B. Marian Chou, lawyers in Washington, DC, District of Columbia

International Child Abductions

Family abduction or parental abduction is the taking of a child by a parent, in most circumstances. An international child abduction involves an additional element of crossing the nation's borders. More...

Traditional and Gestational Surrogacy

The two types of surrogacy are "traditional" and "gestational." Traditional surrogacy is done via artificial insemination, with the surrogate using her egg and another man's sperm. Gestational surrogacy is done via In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), where fertilized eggs from another woman are implanted into the surrogate's uterus. Choosing which route to take is one of the earliest decisions a surrogate or intended parents must make. More...

An Overview of Abortion

Abortion is a controversial topic in the United States. An abortion is defined as the spontaneous inducement that results in the expulsion of a fetus. There are statistics that support the contention that 40% of all women will have an abortion at some point during their reproductive lives. Abortions are one of the most frequently performed medical procedures in the United States. Women from every socioeconomic group obtain abortions. More...

Right of Putative Father to Visitation

A "putative father" is a man who may be a child's father, but who was not married to the child's mother before the child was born and has not established the fact that he is the father in a court proceeding. When the child's natural parents have never married and the putative father is seeking visitation with his child, he must first prove his paternity before a court will entertain his petition for visitation. More...

Discovery in Divorce Actions

If a divorce case is contested then a trial may occur. Prior to the commencement of the divorce trial discovery will take place. Discovery is a process by which both parties are able to obtain or attempt to obtain information needed for the divorce proceedings. The discovery mechanisms are the same discovery mechanisms that are used in civil trials. The angle for the usage of the mechanisms is slightly different for divorce actions.More...