Offering interdisciplinary and comprehensive coverage in a manageable size, the popular casebook Family Law, now in its Fourth Edition, continues its commitment to offering current and revealing cases and dynamic materials, supported by engaging problems and notes. A leading casebook in its field, Family Law, Fourth Edition, features: complete coverage of key family law topics, including Marriage (Part I), Divorce (Part II), And the Balance of Power among Parents, Children, and the State (Part III) a broad selection of interdisciplinary materials that address such topics as finance principles, genetics and statistics, psychology, social history, and legal and policy responses to domestic violence a balanced presentation that addresses cutting-edge issues while maintaining a focus on family And the state, The role of various groups involved in family law issues, And the effectiveness of law and law enforcement well-crafted problem exercises through which students practice applying legal principles to real-world situations Teacher's Manual that offers advice on how to teach the survey course effectively Updated throughout, The Fourth Edition offers: recent developments regarding same-sex relationships, including new material on the same-sex marriage, comparison of marriage with civil unions and domestic partnerships, and interstate recognition of same-sex marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships updated and expanded coverage of domestic violence issues, including the Supreme Court decision in City of Castle Rock v. Gonzales, the impact of Crawford on criminal prosecution in domestic violence cases, and new materials on restraining orders and other civil remedies updated review of the debate over the causes and consequences of changes in family composition expanded materials on polygamy that discuss the various ways polygamy is practiced in the U.S. today and consider anew the constitutionality of bans on the practice revised materials on bankruptcy that reflect the changes brought about by the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 new cases and materials on legal parentage and assisted reproduction, addressing the status of sperm donors, surrogacy, and unmarried partners An ideal choice For the survey course, Family Law, Fourth Edition, offers balanced coverage of both mainstream and cutting-edge topics, a stimulating selection of cases and interdisciplinary materials, strong problems, and lucid text.