Family Law in Australia 11th ed

Australia Title

Family Law in Australia provides a contemporary, detailed and accessible analysis of key family law issues and their positioning in Australian society. Current principles of Australian family law are explained in the context of their historical, social and legal background. The authors critically evaluate patterns of past and current reform, making this text invaluable for scholarly and vocational study in law and an authoritative text for use by legal practitioners. It also offers helpful insights for those practising in family dispute resolution and associated social sciences.

The eleventh edition has been comprehensively updated by a team of authors highly experienced in family law and made more accessible and concise. This edition provides up-to-date commentary on significant developments in the law, including: 

• the establishment of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, replacing the former Family Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia;
• legislative amendments which commenced in 2024 about how a court makes parenting orders for children, including the determination of a child’s best interests;
• legislative amendments which commenced in 2025 affecting the decision-making process for property settlement, including:
  • Clearer recognition of economic or financial abuse as family violence;
  • New provisions to take into account the economic effects of family violence and wastage;
  • New provisions about determining property disputes over companion animals;
• the emerging role of parentage intentions in FLA matters;
• recent initiatives and the law’s ongoing struggle to appropriately recognise the impacts of family violence on family members and family relationships.

Features

• Combines analysis of current law and discussion of trends in social policy and research
• Engaging, clear and relevant content
• Authoritative author team

table of content

1. Law, Society and the Family
2. Dispute Resolution in Family Law
3. Violence and Abuse
4. Constitutional Powers and the Family Law Courts
5. Marriage and De Facto Relationships
6. Nullity, Divorce and Termination of De Facto Relationships
7. Parentage
8. Child-Related Disputes: The Legislative Framework
9. Children and Parents: The Exercise of Discretion in Making Parenting Orders
10. Children: Specific Issues
11. Financial Support of Married and De Facto Partners
12. Financial Support of Children
13. Property Proceedings: Preliminary Issues
14. Property Proceedings: The Legislative Framework
15. Property Proceedings: The Exercise of the Discretion
16. Property Proceedings: Specific Issues
17. Consent Orders and Financial Agreements