Institute Adoption Lawyer, West Virginia

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Claude S. Smith, III
About | Practice Areas
The Law Offices of Claude S. Smith III
805 Bigley Avenue Charleston, WV 25302» view map
Divorce & Family Law
Working With Clients One On One

As your attorney, I will make sure you know that I am here for you. I will keep you updated on your case as it progresses.

800-936-8471
1. Claude S. Smith, III Charleston, WV
  Attorney at Law - WV, 1992
  University of Houston J.D. 1989
2. AboutThe Law Offices of Claude S. Smith III
  Working With Clients One On One
3. Practice AreasExpertise
  Divorce & Family Law
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Christine D. Wallace

Adoption, Alimony & Spousal Support, Animal Bite, Criminal

Status: In Good Standing

CONTACT

405 Capitol Street, Charleston, WV 25301

Sharon McKeny Lord

Adoption, Dispute Resolution, Child Support, Constitutional Law

Status: In Good Standing

CONTACT

405 Capitol Street, Charleston, WV 25301

Robert Thomas Noone

Social Security -- Disability, Family Law, Workers' Compensation, Adoption

Status: In Good Standing

CONTACT

213 Hale Street, Charleston, WV 25301

800-923-0641

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LEGAL TERMS

GUARDIAN

An adult who has been given the legal right by a court to control and care for a minor or her property. Someone who looks after a child's property is called a '... (more...)

An adult who has been given the legal right by a court to control and care for a minor or her property. Someone who looks after a child's property is called a 'guardian of the estate.' An adult who has legal authority to make personal decisions for the child, including responsibility for his physical, medical and educational needs, is called a 'guardian of the person.' Sometimes just one person will be named to take care of all these tasks. An individual appointed by a court to look after an incapacitated adult may also be known as a guardian, but is more frequently called a conservator.

DEPENDENTS BENEFITS

A type of Social Security benefit available to spouses and minor or disabled children of retired or disabled workers who qualify for either retirement or disabi... (more...)

A type of Social Security benefit available to spouses and minor or disabled children of retired or disabled workers who qualify for either retirement or disability benefits under the program's rigorous qualification guidelines.

OPEN ADOPTION

An adoption in which there is some degree of contact between the birthparents and the adoptive parents and sometimes with the child as well. As opposed to most ... (more...)

An adoption in which there is some degree of contact between the birthparents and the adoptive parents and sometimes with the child as well. As opposed to most adoptions in which birth and adoption records are sealed by court order, open adoptions allow the parties to decide how much contact the adoptive family and the birthparents will have.

COMPLAINT

Papers filed with a court clerk by the plaintiff to initiate a lawsuit by setting out facts and legal claims (usually called causes of action). In some states a... (more...)

Papers filed with a court clerk by the plaintiff to initiate a lawsuit by setting out facts and legal claims (usually called causes of action). In some states and in some types of legal actions, such as divorce, complaints are called petitions and the person filing is called the petitioner. To complete the initial stage of a lawsuit, the plaintiff's complaint must be served on the defendant, who then has the opportunity to respond by filing an answer. In practice, few lawyers prepare complaints from scratch. Instead they use -- and sometimes modify -- pre-drafted complaints widely available in form books.

MISUNDERSTANDING

A mistake by both spouses in a marriage that can serve as grounds for an annulment. For example, if one spouse went into the marriage wanting children while the... (more...)

A mistake by both spouses in a marriage that can serve as grounds for an annulment. For example, if one spouse went into the marriage wanting children while the other did not, they have a misunderstanding that will be judged serious enough for a court to terminate the marriage.

AGE OF MAJORITY

Adulthood in the eyes of the law. After reaching the age of majority, a person is permitted to vote, make a valid will, enter into binding contracts, enlist in ... (more...)

Adulthood in the eyes of the law. After reaching the age of majority, a person is permitted to vote, make a valid will, enter into binding contracts, enlist in the armed forces and purchase alcohol. Also, parents may stop making child support payments when a child reaches the age of majority. In most states the age of majority is 18, but this varies depending on the activity. For example, in some states people are allowed to vote when they reach the age of eighteen, but can't purchase alcohol until they're 21.

PHYSICAL CUSTODY

The right and obligation of a parent to have his child live with him. Compare legal custody.

GUARDIAN AD LITEM

A person, not necessarily a lawyer, who is appointed by a court to represent and protect the interests of a child or an incapacitated adult during a lawsuit. Fo... (more...)

A person, not necessarily a lawyer, who is appointed by a court to represent and protect the interests of a child or an incapacitated adult during a lawsuit. For example, a guardian ad litem (GAL) may be appointed to represent the interests of a child whose parents are locked in a contentious battle for custody, or to protect a child's interests in a lawsuit where there are allegations of child abuse. The GAL may conduct interviews and investigations, make reports to the court and participate in court hearings or mediation sessions. Sometimes called court-appointed special advocates (CASAs).

INCURABLE INSANITY

A legal reason for obtaining either a fault divorce or a no-fault divorce. It is rarely used, however, because of the difficulty of proving both the insanity of... (more...)

A legal reason for obtaining either a fault divorce or a no-fault divorce. It is rarely used, however, because of the difficulty of proving both the insanity of the spouse being divorced and that the insanity is incurable.

SAMPLE LEGAL CASES

In re Elizabeth F.

... The Court further concludes that the age of the grandparents and the number of children in the home are not an impediment to the placement in this case. There will be a requirement in the adoption proceeding that the B[.s] must keep certain individuals away from the children. ...

JEFFERSON CTY. CITIZENS v. COUNTY COM'N

... In the proceedings below, the appellee, a non-profit corporation consisting of various property owners and land use professionals, challenged the March 2005 adoption by the County Commission of amendments to the Jefferson County Zoning and Land Development ...

State ex rel. Kutil v. Blake

... Petitioners are a same sex couple whose home had been approved by DHHR for both foster care and adoption. The removal of the infant was ordered at the ... B. Adoption. Finding no merit in the grounds for removal asserted ...

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Institute Adoption Lawyer, West Virginia

Sponsored Law Firm

The Law Offices of Claude S. Smith III

SPONSORED LAWYERS

Christine D. Wallace

Sharon McKeny Lord

Robert Thomas Noone

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LEGAL TERMS

GUARDIAN

DEPENDENTS BENEFITS

OPEN ADOPTION

COMPLAINT

MISUNDERSTANDING

AGE OF MAJORITY

PHYSICAL CUSTODY

GUARDIAN AD LITEM

INCURABLE INSANITY

SAMPLE LEGAL CASES

In re Elizabeth F.

JEFFERSON CTY. CITIZENS v. COUNTY COM'N

State ex rel. Kutil v. Blake

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