Family Law – 6604

Family Law. This course examines how the law regulates the creation and dissolution of family relationships, and the legal rights and responsibilities that family members have because of their familial status. These issues are examined in both modern and historical contexts, with particular emphasis on marriage. Topics include: interracial marriage and adoption, same-sex marriage and parenthood, marriage between blood relatives, polygamy and common law marriage, marriage and parenthood under the law of slavery, legitimacy and illegitimacy, surrogate motherhood, economic consequences of divorce, dissolution of nonmarital relationships, termination of parental rights, federal benefits and disabilities tied to family status, the prohibition on interspousal contracts for domestic services, the marital rape exemption, domestic violence, child abuse, and child custody and support.