Argues for legal reforms to protect couples who live apart but perform many of the functions of a family Living Apart Together is an in-depth look at a new way of being a couple and "doing family"-living apart together (LAT)-in which committed couples maintain separate residences and finances. In Bowman's own 2016 national survey, 9% of respondents reported maintaining committed relationships while living apart, typically spending the weekend together, socializing together, taking vacations together, and looking after one another in illness, but maintaining financial independence. The term LAT stems from Europe, where this manner of coupledom has been extensively studied; however, it has gone virtually unnoticed in the United States. Living Apart Together aims to remedy this oversight by presenting original research derived from both randomized surveys and qualitative interviews. Beginning with the large body of social science literature from outside the US, Cynthia Bowman examines the prevalence of this lifestyle, the demographics of people who live apart, their reasons for doing so, and how these individuals manage finances, care during illness, and many other aspects of family life. She focuses in particular detail on three key demographics-women, gay men, and the elderly-and how individuals from these groups engage in LAT behavior. She finds that while these living arrangements are more common than previously believed, there are virtually no legal protections for the people involved. Bowman concludes by proposing a number of legal reforms to support the caregiving functions LAT partners perform for each other. Living Apart Together makes an important case for formal recognition of this growing but largely overlooked family structure.

As a distinct scholarly contribution to law, feminist legal theory is now well over three decades old. Those three decades have seen consolidation and renewal of its central concerns as well as remarkable growth, dynamism and change. This Companion celebrates the strength of feminist legal thought, which is manifested in this dynamic combination of stability and change, as well as in the diversity of perspectives and methodologies, and the extensive range of subject-matters, which are now included within its ambit. Bringing together contributors from across a range of jurisdictions and legal traditions, the book provides a concise but critical review of existing theory in relation to the core issues or concepts that have animated, and continue to animate, feminism. It provides an authoritative and scholarly review of contemporary feminist legal thought, and seeks to contribute to the ongoing development of some of its new approaches, perspectives, and subject-matters. The Companion is divided into three parts, dealing with 'Theory', 'Concepts' and 'Issues'. The first part addresses theoretical questions which are of significance to law, but which also connect to feminist theory at the broadest and most interdisciplinary level. The second part also draws on general feminist theory, but with a more specific focus on debates about equality and difference, race, culture, religion, and sexuality. The 'Issues' section considers in detail more specific areas of substantive legal controversy.

In Egypt's modern history, reform of personal status laws has often formed an integral part of political, cultural, and religious contestations among different factions of society. From the beginning of the twenty-first century, two significant reforms were introduced in Egyptian personal status laws: women's right to petition for no-fault judicial divorce law (khul') and the new mediation-based family courts.Legal Reform and Gender Justice examines the interplay between legal reform and gender norms and practices. It examines the processes of advocating for, and contesting the khul' and new family courts laws, shedding light on the agendas and strategies of the various actors involved. It also examines the ways in which women and men have made use of these legal reforms; how judges and other court personnel have interpreted and implemented them; and how the reforms may have impacted women and men's understandings, expectations, and strategies when navigating marriage and spousal roles.Drawing on an extensive four-year field study, Al-Sharmani highlights the complexities and mixed impacts of legal reform, not only as a mechanism of claiming gender rights but also as a system of meanings that shape, destabilize, or transform gender norms and practices.

The interaction between individual rights, which are often seen in secular terms, and religion is becoming an important and complex topic not only for academic study but for practical policy. This volume collects a range of writings from journals, edited collections and individual books which deal with different aspects of the interaction within the context of family life, and which appear with their original pagination. These studies have been selected because they throw a sharp light on central elements of the role of religion in determining the structure of the rights of family members in relation to one another, both from an historical and contemporary perspective. While many of the writings are focused on US and European systems, selected writings covering other systems illustrate the universal nature of the topic. The studies are accompanied by a reflective commentary from the editor which sets the writings in a broad context of social, constitutional and philosophical thought, with the aim of stimulating critical thought and discussion.

Legal aid for family cases in private law, mainly divorce and separation, where the state is not directly involved as it is in public law cases where there are issues of domestic violence or neglect or abuse of children, came to an abrupt end together with help for welfare and immigration cases on April 1 2013 when the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO) came into effect. This book presents an account of the wide ranging problems which the researchers and practitioners expected to ensue. Sadly, their fears have been realised in many areas of legal help and advice. The National Audit Office was to take the view in 2014 that although the Ministry of Justice had succeeded in making considerable savings in the cause of austerity that they had failed to investigate or understand the impact of these cuts on the individuals concerned and society as a whole. This book was previously published as a special issue of the Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law.

