Legal rights of children

the long version

Legal Rights of Children is a part of a series of General Counsel Law Notes written with the support of the NASW Legal Defense Fund. This Law Note highlights the various approaches taken by states concerning how the legal status and age of a child affect the right to sue, the right to make treatment decisions concerning the child's care, the right to contract, the right to educational services, and the right to be free from abuse and neglect. The complex legal issues surrounding the determination of what constitutes a "family" or a "child" in the 21st century are also reviewed, as are adoption laws, the foster care system, divorce and child custody, visitation, and support. -- from back cover.