Donald Schiller : Courses and Seminars
Divorce Law and Practice
LAWS 93202
This class provides an exposure to the dynamic process of representing clients in a dissolution of marriage case. Completion of basic Family Law is recommended. The class will familiarize you with the complexities that arise when a family is divided and wife and husband are dissolving their marriage. Topics are covered in the sequence of an evolving case from the perspective of a practicing lawyer and include: initial client interviews and retention; determination of jurisdiction; interstate and international parental kidnapping; domestic violence; temporary and permanent child custody and visitation; temporary and permanent maintenance for spouse and support for children; awards of attorneys fees and costs; exploration of property rights and factors for determining a division; the valuation process and problems in dividing certain types of property; pre- and post-marital agreements; pretrial discovery; common evidentiary issues; federal tax aspects of marital dissolution and effects of bankruptcy.
One-third of the student's grade is based on class participation, and two-thirds is based on the drafting of court pleadings and legal memoranda.
Writing for this class may be used as partial fulfillment of the JD writing requirement (WP).
Completion of a basic Family Law class is recommended but not required.
Autumn 2011
Donald Schiller
