding spousal support, will the court consider the time needed for the party seeking support to obtain the training necessary to find appropriate employment?
Yes! The court will weigh how long it’ll take the party who needs support to get a job
When awarding spousal support, will the court consider the ability of the payor spouse to meet their needs while paying spousal support?
Yes! The court will ask whether the the payor spouse is too big a brokie to support the remains of their fractured home
Will courts consider marital fault when awarding spousal support?
Only in some states will courts consider martial fault when awarding spousal support
What is permanent periodic spousal support?
PPSS is support paid regularly to support a spouse who has neither the resources nor the ability to be self-sustaining
What is rehabilitative spousal support?
RSS is periodic payments for a limited time to enable a spouse to gain skills to become self-supporting
What is lump sum payment spousal support?
Lump sum payment spousal support is a non-modifiable, fixed amount payable either all at once or broken down into a series of payments
What is reimbursement spousal support?
Reimbursement spousal support is awarded to a spouse who supported the other one while they obtained a professional license or degree
Are divorce courts authorized to make custody awards?
Yes! In all states, divorce courts are authorized to make custody awards.
What courts other than divorce courts are authorized to make custody awards?
Which courts are authorized to make custody awards is determined by state statute
What body of law controls in child custody cases as between two states?
The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act controls (“UCCJEA”) (pronounced like a sneeze)