This concise casebook introduces students to basic family law doctrines in the context of moral and policy debates. The 24 chapters discuss family law regulation of the formation, continuation, and dissolution of horizontal (adult) and vertical (parent-child) family relationships. Each chapter includes cases, statutes, short notes (emphasizing the variations among state laws), problems, and a review of multiple perspectives that have influenced the development of the relevant family law doctrines, rules and policies. The second edition has been updated to include cases and perspectives that reflect the continued evolution of family law doctrines, practice, and policy.

Law school casebook intended as an introduction to the field of family law, both at the abstract level of theory and at the concrete level of doctrine. It is an introduction as much for experienced lawyers and scholars who come to this field with a thorough knowledge of other aspects of the law as for law students who have just begun preparing for their careers.

Family Law emphasizes the issues and skills most relevant to domestic relations practice. The text employs a novel and dramatic organization with three substantive units that compare the legal treatment of the parent-child relationship vs. adult intimate relationships at stages of formation, regulation, and dissolution. In keeping with the modern reorientation of the field, Family Law reflects the transition "From Partners to Parents" beginning with the creation of parent-child relationship rather than marriage. Its geographical breadth delivers more comparative materials than other texts, using examples from a variety of cultures to provoke "why don't we do this?" considerations. Each student-friendly chapter and section begins with a clear summary of current law that orients the reader before examining legal texts in detail. This structure invites theoretical critique only after a solid foundation is laid. Statutes are core to the text which gives proper emphasis to the vital skill of statutory interpretation in todays practice. Up-to-date material provides more recent cases than any other textbook. With an empirical emphasis, Family Law draws from the significant literature in sociology, psychology, anthropology and other fields so that legal analysis is grounded in real-life application. Focused questions direct students to the heart of the analysis, often using headings before questions to alert readers to the type of analysis required, for example: statutory interpretation, policy, client counseling, and moral theory. Features: Novel organization three substantive units compares legal treatment of parent-child relationship vs. adult intimate relationships considers stages of formation, regulation, and dissolution Reflects modern reorientation of the field in keeping with transition "From Partners to Parents" starts with creation of parent-child relationship rather than marriage Geographical breadth much more comparative material than current texts examples from other cultures lead to "why don't we do this?" considerations Student-friendly organization each chapter and section begins with clear summary of current law orients students before examining legal texts invites theoretical critique after foundation is laid Statutes at the core proper emphasis on the vital skill of statutory interpretation Up-to-date more recent cases than any other textbook Empirical emphasis draws from sociology, psychology, anthropology, and other fields grounds legal analysis in real world application Focused questions direct students to the heart of the analysis use headings to alert students as to the type of analysis required (e.g., statutory interpretation, policy, client counseling, moral theory)

The battle for gender equality will be won or lost in the family. Family Law in the United States analyzes recent changes in state family law codes from three different feminist perspectives. Because these codes regulate marriage, property control, and reproduction, they help determine whether or not men and women are social equals; they make the personal, political. This text integrates gender politics and policy analysis in order to determine which of the changes in family law are most likely to give women control over their private lives.

Exploring the conflict between respect for privacy and deference to state authority in the context of family law today, each chapter in the Seventh Edition of Modern Family Law: Cases and Materials provides a lens to explore the appropriate role of the state in family decision making and helps equip students to handle current and emerging family law issues. The book features riveting well-edited cases, notes, interdisciplinary materials, and problems that highlight issues of gender, sexualities, race, and class. Integrating legal developments with perspectives from history, psychology, sociology, medicine, and philosophy, this casebook uniquely reflects the full diversity of the modern family, including key updates on marriage equality and parentage issues for LGBT-headed families, the nonmarital family, abortion, adoption, and assisted reproductive technology. New to the Seventh Edition: The latest Supreme Court family law cases (Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt; Masterpiece Cakeshop; Pavan v. Smith; Sessions v. Morales-Santana), and previews of upcoming cases (June Medical Services v. Gee and Bostock v. Clayton County) In-depth coverage of important recent uniform and model legislation (Uniform Parentage Act (2017); Uniform Nonparent Custody and Visitation Act (2018); pending VAWA Reauthorization Act (2020), ALI Restatement of Children and the Law (2019-2020), and ABA Model Act Governing Assisted Reproduction (2019) Landmark recent state and federal decisions (including LGBT rights, breastfeeding discrimination/accommodations, contraceptive fraud, divorce discrimination, marital paternity presumption, marital communications privilege, abortion restrictions, minors’ abortion rights, name disputes, challenges to state polygamy laws, parentage rights in multi-parent families, spousal spying for infidelity, and much more) Professors and students will benefit from: A mix of “classic” and cutting-edge materials illuminate family law’s past and its continuing development in an era of exciting change Materials—such as narratives, epilogues, personal communications, social science perspectives, and comparative information—bring family law to life and Thoughtfully organized materials clearly present basic principles and doctrines, while inviting policy-based reflections and questions about law reform Provocative questions and Problems based on cases and current events will spark lively class discussions