PREFACE ACKNOWLEDGMENTSTABLE OF CASES Chapter 1. Families and Family Law in Contemporary AmericaProblem 1-11. The American Family Today Notes and Questions 2. The Purposes of Family Law Linda C. McClain, The Functions of Family Law Notes and Questions 3. Families and Constitutional Law..4. An Introduction to Family Law PracticeChapter 2. Entering Marriage 1. Substantive Requirements for Entry into Marriage.2. Bigamy Laws and Plural Marriage3. Incestuous Marriage 4. Minimum Age at Marriage5. Consent to Marriage6. Annulment7. Marriage Formalities 8. Common-Law Marriage9. The Putative Spouse DoctrineChapter 3. Family Roles, Rights, and Obligations 1. Changing Views on the Legal Status of Wives and Women2. Property Consequences of Marriage3. Marital Roles and Support Obligations 4. Other Rights and Consequences of Marriage5. Federal Laws Shaping Marriage and the FamilyChapter 4. Nonmarital Partners 1. Intent (Contract-Based Claims) 2. Status-Based Property Rights3. Other Incidents of Nonmarital Cohabitation 4. Domestic Partnerships, Civil Unions, and Other Legal StatusesChapter 5. Establishing Parenthood 1. Marriage and Biology2. Beyond Marriage and BiologyChapter 6. Adoption1. Historical Background and the Contemporary Landscape2. The Adoption Process3. Issues in Contemporary Adoption Law and Policy4. The Aftermath of AdoptionChapter 7. Intimate Partner Violence and Family Torts 1. Intimate Partner Violence2. Tort LawChapter 8. Divorce1. Introduction Notes and Questions 2. Divorce in Historical Context3. Contemporary Grounds for Divorce 4. Fault-Based Divorce5. No-Fault Divorce6. Questioning No-Fault Divorce7. Legal Separation 8. Ethical Issues in Divorce 9. Divorce JurisdictionChapter 9. Division of Marital Property at Dissolution 1. Property Regimes Governing Dissolution2. Characterization and Treatment of Separate Assets3. The Contributions of Homemakers 4. The New Property and Its Common Forms5. Valuation, Distribution, and Enforcement.6. What Distribution Is Equitable? 7. Debts and Bankruptcy8. Have We Achieved Equity?Chapter 10. Spousal Support 1. Overview 2. Justifications for Spousal Support3. How Should Courts Award Spousal Support? 4. Modification and Termination of Alimony5. Tax Consequences of Alimony 6. Personal Jurisdiction Requirement for Spousal Support andProperty DistributionChapter 11. Child Support 1. Introduction 2. The Nature of the Child Support Obligation3. The Adoption of Child Support Guidelines4. Calculating Support Under the Guidelines5. Modification of Child Support Orders6. Child Support EnforcementChapter 12. Child Custody 1. Introduction 2. Constitutional Considerations3. Evolution of Standards Governing Child Custody 4. Factors in Determining Best Interests5. Shared ParentingChapter 13. Visitation and Post-Dissolution Custody Disputes 1. Disputes About Major Childrearing Decisions2. Visitation3. Modification of Custody or Visitation Orders4. Child Custody Jurisdiction5. Parents Who Kidnap Their Own ChildrenChapter 14. Alternative Dispute Resolution1. Negotiation2. Mediation 3. Arbitration4. Collaborative Family Law Chapter 15. Private Ordering in Marriage and Divorce:Premarital, Postnuptial, and Separation Agreements 1. Marriage?Contract or Status? 2. Premarital Agreements3. Postnuptial Agreements4. Separation AgreementsIndex