FMSC 487: Legal Aspects of Family Problems

The University of Maryland Libraries have many resources that will help with research for your class. If you need additional information, please contact Glenn Moreton, the Family Science Librarian.

Table of Contents

• Finding Cases
• Finding Statutes
• Federal Statutes
• State Statutes
• Finding Regulations
• Secondary and Tertiary Authority
• Books
• Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
• Law Reviews
• Family Sciences Databases
• Legal Citation

When accessing subscription databases from off-campus, you will be prompted to enter your UM Directory name and your Directory Password (note: the name/password that you use to access your e-mail).

Finding Cases

You may use the Westlaw Campus Research database or the Lexis Nexis Academic database to find cases. For examples in this tutorial, we will use Westlaw, but Lexis Nexis would have functioned similarly. For your class assignments, use whichever database you prefer.

First, click on the "Law" tab at the top of the screen.

If you know the citation or party names of a case, enter the information under the "Find" boxes on the top left.

Example: 420 U.S. 636

If you do not know the party names or citation, try to find it through using secondary sources, such as encyclopedias or law reviews, or try a Key Search .

Statutes

Federal statutes are published in the following order: first as slip laws; then as session laws in U.S.C.C.A.N. and United States Statutes at Large (Stat.); next as code in the United States Code; and finally as annotated code.

The U.S. Code is arranged in fifty subjects known as Titles. Titles are divided into chapters and then into sections. After each statutory section in the U.S. Code there is a reference to its source in the Statutes at Large, including sources for any amendments.

How a Bill Becomes a Law

Use the Westlaw Campus Research database to find federal statutes.

First, click on the "Law" tab at the top of the screen.

If you know the citation, enter the information under the "Find" boxes on the top left.

Example: 28 usca 1738a

If you do not know the citation, scroll down to Statutes and Regulations and check the box next to United States Code Annotated.

Scroll back up to enter keywords or phrases in the search boxes. However, beware, a keyword search may bring up too many results. Use secondary sources to try to find the citation.

Example: embryos and custody

OR

Use the Lexis Nexis Congressional database.

Go into Legislative Histories, Bills, and Laws

More on Federal Legislative Information

To find State Statutes, use the Westlaw Campus Research database.

If you know the citation, enter the information under the "Find" boxes on the top left.

Example: MD Code, Family Law, 5-313

If you do not know the citation, scroll down to Statutes and Regulations and check the box next to State Statutes, and choose a state. Scroll back up enter keywords or phrases in the search boxes. However, beware, a keyword search may bring up too many results. Use secondary sources to try to find the citation.

Example: "child adoption" and consent

Finding Regulations

Regulations are published in two basic formats, first chronologically and later are arranged into subjects. The Federal Register (FR) is issued every business day. Regulations are later published in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) which is arranged by issuing agency and subject.

To find federal OR state regulations use the Westlaw Campus Research database.

If you know the citation, enter the information under the "Find" boxes on the top left.

Example: 8 CFR 204.301

You also can use the HeinOnline Federal Register Library.

More on the Federal Regulatory Process

Secondary and Tertiary Authority

• Books
  • Abrams, Douglas E. and Sarah H. Ramsey. Children and the Law: Doctrine, Policy, and Practice. 2nd ed. American Casebook Series. St. Paul, MN: Thomson-West, 2003.
    LOCATION: McKeldin Reference Stacks
    CALL NUMBER: KF479.A7 A25 2003

  • Moriarty, Jane Campbell, ed. Women and the Law. 2007 ed. St. Paul, MN: Thomson-West, 2007.
    LOCATION: McKeldin Reference Stacks
    CALL NUMBER: KF478.W652

  • Wardle, Lynn D. and Laurence C. Nolan. Fundamental Principles of Family Law. Buffalo, NY: W.S. Hein & Co., 2002.
    LOCATION: McKeldin Reference Stacks
    CALL NUMBER: KF505 .W374 2002

• Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
  • Garner, Bryan A . Black's Law Dictionary 8th ed. St. Paul, Minn.: West Pub. Co., 2004.
    The most widely used law dictionary, includes authoritative definitions and often provides cites to the court case that defined a particular word or term.
    LOCATION: McKeldin Reference Stacks
    CALL NUMBER: KF156.B53 2004
    Also available in Westlaw Campus Research database (under "Content List").

  • West's Maryland Law Encyclopedia : Based on Maryland Statutes and Cases. St. Paul, Minn.: West Group, 1960-
    Dozens of volumes arranged by broad topic, with very specific entries searchable by index or detailed tables of contents. Explanatory articles and many citations to Maryland cases and statutes.
    LOCATION: McKeldin Reference Stacks or Maryland Room Reference (most up-to-date copy is in Maryland Room)
    CALL NUMBER: KFM1265.W4
  • American Jurisprudence 2d (AmJur 2d). Rochester, NY: Lawyers Cooperative, 1990 - .
    Legal encyclopedia on state and federal law; updated with pocket parts in the back of each volume. Provides comprehensive research references for each topic.
    LOCATION: McKeldin Reference Stacks
    CALL NUMBER: KF385.A2
    Also available in the Westlaw Campus Research database

  • Corpus Juris Secundum (CJS). Brooklyn, NY: American Law Book Co., 1938 -.
    Legal encyclopedia arranged by title (subject) of American law. Kept up-to-date by cumulative annual pocket parts, replacement volumes, and additional, extra numbered and lettered volumes.
    LOCATION: McKeldin Reference Stacks
    CALL NUMBER: KF100.C63

  Law Reviews

  To find Law Review articles, use the use the Westlaw Campus Research database.

  If you know the citation, enter the information under the "Find" boxes on the top left.

  Example: 39 Ariz. St. L.J. 383
  

  

  If you do not know the citation, scroll down to Encyclopedias and Law Reviews and check the box next to Journals and Law Reviews and select "All Journals and Law Reviews" or choose a state. Scroll back up enter keywords or phrases in the search boxes. However, beware, a keyword search may bring up too many results.

  

  Example: CERCLA and "World Trade Center"

  

  Getting too many results? Try limiting the date range or adding more keywords.