Family and Child Law

Course Content:

This module will be of interest to students who wish to study how the law regulate family
life and how effective it is in doing so. The main features of this module are coverage of
the formation and termination of marriage and civil partnership; how occupation and
ownership of the family home is regulated and how effective these remedies are in cases
of domestic violence; the law?s approach to finance and property division on divorce and
maintenance for children comparing this approach with the regulation of cohabitation.

The module then goes on to consider legal parentage and parenthood, parental
responsibility and the regulation of disputes between parents about their children.

Finally, local authority provision for vulnerable children and those who are experiencing
harm in their families is considered and adoption as a solution for children who cannot
live with their birth families will be covered. This module aims to consider the law in
context of social policy as a means to encourage desired types of family behaviour.

Topics covered include:

Autumn Semester:
? Introduction and definition of family
? Marriage and civil partnership
? The law of nullity
? Cohabitation
? Divorce and Dissolution
? Finance and Property on Divorce
? Child Support
? Domestic Violence

Spring Semester:
? Who are a child's parents?
? Parental responsibility: meaning, allocation and acquisition
? The exercise of parental responsibility and its limits
? Private law disputes: s. 8 orders under the Children Act 1989
? Children Local Authorities and the courts 1 - assistance, accommodation and
emergencies
? Children Local Authorities and the courts 2 - care proceedings and removal of
children
? Children, vulnerable adults and the courts hearing their voices
? Adoption, special guardianship and long-term options for children

Teaching: 2-hour lectures and 1-hour seminars

Assessment:
STUDY OPTION 1:
? Two and a half hour Exam (60%)
? Coursework (40%): 2500 words
STUDY OPTION 2: Alternative assessment (tbc)
STUDY OPTION 3: Individual Assignment 2500 words

Study Option 1 = Whole Year
Study Option 2 = Autumn
Study Option 3 = Spring/summer