NALA ACP - Family Law

It is a specialty credential layered on top of the CP, meant to show that you can perform substantive family law work - drafting, discovery, financial summaries, client communication - at an advanced level. It is not a license and does not expand what a paralegal may do; it documents depth within existing scope-of-practice limits.

It is a multiple-choice examination delivered in a standardized testing setting. The current number of items, delivery method (computer-based or paper), and any accommodations process are set by NALA and change over time, so check NALA's certification page for the authoritative format before you schedule.

Expect more depth and less recall. The CP tests broad foundational knowledge; the ACP assumes you already know the basics and asks you to apply them - spotting conflicts, choosing the right discovery tool, or identifying what a support calculation is missing. Candidates who work in family law daily have a real advantage.

Do both. Start with ethics and scope, because those rules govern every other answer, then move through the case lifecycle from intake to trial and ADR. After that, spend extra time on the heaviest areas - property division, custody, and child support - since they carry the most scoring weight and the most nuance.

Usually because they answer as a friend or problem-solver rather than as a paralegal. The correct answer almost always keeps the attorney in the decision-making role, avoids giving legal advice, and addresses conflicts and confidentiality explicitly. When two answers look reasonable, pick the one that documents the issue and escalates it to the supervising attorney.

Skipping steps. Candidates jump to a percentage or a guideline figure without confirming income definitions, imputation of income, add-ons like health insurance and childcare, parenting-time adjustments, or the difference between an initial order and a modification. Read the fact pattern for what is missing before calculating anything.

There is no official study-hour requirement. Realistic candidates budget several weeks of consistent study, weighted toward their weaker domains, rather than a single cramming weekend. Track your accuracy by domain on practice questions; if property division or support stays below roughly three-quarters correct, revisit those sections before testing.

Retake rules, waiting periods, and any fee implications are set by NALA and can change. Do not rely on secondhand reports. Confirm the current retake policy, application windows, and fees directly with NALA before you register, and build your study plan assuming a single attempt.

No. The exam tests applied judgment and general principles, not a single state's code. What helps is understanding how support guidelines, property characterization, and custody factors work conceptually, and being fluent in the professional conduct rules and procedural sequence that apply everywhere.

Look for the distinction the item is testing - often scope of practice, timing of a filing, or which party bears a burden. Eliminate answers that have the paralegal giving advice, skipping a procedural step, or acting without attorney direction. The remaining choice is usually the most defensible and best-documented action.