Family law - Definition and Overview

Family law is an area of the law that deals with family-related issues and domestic relations including, but not limited to marriage, civil unions, divorce, spousal abuse, child custody and visitation, property, alimony, and child support awards, as well as child abuse issues, and adoption.

This list is by no means dispositive of the potential issues that come through the family court system. In many jurisdictions in the United States, the family courts see the most crowded dockets. Litigants representative of all social and economic classes are parties within the system. Because the family courts are notoriously underfunded and see a relatively large proportion of economically dependent litigants, a common criticism levied is that the system inherently prejudices the needs of these disadvantaged parties.

See also: Law of the Family, Fathers' rights, Marriage strike, Same-Sex Marriage, The Children Act

External links

USA

• American Bar Association - Family Law Section (http://www.abanet.org/family/home.html)
• Stephen Baskerville, PhD (http://www.stephenbaskerville.net/) -- Leading political scientist's insightful writings on family court and the divorce industry.
• The American Coalition for Fathers and Children (http://www.acfc.org/) -- Largest member supported shared parenting organization in the USA.

UK

• Judicial Studies Board Family Bench Book (http://www.jsboard.co.uk/family_law/fbb/mf_02.htm)
• The Children Act 1989 (http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1989/Ukpga_19890041_en_1.htm)
• Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1995/Ukpga_19950036_en_1.htm)
• Family Proceedings Rules (http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1991/Uksi_19911247_en_1.htm)