Family
Family Matters*
A Fund lawyer will advise and represent you (but not your spouse or dependent if it presents a conflict of interest) in matters involving:
- child custody and visitation,
- child support and/or maintenance,
- where you are a parent involved in a child protective proceeding,
- foster care,
- paternity,
- the removal of names from the applicable state registry(ies) for child abuse, and
- family offense proceedings
Who is eligible? Participant, spouse and dependent(s).
Adoptions
A Fund lawyer will represent you in the adoption of a child. The Fund will represent your spouse only in a Joint Petition with you.
Who is eligible? Participant and spouse, if a joint petition.
Guardianship*
A Fund lawyer will represent you (but not your spouse or dependent) where warranted in your application to be appointed a guardian of the person and/or property of a spouse, child or parent, except where there are substantial assets as the proceeds of a personal injury case.
Who is eligible? Participant only.
* Dependents are not eligible for Plan benefits when the situation involves a legal or adversarial dispute with the Member. For example, the Plan would not represent your spouse in your divorce or adversarial Family Court matters, such as support, custody, visitation or an order of protection. In any case involving a conflict of interest between you and your dependent, the Plan would provide legal services to you only.
If you are covered by the 32BJ North Legal Services Fund your benefits are different. Call Member Services at 800-551-3225 for more information.
