Nov 03, 2024  
College Catalog 2023-2024 
    
College Catalog 2023-2024 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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LEGA 2110 - Principles of Family Law

Credit Hours: 2.00


Prerequisites: LEGA 2010 

This course provides a study of the marriage relationship; legal problems with children; dissolution of marriage; custody; legitimacy; adoption; change of name; guardianship; support; court procedures; and separation agreements.

Billable Contact Hours: 2

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Transfer Possibilities
Michigan Transfer Network (MiTransfer) - Utilize this website to easily search how your credits transfer to colleges and universities.
OUTCOMES AND OBJECTIVES
Outcome 1: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to explain the family law court structure and procedures.

Objectives: The student will:

  1. Identify Circuit Court (Family Division) and Friend of the Court structure and procedures.
  2. Identify and apply Friend of the Court structure and procedures.
  3. Define mediation and arbitration.
  4. Distinguish between mediation and arbitration.
  5. Describe the mediation process as well as the arbitration process.
  6. Apply Circuit Court (Family Division) and Friend of the Court structure and procedures to legal situations.

Outcome 2: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to explain the differences between marital rights and responsibilities and legal recognition of non-marital families.

Objectives: The student will:

  1. Differentiate between marital and non-marital families.
  2. Identify marital rights and responsibilities and non-marital families’ rights and responsibilities.
  3. Define the legal concepts of dower, domicile, spousal elective rights, and tenancy by the entirety.
  4. List the elements for a common law marriage.
  5. Identify the requirements in Michigan for a valid marriage.
  6. Define a prenuptial agreement.
  7. List the elements that establish a valid prenuptial agreement.

Outcome 3: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to explain the difference between a divorce, a judicial separation, and an annulment.

Objectives: The student will:

  1. Define a divorce, a judicial separation, or an annulment.
  2. Distinguish between a divorce, a judicial separation, or an annulment.
  3. Identify the procedures for filing for a divorce, a judicial separation, or an annulment.

Outcome 4: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to analyze appropriate family law concerning termination of or emancipation of parental rights and responsibilities and restoration of parental rights.

Objectives: The student will:

  1. Apply the Parental Responsibility Act and the Parental Rights Restoration Act to a legal situation.
  2. Explain the Paternity Act and the Parental Rights Restoration Act.
  3. Compile documents needed for filing a paternity action.
  4. Explain the rights of a putative father.
  5. Identify situations involving termination of or emancipation of parental rights and responsibilities.
  6. Explain emancipation, paternity, order of affiliation, affidavit of paternity, and child born-out-of-wedlock.
  7. Apply Michigan law concerning test tube conception to a legal scenario.
  8. Apply Michigan law concerning surrogate parenting to a legal scenario.

Outcome 5: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to analyze the differences between child custody, visitation, adoption, and child support matters.

Objectives: The student will:

  1. Define child custody, visitation, adoption, and child support.
  2. Identify matters concerning child custody, visitation, adoption, or child support.
  3. Locate appropriate Michigan family law pertaining to child custody, visitation, adoption, or child support matters.
  4. Apply appropriate Michigan family law pertaining to child custody, visitation, adoption, or child support matters.
  5. Distinguish between legal and physical custody and joint legal and physical custody.
  6. Explain legal and physical custody and joint legal and physical custody.
  7. Distinguish between the different types of adoption.
  8. Explain the procedures necessary for obtaining modification of child custody or child support orders.

Outcome 6: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to prepare documents involving family law for a divorce, for trial, or for Friend of the Court.

Objectives: The student will:

  1. Gather information or evidence concerning a client’s factual situation concerning a family dilemma.
  2. Identify the necessary documents needed for a divorce, for trial, or for Friend of the Court that involve family matters.
  3. Compose the necessary documents needed for a divorce, for trial, or for Friend of the Court that involve family matters.
  4. Assist attorneys in preparing a client for a divorce, for trial, or for a matter before the Friend of the Court.

COMMON DEGREE OUTCOMES (CDO)
  • Communication: The graduate can communicate effectively for the intended purpose and audience.
  • Critical Thinking: The graduate can make informed decisions after analyzing information or evidence related to the issue.
  • Global Literacy: The graduate can analyze human behavior or experiences through cultural, social, political, or economic perspectives.
  • Information Literacy: The graduate can responsibly use information gathered from a variety of formats in order to complete a task.
  • Quantitative Reasoning: The graduate can apply quantitative methods or evidence to solve problems or make judgments.
  • Scientific Literacy: The graduate can produce or interpret scientific information presented in a variety of formats.
CDO marked YES apply to this course:
Communication: YES
Critical Thinking: YES
Global Literacy: YES
Information Literacy: YES
Quantitative Reasoning: YES
COURSE CONTENT OUTLINE
Session and Topic:

  1. Marriage rights and responsibilities, ante nuptial agreements, Dower Family Support Act, Family Counseling Act
  2. Paternity, blood-testing, rights of putative fathers, test-tube conception, Surrogate Parenting Act
  3. Adoption law and procedures
  4. Legal recognition of non-marital families
  5. Divorce, judicial separation, annulment, filing, and initial procedures
  6. Child custody, visitation, grandparent visitation
  7. Child support and support collection procedures
  8. Friend of the Court structure and procedures
  9. Discovery, alimony, property settlement
  10. Mediation and court rules and the divorce process
  11. Motions, judgments, QDROS, QMSO, post judgment procedures
  12. Parental Rights Restoration Act, emancipation, Parental Responsibility Act
  13. Torts - legal status of women, personal protection orders, domestic violence laws

Primary Faculty
Manatine, Jennifer R.
Secondary Faculty

Associate Dean
Johnson, Elise
Dean
Balsamo, Michael



Primary Syllabus - Macomb Community College, 14500 E 12 Mile Road, Warren, MI 48088



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