The legal term used to describe the legal and practical relationship between a parent and child, including e.g. the right of the parent to make decisions for the child and the duty to care for it.

Criminal law (also known as penal law) is the body of law that punishes criminals for committing offences against the state. The goal of this process is that of achieving criminal justice. The major objective of criminal law is deterrence and punishment.

A legal judgment that severs the marriage of two people and restores them to the status of single persons. Also call a dissolution of marriage.

An area of the law that deals with family-related issues and domestic relations including, but not limited to marriage, civil unions, divorce, spousal abuse, child custody and visitation, property, alimony, and child support awards, as well as child abuse issues, and adoption.

A civil action in which a party claims some sort of damage to their person caused by another party. These might be negligence actions (such as a car crash), or an intentional action (such as an assault or trespass).