Winner, 2021 Lawrence S. Wrightsman Book Award, given by the American Psychology-Law Society Bridges family law and current psychological research to shape understanding of legal doctrine and policy Family law encompasses legislation related to domestic relationships—marriages, parenthood, civil unions, guardianship, and more. No other area of law touches so closely to home, or is changing at such a rapid pace—in fact, family law is so dynamic precisely because it is inextricably intertwined with psychological issues such as human behavior, attitudes, and social norms. However, although psychology and family law may seem a natural partnership, both fields have much to learn from each other. Our laws often fail to take into account our empirical knowledge of psychology, falling back instead on faulty assumptions about human behavior. This book encourages our use of psychological research and methods to inform understandings of family law. It considers issues including child custody, intimate partner violence, marriage and divorce, and child and elder maltreatment. For each topic discussed, Eve Brank presents a case, statute, or legal principle that highlights the psychological issues involved, illuminating how psychological research either supports or opposes the legal principles in question, and placing particular emphasis on the areas that are still in need of further research. The volume identifies areas where psychology practice and research already have been or could be useful in molding legal doctrine and policy, and by providing psychology researchers with new ideas for legally relevant research.

This casebook provides a comprehensive, accessible, and up-to-date analysis of family law from comparative and private international law perspectives. It emphasizes the need to examine complex cross-border family situations by comparing legal systems and understanding the jurisdictional overlay, with a particular focus on the United States. The casebook addresses some of the most intimate and legally complicated situations in which cross-border families find themselves, including the validity of foreign marriages, simultaneous divorce proceedings in multiple countries, the changing law in creating families using adoption and assisted reproductive technology, and how to remedy an international parental child abduction. In addition, the book dives into the importance of judicial assistance treaties and laws when understanding the legal issues, including the necessity to have proper service in a foreign country, obtaining evidence overseas, and authenticating foreign public documents. This book is a superb companion for law students and practitioners alike, and can readily be used in a traditional theory-based class and in practicum courses. It provides substantive material for a course on International Family Law, or can supplement a course on Family Law, International Law, or Comparative Law.

Discusses a variety of issues concerning child custody, including court structures, living arrangements, recommendations on avoiding court battles, and advice on working with lawyers.

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.

"This book is about shifting the focus of family law assessments and interventions and legal representation from the individual to relationships"--

Rev. ed. of: Family law principles, policy, and practice. 2nd ed. c1999.

A comprehensive resource on the complexities of the American legal system encompasses a broad spectrum of legal issues and concerns, including home ownership, consumer credit, wills and estates, family law, small business, and citizen rights, all presented in a straightforward question-and-answer format with sidebars, charts, graphs, and other features. 60,000 first printing.

Thoughtful and carefully-written, Family Law for Paralegals presents the nuts-and-bolts in a relevant historical framework with exposure to some of the most dynamic issues in family law today. The comprehensive coverage balances the basic issues of marriage and divorce with cutting-edge concerns such as non-marital families, child abuse and neglect, and same-sex marriage. Helpful real-life examples and sample forms show students what they will encounter in practice. Useful pedagogy helps students develop their critical thinking and writing skills, and a range of assignments in each chapter provides practice in research, analysis, memo-writing, and argumentation. Fresh new cases enliven the Sixth Edition. New material features changes in the law relating to same-sex marriage as well as technological innovations such as e-filings for divorce. A new discussion of divorce and military families is presented, and issues related to international families are explored. The Sixth Edition covers all the new rulings on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA.) Features: nuts-and-bolts of family law in relevant historical framework with exposure to dynamic, contemporary issues comprehensive coverage fundamental issues of marriage and divorce cutting-edge concerns: non-marital families, child abuse and neglect, and same-sex marriage real-life examples and sample forms preview actual practice useful pedagogy helps students develop critical thinking and writing skills summaries key terms review and discussion questions range of assignments for practice in research, analysis, memo writing, and argumentation Thoroughly updated, the revised Sixth Edition presents: fresh new cases current changes in the laws relating to same-sex marriage new coverage of technological innovations, such as e-filings for divorce discussion of divorce and military families legal issues related to international families new rulings on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)