If you go to the society's official media page and read the paragraph on DF'ing it may help you.
: http://www.jw-media.org/beliefs/beliefsfaq.htm
the part about shunning is the fourth item or so down. Keep in mind though, that the statements they make are total bunk. Disfellowshipping does, in most cases, sever family ties. that is what it was designed to do.
I've been df'd for three years, and I speak from experience. DF'd people are treated as non existant. Even in times of dire family crisis, by hardnosed JW's.
When my father was in intensive care in extremely critical condition recently, a once very close, dear cousin of mine and her husband came to see him. I had been sitting by his bedside keeping vigil all night long.
The walked past me as if I wasn't even there.
I have a lot of personal stories about shunning that used to be on the web, I still have the text of most of them. If you care to elaborate on the 'family situation' I may have, or know of, more specific info to help you.
mail me if you wish.
all the best
Esmeralda