Since the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) children's rights have assumed a central position in a wide variety of disciplines and policies. This handbook offers an engaging overview of the contemporary research landscape for those people in the theory and practice of children's rights. The volume offers a multidisciplinary approach to children's rights, as well as key thematic issues in children's rights at the intersection of global and local concerns. The main approaches and topics within the volume are: * Law, social work, and the sociology of childhood and anthropology * Geography, childhood studies, gender studies and citizenship studies * Participation, education and health * Juvenile justice and alternative care * Violence against children and female genital mutilation * Child labour, working children and child poverty * Migration, indigenous children and resource exploitation The specially commissioned chapters have been written by renowned scholars and researchers and come together to provide a critical and invaluable guide to the challenges and dilemmas currently facing children's rights.

Providing a panoramic and interdisciplinary perspective, this book explores the interrelations between globalization, borders, families and the law. It considers the role of international, multi-national and religious laws in shaping the lives of the millions of families that are affected by the opportunities and challenges created by globalization, and the ongoing resilience of national borders and cultural boundaries. Examining familial life-span stages - establishing spousal relations, raising children and being cared for in old age - Hacker demonstrates the fruitfulness in studying families beyond the borders of national family law, and highlights the relevance of immigration and citizenship law, public and private international law and other branches of law. This book provides a rich empirical description of families in our era. It is relevant not only to legal scholars and practitioners but also to scholars and students within the sociology of the family, globalization studies, border studies, immigration studies and gender studies.

This timely collection brings together philosophical, legal and sociological perspectives on the crucial question of who should make decisions about the fate of a child suffering from a serious illness. In particular, the collection looks at whether the current 'best interests' threshold is the appropriate boundary for legal intervention, or whether it would be more appropriate to adopt the 'risk of significant harm' approach proposed in Gard. It explores the roles of parents, doctors and the courts in making decisions on behalf of children, actively drawing on perspectives from the clinic as well as academia and practice. In doing so, it teases out the potential risks of inappropriate state intrusion in parental decision-making, and considers how we might address them.

The U.S. Supreme Courts highly anticipated decision in Obergefell v. Hodges recognized federal constitutional protection for same-sex marriage.1 Although on its face the case addressed only whether states must issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples and recognize marriages legally formed in other states, Obergefell has implicated a number of other legal rights, particularly those related to religious exercise and civil rights. Some religious doctrines include objections to same-sex marriage, leading to questions about the extent to which individuals, businesses, or religious institutions that share such objections must recognize or accommodate couples in same-sex marriages. Because federal law includes both constitutional and statutory protections for religious beliefs that may involve such conflicts, the manner in which these protections may intersect with constitutional protection of same-sex marriage can become complicated. This book analyzes a range of legal issues for which Obergefell has implications. Moreover, this book addresses eligibility for Social Security spousal benefits for individuals in a same-sex marriage; addresses a number of frequently asked questions regarding the eligibility of same-sex couples for Social Security benefits and the interpretation of state marriage laws; provides an overview of the federal tax treatment of same-sex married couples, with a focus on the federal income tax; and provides background on, and analysis of, significant legal issues raised by the Supreme Courts decision in Obergefell.

In teaching and in practicing family law, the availability of pertinent codified material and recent commentary is indispensable. This compendium of statutory materials supplements the casebook by these same authors. The book is divided into four sections: (1) Uniform Laws and Model Legislation, (2) Federal Statutes, (3) State Statutes, and (4) International Treaties. These four sections illustrate the evolving perspective of family law, nationally and internationally. Included are statutes addressing, among others topics, premarital and marital agreements, testimony by minors, professional responsibility standards, mediation and arbitration, proof of paternity and surrogacy, and international treaties to protect children and women. Each statute is preceded by citations to pertinent legal periodicals, providing explanation and parameters for practice. As a quick reference or to provide a survey of what has been legislated to address a particular situation, this compendium of codes and commentary is an indispensable complement to the classroom or to practice.

