A Mom's Guide to Resolving Family Legal Issues

By Aditi Mukherji, JD on May 08, 2013 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

We might not have chocolates or flowers for you this Mother's Day, but we here at FindLaw would like to give you something special: knowledge and resources to help you resolve your family's legal issues.

Whether you're a single mom, a stay-at-home mom, or a working mom, chances are you're making important legal decisions every day for your kids, your spouse, your aging parents, and even yourself.

Here are seven ways busy moms can address important legal issues facing the family:

  1. Family law issues. FindLaw's Learn About the Law section on Family Law can help every mom learn a thing or two about marriage, relationships, children, parental rights and responsibilities, domestic violence, and beyond.

  2. School issues. Every mom can appreciate helpful tips on common education law issues -- including student rights, home schooling, school curriculum, discrimination, student discipline, and special education. We've also blogged about how to deal with school bullying, both in-person and online.

  3. Contract questions. For all the Super Moms out there -- especially those who are also small business owners -- check out FindLaw's section on the basics of contract law. Knowing the basics can help you in everyday situations, such as signing waivers for your child's school activities and even reviewing contract terms for your next family cruise.

  4. Real estate issues. If you're on the hunt for your dream house, check out FindLaw's Real Estate section for legal tips on buying a house, financing options, mortgages, down payments, and more. If you love checklists as much as we do, give ours a try to figure out what you can afford and how to find the right real estate lawyer or agent in your 'hood.

  5. Landlord-tenant issues. If you're a renter, head over to FindLaw's comprehensive section on tenants' rights. You'll find helpful articles about lease and rental agreements, rent and security deposits, tenant safety, landlord liability, and the eviction process.

  6. Elder-care issues. For those Extra-Super Moms who are caring for their own moms (and dads) later in life, Findlaw's Elder Law section covers a variety of issues, such as elder abuse, caring for aging parents, assisted living facilities, and grandparent rights regarding custody and visitation. If you've considered getting a health care power of attorney or financial power of attorney over your aging parents, we have articles and resources to help you get started.

  7. Need more help? Even the most capable moms need a helping hand from time to time, especially when it comes to handling legal issues. If you need to consult a lawyer, FindLaw's lawyer directory is here to help (as is our guide to hiring a lawyer). Another option is to sign up for a legal plan like LegalStreet, which gives you on-call access to local attorneys, contract reviews (up to 10 pages), attorney-drafted letters (up to 2 pages) and even an attorney-drafted will. LegalStreet is also affordable, with plans averaging out to less than $13 a month.

Sure, moms can't be expected to do everything, but with a little bit of help, you can empower yourself to resolve many of the legal issues that affect you and your family.

Happy Mother's Day from all of us at FindLaw!

(Disclosure: LegalStreet and FindLaw.com are owned by the same company.)

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