Family law is an area of the law that deals with family-related issues and domestic relations including the nature of marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships; issues arising during marriage, including spousal abuse, legitimacy, adoption, surrogacy, child abuse, and child abduction; the termination of the relationship and ancillary matters including divorce, annulment, property settlements, alimony, and parental responsibility orders (in the United States, child custody and visitation, child support and alimony awards).
Atwater is a city located along U.S. Route 99 in Merced County, California, United States. Atwater is located 8 miles (13 km) west-northwest of Merced, at an elevation of 151 feet (46 m). The population as of August 19, 2006 is 27,972.