SYLLABUS FOR:
PAL 250 FAMILY LAW
Instructor: John A. Plesa
419E – Wheeling Campus
(304)-214-8895 [Office]
jplesa@wvncc.edu
Course description: This course will provide students with an understanding of the law
as it relates to domestic relations. Topics will cover such areas as premarital agreements,
annulment, divorce proceedings, spousal support, child custody, paternity proceedings,
adoption, and the new status of motherhood.
Office Hours: Monday = 2:00-5:30; Tuesday = 3:00-5:30; Wednesday = 4:00-5:30;
Thursday = 2:00-5:30; Friday = [BY APPOINTMENT ONLY 10:00-Noon]
If office hours are postponed or canceled, notification will be posted on office door.
Prerequisites:
Prerequisites/Corequisites: At least a “C” in PAL 160 or permission of the program
director
Credit hours: 3
Lecture hours per week:
3
Expanded description/Course Focus:
The course will provide students with
hypothetical cases along with sample forms to illustrate the concepts covered in the
chapters.
Texts: FAMILY LAW FOR PARALEGALS, Kent
Grades: Will consists of quizzes, homework, tests, mid-term, & final; Class participation
will be used to assess borderline grades.
Grading System: 100%-90% = A 69%-60% = D
89%-80% = B 59%-00% = F
79%-70% = C
Students who have an “A” average at the end of the semester will be excused from the
final examination.
Attendance Policy: Due to the nature of the course it is important that you attend class.
You will be allowed two (2) absences for the semester. I will make exceptions for
extreme circumstances (e.g. death in the family). You will drop ½ letter grade for each
absence exceeding two (2). Chronic absence from class will result in administrative
withdrawal. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY AND ALL MATERIALS,
TESTS, ASSIGNMENTS, ETC. THAT YOU MISS!
Assignment Deadlines: The nature of the legal profession requires strict adherence to
deadlines and timetables, therefore, so does this course. Failure to follow and/or meet
assignment deadlines will result in a 50% reduction of the allocated points for that
assignment. If an assignment is more than 48 hours late, you will not receive credit for
that assignment.
All assignments are to be transmitted electronically to the e-mail account listed on this
syllabus.
With the exception of extreme circumstances (e.g. death in the family) excuses WILL
NOT be tolerated. Routine doctor appointments or other appointments and in most cases
computer “problems” do NOT classify as extreme circumstances and instructor may
request/require documentation.
Classroom Conduct Policy: Students are expected to conduct themselves in a courteous,
responsible, mature manner in the classroom. This includes being prepared for class;
informing the instructor if you are going to miss class; not coming late, leaving during
class, or leaving early without prior notification and for legitimate reasons; not engaging
in sidebar conversations or being otherwise disruptive in class, harassing or distracting
other students or the instructor, making offensive comments, and turning off cellular
phones during class.
Academic Honesty Policy: Students are expected to conduct themselves in an adult,
ethical, honest and professional way on assignments, research papers, and exams.
Academic dishonesty includes things like: cheating (this includes helping or being helped
on exams or other assignments that are to be done individually), putting your name on
someone else’s work and turning it in as your own, doing work someone else is supposed
to be doing, and plagiarism.
You are responsible for your own work. If an assignment is given and you use an outside
source to complete that assignment, you must cite to that outside source.
Plagiarism and cheating in any form will automatically result in an F (0%) for that
assignment and may result in dismissal from the class, program, and/or the College.
Please note: If you are suspended or expelled from the College for academic dishonesty
your eligibility to receive financial aid from ANY institute of higher education will be
PERMANENTLY affected.
Social Justice Policy: WVNCC does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age,
disability, veteran status, color, national origin, religion, or sexual orientation. Any
suggestions as to how to further a positive and open learning environment in this class
will be appreciated and given serious consideration. If you are a person with a physical or
psychological disability and anticipate needing any type of accommodation in order to
participate or succeed in this class, please advise me AND contact the Office of
Disability Services in Wheeling.
Emergency Announcement Procedures: WV Northern wants to take a moment to
remind you of safety and emergency procedures that must be followed while at the
college. Please look around this room and identify exit doors in the event of an
emergency. Should a fire alarm sound please exit the building using the nearest door and
follow the direction of WVNCC floor monitors or security/emergency personnel. Should
you receive an announcement on this room’s intercom to lockdown or shelter in place,
please turn off all lights and move away from windows and doors. You must remain at
your location until instructed otherwise by security and or WVNCC personnel.
In the event of a medical or other emergency, call (9)-911, if using a college phone and
notify college personnel of the emergency.
The College also wants to remind you we have a Text Alert system which you can sign
up for free of charge, the link is on your portal account on the left side. We will use this
only in emergency situations (including weather emergencies).
Continuity of Instruction: In the event that class is postponed or canceled, instructor
will inform students via e-mail and signs will be posted. Lecture notes and assignments
for cancelled classes will be sent via e-mail as well as the day/date of the instructors
anticipated return.
Outcomes
The students will
1. Define, explain, & distinguish premarital agreements, cohabitation
agreements, post nuptial agreements, & separation agreements.
2. Identify the requirements for a ceremonial marriage.
3. Define, explain, & distinguish ceremonial marriage, covenant marriage,
common law marriage, putative marriage, & same-sex marriage.
4. Explain the differences between annulment, divorce, & legal separation.
5. Define & explain no-fault divorce & fault divorce.
6. Define, explain, & distinguish equitable distribution and community property.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete Family Law will:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Explain the paralegal’s role in family law
Define premarital agreement
Define cohabitation agreement
Define postnuptial agreement
Define separation agreement
6. Explain express contract
7. Explain implied contract
8. Explain quasi contract
9. Explain partnership
10. Explain joint venture
11. Explain putative spouse doctrine
12. Identify the requirements for a ceremonial marriage
13. Explain covenant marriage
14. Explain common law marriage
15. Define putative marriage
16. Explain the circumstances in same-sex marriages
17. Explain the difference between annulment, divorce, and legal separation
18. List the grounds for annulment
19. Explain consanguinity and affinity limitations
20. Define sham marriages
21. Describe the consequences of an annulment decree
22. Explain no-fault grounds for divorce
23. Explain fault grounds for divorce
24. List the defenses to the fault grounds for divorce
25. Define judicial separation
26. Define separate maintenance
27. Identify terms related to the divorce procedure
28. Identify terms related to the nature of jurisdiction
29. Explain venue
30. Describe the pretrial matters
31. Explain alternative dispute resolution
32. Explain the enforcement of divorce judgment
33. Explain a separation agreement
34. Identify the types of documents needed in uncovering financial assets
35. Identify the parts to a separation agreement
36. Explain property division
37. Explain the modification to a separation agreement
38. Identify the kinds of child custody
39. Explain the factors in a parent vs. parent child custody
40. Explain court decisions on visitation rights
41. Explain the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act
42. Explain how courts can enforce the child support orders
43. Explain the legal rights of women
44. Explain legitimation
45. Explain paternity proceedings
46. Explain the adoption process