There are few areas of public policy in the Western world where there is as much turbulence as in family law. Often the disputes are seen in terms of an endless war between the genders. Reviewing developments over the last 30 years in North America, Europe and Australasia, Patrick Parkinson argues that, rather than just being about gender, the conflicts in family law derive from the breakdown of the model on which divorce reform was predicated in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Experience has shown that although marriage may be freely dissoluble, parenthood is not. Dealing with the most difficult issues in family law, this book charts a path for law reform that recognizes that the family endures despite the separation of parents, while allowing room for people to make a fresh start and prioritizing the safety of all concerned when making decisions about parenting after separation.

Relocation cases are disputes between separated parents which arise when one parent proposes to move to a new geographic location with their child and the other parent objects to the proposal. Relocation disputes are widely recognised as being amongst the most difficult cases facing family courts, and the law governing them is increasingly a cause for debate at both national and international levels. In Relocation Disputes: Law and Practice in England and New Zealand, Rob George looks at the different ways in which the legal systems of England and New Zealand currently deal with relocation cases. Drawing on case law, literature and the views of legal practitioners in the two jurisdictions, Relocation Disputes represents a major contribution to our understanding of the everyday practice of relocation cases. The empirical data reported in this book reveal the practical differences between the English and New Zealand approaches to relocation, along with a detailed analysis of the pros and cons of each system as seen by judges, lawyers and court experts who deal with these cases in practice. This analysis leads to detailed criticisms and lessons that can be learnt, together with practical suggestions about possible reforms of relocation law.

An unrivalled collection, placing key judgments and expert commentary at your fingertips. Family Law: Text, Cases, and Materials presents everything the undergraduate student needs in one volume. The authors offer a detailed and authoritative exposition of family law, illustrated by materials carefully selected from a wide range of sources. Key features - Combines a wide range ofcases and materials with insightful explanation, commentary and analysis, creating a complete resource for students of family law - Features authoritative author commentary which engages with a range of theoretical andcritical perspectives - Accompanying online resources provide regular updates on recent developments in family law, further reading suggestions, questions, and additional legal coverage - Also available as an e-book with functionality, navigation features, and links that offer extra learning support New to this edition - Developments including the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020, andthe advent of mixed-sex civil partnership - Consideration of the Law Commission's proposed reform of weddings law, particularly in relation to non-qualifying ceremonies - A revised analysis of theGillick competence and children's autonomy rights in light of recent case law - Updated case law, including HM Attorney General v Akhter and Khan [2020], Guest v Guest [2022], Bell v Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust [2021], and Re H-W (Care Proceedings) [2022] Digital formats and resources The fifth edition is available for students and institutions to purchase in a variety offormats, and is supported by online resources. - The e-book offers a mobile experience and convenient access along with functionality tools, navigation features and links that offer extra learning support:www.oxfordtextbooks.co.uk/ebooks - The online resources that support the book include regular updates on the law, further reading suggestions, and questions for students to consider.

Placing key judgments and expert commentary at your fingertips, Family Law: Text, Cases, and Materials presents everything the undergraduate student needs in one volume. Drawing on their extensive experience, the authors offer a detailed and authoritative exposition of family law illustrated by materials carefully selected from a wide range of sources. The book has two principal aims: to provide readers with a thorough understanding of the law relating to the family, and to stimulate critical reflection on that law. Readers are encouraged to consider how and why the law has developed as it has, what policies it is seeking to pursue, whether it achieves the right balance between the rights and interests of individual family members and the wider public interest, and how it operates in practice. Online Resources The text is supported by substantial online resources, which features regular updates on the law, further reading suggestions, and revision questions to accompany each chapter.

When conducting parenting plan evaluations, mental health professionals need to be aware of a myriad of different factors. More so than in any other form of forensic evaluation, they must have an understanding of the most current findings in developmental research, behavioral psychology, attachment theory, and legal issues to substantiate their opinions. With a number of publications on child custody available, there is an essential need for a text focused on translating the research associated with the most important topics within the family court. This book addresses this gap in the literature by presenting an organized and in-depth analysis of the current research and offering specific recommendations for applying these findings to the evaluation process. Written by experts in the child custody arena, chapters cover issues associated with the most important and complex issues that arise in family court, such as attachment and overnight timesharing with very young children, dynamics between divorced parents and children's potential for resiliency, co-parenting children with chronic medical conditions and developmental disorders, domestic violence during separation and divorce, gay and lesbian co-parents, and relocation, among others. The scientific information provided in these chapters assists forensic mental health professionals to proffer empirically-based opinions, conclusions and recommendations. Parenting Plan Evaluations is a must-read for legal practitioners, family law judges and attorneys, and other professionals seeking to understand more about the science behind child custody evaluations.

"Over the past thirty years, there has been a dramatic shift in the way the legal system approaches family disputes. Traditionally, family disputes were resolved through an 'adversary' system: opposing parties appealed to a judge who determined which party was at fault and how the marital assets - including the children - should be divided. Now, many family courts are opting for a 'problem-solving' model in which courts attempt to restructure families by resolving both legal and nonlegal issues. At the same time, American families have changed dramatically. Divorce rates have slowed, while the number of children born and raised outside of marriage has increased sharply. Grandparents and same-sex partners care for children, and more fathers seek an active role in their children's lives. As a result, families in today's court system have become more diverse and their legal situations more complex. In Divorced from Reality, Jane C. Murphy and Jana B. Singer argue that the current 'problem-solving' model fails to address the realities of today's families. While today's dispute resolution regime may represent an improvement over its more adversary predecessor, it is built largely around the model of a divorcing nuclear family with lawyers representing all parties - a model that fits poorly with the realities of today's disputing families. And courts may no longer be the best place for families in conflict. To serve the families it is meant to help, the legal system must adapt and reshape itself"--Unedited summary from book jacket.

This multidisciplinary volume offers an essential, comprehensive study of perspectives on the scope and application of the best interests of the child and focuses mainly on its application in relation to child custody. With expert contributions from psychological, sociological and legal perspectives, it offers scientific analysis and debate on whether it should be the primary consideration in deciding child custody cases in cases of divorce or separation or whether it should be one of several primary considerations. It explores complex dilemmas inherent in shared parenting and whether the advantages it offers children are sufficient when compared to attributing custody to one parent and limiting visitation rights of the other. Offering a comprehensive analysis of this complex topic, chapters provide detailed insight into the current state of research in this area, as well as expert guidelines aimed at resolving the controversies when parents agree or disagree over their children’s living arrangements. Cutting-edge topics explored include: transnational shared parenting; alternative dispute resolution; breastfeeding parents; religious disputes between parents and the psychological, social and economic factors that affect shared parenting. The Routledge International Handbook of Shared Parenting and Best Interest of the Child will be essential reading for scholars and graduate students in law, psychology, sociology and economics interested in shared parenting and family law.