This book offers a comparative and historical analysis of the rapid and profound legal changes that took rise in the 1960s in England, France, Germany, Sweden, and the United States, while bringing new and insightful interpretation and critical thought to bear on the explosion of legislation in the last decade. A unique, detailed comparative analysis and summary of the current state of family law, this author's book will serve as a valuable reference for students, scholars, and reformers.

Children come into the world completely helpless, and require well-functioning families and schools to meet their needs, protect their interests and nurture their potential. This book argues that healthy child-development depends on values, ideas and structures that promote justice for children and families; in particular, checks and balances that favour: * Fairness: allowing fair distribution of resources, so that every child and family have the best possible chance to reach their potential. * Protection: resources for families, neighbourhoods and schools to help protect and encourage their children, alongside the means to intervene, should this protection fail. * Autonomy: encouraging children's voice and participation in decision-making at a level commensurate with their maturity. Authored by leading experts in the field, the book is comprised of short, highly readable chapters with an interdisciplinary appeal, for practitioners of social science, law, social work, psychology, paediatrics, psychotherapy, psychiatry and public health alike.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is acknowledged as a landmark in the development of children's rights. Article 3 makes the child's best interests a primary consideration in all actions concerning children and requires States Parties to ensure their care and protection. This volume, written by experts in children's rights from a range of jurisdictions, explores the implementation of Article 3 around the world. It opens with a contextual analysis of Article 3, before offering a critique of its implementation in various settings, including parenting, religion, domestic violence and baby switching. Amongst the themes that emerge are the challenges posed by the content of 'best interests', 'welfare' and 'well-being'; the priority to be accorded them; and the legal, socioeconomic and other obstacles to legislating for children's rights. This book is essential for all readers who interact with one of the Convention's most fundamental principles.

Clinicians who understand mental health care administration in addition to their clinical fields are likely to be valuable to the organizations in which they work. This handbook is an accessible source of information for professionals coming from either clinical or management backgrounds. Sections offer coverage in: mental health administrative principles, mental health care management, business, finance and funding of care, information technology, human resources and legal issues.

Whether you're new to higher education, coming to legal study for the first time or just wondering what Family Law is all about, Beginning Family Law is the ideal introduction to help you hit the ground running. Starting with the basics and an overview of each topic, it will help you come to terms with the structure, themes and issues of the subject so that you can begin your Family Law module with confidence. Adopting a clear and simple approach with legal vocabulary carefully clarified, Jonathan Herring breaks the subject of family law down using practical everyday examples to make it understandable for anyone, whatever their background. Diagrams and flowcharts simplify complex issues, important cases are identified and explained and on-the- spot questions help you recognise potential issues or debates within the law so that you can contribute in classes with confidence. Beginning Family Law is an ideal first introduction to the subject for LLB, GDL or ILEX and especially international students, those enrolled on distance learning courses or on other degree programmes. Visit the companion website: http://www.routledge.com/cw/beginningthelaw/

The recognition of same-sex marriage generates debate on both the federal and state levels. Either legislatively or judicially, same-sex marriage is legal in more than a dozen states and the District of Columbia. Conversely, many states have statutory or constitutional prohibitions against same-sex marriage. Courts are beginning to address the constitutionality of these "defense of marriage" laws using equal protection and due process analysis. In United States v. Windsor, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on benefits for legally married same-sex couples. However, the Court indicated that it was taking no position on a state's authority to forbid same-sex marriages. Lower courts have interpreted Windsor broadly and have found such bans to violate equal protection and due process principles. This book discusses same-sex marriage bans and federal tax issues in the aftermath of United States v. Windsor.

The Family in Law provides a jurisprudential analysis of current family law, connecting doctrinal discourse with sociological, historical and economic analyses of the institution of family. The law's focus on the nuclear family as the default model is central to the book's discourse, which contains in-depth discussions of the key areas of family law - marriage, divorce, children and property matters. Written for Australian legal actors - whether students, academics or professionals - readers are encouraged to question current frameworks, critique well-known cases and make informed conclusions on whether changes could be made to engender a fairer and more equitable society. In developing doctrinal analysis within a theoretical framework, The Family in Law challenges the conventional boundaries of family law, providing readers with both a solid foundation and a multi-layered perspective to their understanding of the topic.

