The Family Law Handbook

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 sixth edition comprises consolidated and annotated legislation including coverage of more recent enactments like the Mediation Act 2017, the Domestic Violence Act 2018 and the Family Law (Divorce) Act 2019. Each section is annotated to indicate amendments or repeals - key legal information which is quickly accessible and clearly outlined. Whatever aspect of family law you practice, this essential guide will ensure you've the latest legal guidance and reference information to hand at all times. The authors have expertly selected the family law statutes that busy practitioners need to refer to on a regular basis, as well as EU regulations and the Rules of Court.

Part of the Black's Law Dictionary Series, "The Handbook of Family Law Terms" contains more than 4,000 key words and phrases, with more than 1,500 terms not yet included in Black's Law Dictionary. It includes accurate, brief and clear definitions with examples and a table of leading cases.

Changes in family structures, demographics, social attitudes and economic policies over the last 60 years have had a large impact on family lives and correspondingly on family law. The Second Edition of this Handbook draws upon recent developments to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date global perspective on the policy challenges facing family law and policy round the world. The chapters apply legal, sociological, demographic and social work research to explore the most significant issues that have been commanding the attention of family law policymakers in recent years. Featuring contributions from renowned global experts, the book draws on multiple jurisdictions and offers comparative analysis across a range of countries. The book addresses a range of issues, including the role of the state in supporting families and protecting the vulnerable, children’s rights and parental authority, sexual orientation, same-sex unions and gender in family law, and the status of marriage and other forms of adult relationships. It also focuses on divorce and separation and their consequences, the relationship between civil law and the law of minority groups, refugees and migrants and the movement of family members between jurisdictions along with assisted conception, surrogacy and adoption. This advanced-level reference work will be essential reading for students, researchers and scholars of family law and social policy as well as policymakers in the field.