The Family Law Handbook, 4th edition, is a practical guide for people involved in or thinking about separation or divorce. Written in plain English, it explains the workings of the Australian system of family law and sets out the practical issues to be dealt with by a separating couple. The Family Law Handbook addresses not only how the family law system works, but all aspects of separation and the making of workable parenting, property and financial arrangements for a successful post-separation life, including: what to do immediately after separation ; how to negotiate with your former partner ; how family dispute resolution works ; making the best possible arrangements for children ; how to achieve a fair property settlement ; what happens at court and what each party, with or without a lawyer, should do. This book contains samples of parenting plan provisions, court orders, forms and affidavits that can be adapted for individual use, and a list of useful contacts and resources.

The second edition of this casebook has been updated and trimmed, although it retains a wide range of topics and materials. It covers a variety of private international law issues, including child abduction, child custody, adoption, child support enforcement, and recognition of marriages and divorces. The book also explores the impact of public international law on both domestic and international regulation of the family, using topics such as family violence and the rights of the child. Finally, the book uses comparative law materials to examine traditional family law topics, such as the regulation of marriage, the rights of same-sex couples, adoption, reproductive freedom, and more.