This part of the Hornbook Series analyzes the law of domestic relations and how it has changed in recent years. Discrimination against women has been mitigated. The power to control personal relationships by contract has increased. Discrimination against illegitimate children has been removed, and the old fault-based grounds for divorce have largely been replaced by non-fault grounds. The financial aspects of divorce place more emphasis on divisions of property and less on alimony. Lastly, an entirely new jurisdiction has developed out of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act.

This volume examines the state of family law in America. Among its themes is the tension between individual autonomy and governmental regulation in all aspects of family law. It examines both conventional and new definitions of formal and informal domestic relationships.

Distilled from years of Fortune 500 consulting practice, Shulman's administrative tools and techniques in Qualified Domestic Relations Order Handbook help plan administrators streamline the entire QDRO review and compliance process, while cutting the risk of errors, penalties, and litigation. They include model policies and procedures, review checklists, staff training cases, and more. Contains new models and guidelines for drafting airtight QDROs that speed approval, maximize your clients' rights, and steer you through the malpractice minefields of ERISA and the IRC. Author Gary Shulman begins with QDRO basics, then dissects the key elements of defined contribution and defined benefits plans. He walks you through the preparation of QDROs for different plans and conditions -- using tested models and sample language. An entire chapter highlights 17 crucial malpractice traps, followed by checklists, attorney Q&A, and tips on working proactively with plan administrators.