Law and Parenthood

by Chris Barton , Gillian Douglas

• ISBN13: 9780406044990
• ISBN10: 0406044996
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-04-11
• Publisher: Lexis Nexis

Summary

In recent years, child law has increased in prominence, not only in the public eye and the courts, but also as a study option as a result of modularisation. This book discusses the substantive law, the procedural law, and all the main issues which are commonly raised in both undergraduate and postgraduate courses on the subject. With the implementation of the Children Act 1989 and the Child Support Act 1991, family law practitioners will also have much to gain from this text, as they find themselves increasingly specialising in child care law and private child law. The primary concern of family law tends to be the role and function of parents. This book addresses the key issues of parental rights and responsibilities: a vital approach lacking in most academic law books which instead look at the parent-child relationship from the position of the child.

Table of Contents

Part I. Introduction: 1. Law, parenthood and society

2. Perspectives on the rights and duties of parenthood

Part II. Parentage: 3. Automatic parental status

4. Ascribed parental status and the child's identity

5. Unmarried fathers, former parents and non-parents

Part III. Private Law: Parental Responsibility: 6. Issues and influences

7. Dual parenting: anticipation and actuality

8. Separated parents (1): caring. Separated parents (2): paying

Part IV. Parents and the State: 9. State support for parents

10. Educative duties

11. Protecting children through support and partnership

12. Compulsory intervention to protect children

13. Children in the public care

Part V. Law and Parenthood in Litigation: 14. Outside court proceedings

15. Court proceedings

Part VI. Conclusion: 16. From nature to nurture.