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'Helen is the woman I want in my life when the shit hits the fan' - Bryony Gordon What do you do when your relationship suddenly ends? How do you cope when the cosy 'coupley' future you had planned disappears? Join comedian Helen Thorn from The Scummy Mummies as she haphazardly takes the plunge into single life for the first time in twenty-two years. Helen shares her own roller coaster journey from the initial shock of a surprise separation, the messy months hanging out in her PJs through to the highs of rediscovering online dating, tiny pants, rock-solid female friendships and the glorious joy of just being by herself. With the help of relationship experts and an army of women "who know", Get Divorced, Be Happy will show you that going it alone isn't the end, it is just the beginning, and you will come out the other side, stronger, happier and goddamn sassier than ever before.

First comprehensive survey of how kinship rules were discussed and applied in medieval England. Two separate legal jurisdictions concerned with family relations held sway in England during the high middle ages: canon law and common law. In thirteenth- and fourteenth-century Europe, kinship rules dominated the lives of laymenand laywomen. They determined whom they might marry (decided in the canon law courts) and they determined from whom they might inherit (decided in the common law courts). This book seeks to uncover the association between the two, exploring the ways in which the two legal systems shared ideas about family relationship, where the one jurisdiction - the common law - was concerned about ties of consanguinity and where the other - canon law - was concerned toadd to the kinship mix ties of affinity. It also demonstrates how the theories of kinship were practically applied in the courtrooms of medieval England. SAM WORBY is a civil servant and independent scholar.

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'Helen is the woman I want in my life when the shit hits the fan' - Bryony Gordon What do you do when your relationship suddenly ends? How do you cope when the cosy 'coupley' future you had planned disappears? Join comedian Helen Thorn from The Scummy Mummies as she haphazardly takes the plunge into single life for the first time in twenty-two years. Helen shares her own roller coaster journey from the initial shock of a surprise separation, the messy months hanging out in her PJs through to the highs of rediscovering online dating, tiny pants, rock-solid female friendships and the glorious joy of just being by herself. With the help of relationship experts and an army of women "who know", Get Divorced, Be Happy will show you that going it alone isn't the end, it is just the beginning, and you will come out the other side, stronger, happier and goddamn sassier than ever before.

In explaining non-court dispute resolution processes and in managing the mediation process carefully, mediators need awareness, empathy and a high level of knowledge and skills. Lisa Parkinson's definitive mediation textbook has been brought up to date to incorporate new developments in Family Justice and in mediation theory and practice. It is an authoritative and practical guide which not only explains the principles and process of family mediation but also places it in the context of a changing family justice system and its interaction with other professionals and processes. The text is supplemented by appendices containing key sample documentation. As such it remains the authoritative book in its subject area and essential reading for all mediators.

Details the rapidly growing field of dispute resolution

This nuts-and-bolts guide offers a blueprint for developing the skills you need to master the often complex and emotionally charged process of family mediation.

In a lively and entertaining style, Robert Coulson, former president of the American Arbitration Association and an internationally recognized expert in dispute resolution, presents exactly what training, marketing, and experience are needed to compete successfully in this rapidly growing field. The family mediation process is revealed, from the first step of persuading parties to mediate through the last details of nailing down a settlement.

Current information is provided on many legal issues, including:

• marriage and divorce
• child support
• alimony
• custody
• visitation

This book covers areas such as contact between parents and children, where a child should live and with whom, where a child should go to school, domestic violence and many other issues where agreement may not be possible. It sets out the law in a way you will be able to understand and apply. and contains a wealth of practical tips to ensure that you present yourself and your case well throughout proceedings. It will guide you in drafting statements, addressing the court, answering questions during cross-examination and dealing with professionals at court.

Child Care and Protection: Law and Practice provides a practical and concise guide to the areas surrounding the Children Act 1989 and subsequent child protection legislation, guidance and case law. In addition to explaining the general principles of the law relating to child care and protection, the authors provide valuable insights into assessments, care planning, expert evidence, taking instructions, case preparation and courtroom skills. Extensively updated, the sixth edition looks at all significant developments since the introduction of the Single Family Court in 2014, including the new procedures on control of expert evidence, duration of care proceedings, changes to children's care plans, as well as the introduction of the Revised Practice Direction 12A (Care and Supervision Proceedings and other Part 4 Proceedings: Guide to Case Management), introduction of 'child arrangements orders', the Child Arrangements Programme (PD 12(B), with accompanying new forms and documents, and the Revised PD12J - Domestic Abuse and Child Arrangements.