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).
Dover Plains is a hamlet in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 1,996 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area. Dover Plains is in the northeast part of the Town of Dover on NY 22. Metro-North Railroad has a Harlem Line station here, bringing commuters to New York City. This station was the line's northern terminus for many years, until the line was expanded four miles north to Wassaic in the early 2000s. John Hall (NY-D), is a Congressman representing the 19th District; his residence is in Dover Plains, NY.