What Is the Difference Between a Divorce Lawyer & a Family Lawyer?
By Teo Spengler
Updated March 30, 2020
Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images
The terms divorce law and family law are sometimes used interchangeably, but they should not be. Divorce law is only one of a myriad issues involved in family law. An attorney specializing in family law matters can handle a divorce, but a divorce attorney may not have the expertise to represent you in other family law matters.
Family Law
When divorce looms on your horizon, it seems to eclipse all other possible issues. But many other problems can arise for families that require court intervention. Family law includes most of them, like adoption, paternity determinations, name changes, juvenile delinquency, child abuse and child emancipation.
Choosing An Attorney
If you need an attorney for a family law matter, select an expert in your problem area. If divorce is the issue, be sure your attorney specializes in divorce. Lawyers specializing in family law may be experts in divorce as well as other family law issues. It is also worth your time to see whether the matter is one you can handle yourself, with assistance from your court's self-help program or from a reputable online legal service provider.
References
Resources
Writer Bio
From Alaska to California, from France's Basque Country to Mexico's Pacific Coast, Teo Spengler has dug the soil, planted seeds and helped trees, flowers and veggies thrive. World traveler, professional writer and consummate gardener, Spengler earned a BA from U.C. Santa Cruz, a law degree from Berkeley's Boalt Hall, and an MA and MFA from San Francisco State. She currently divides her life between San Francisco and southwestern France.