Intended for students and practitioners, this eighth edition provides a picture of the law and practice relating to family proceedings in all courts. It takes account of a range of statutory provisions, including the Civil Partnership Act 2004, the Gender Recognition Act 2004, as well as case law, Statutory Instruments and Practice Directions.

"A Practical Approach to Family Law" provides a full picture of the law and practice relating to family proceedings in all courts, and its breadth of coverage and accessible style has made it an essential resource for students and practitioners alike. The eighth edition has been completely updated to take full account of new statutory provisions, including the Civil Partnership Act 2004, the Adoption and Children Act 2002, the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 and the Gender Recognition Act 2004, as well as case law, Statutory Instruments, and Practice Directions. With new advice on library, information, and professional development resources, "A Practical Approach to Family Law" provides real assistance in dealing with this dynamic area of law.

• 1. The first interview
• 2. Community Legal Service and Public Funding for Family Proceedings
• 3. Mediation and Collaborative Law
• 4. The Ground for Divorce and the Five Facts
• 5. Bar on Presentation of Divorce Petitions within One Year of Marriage
• 6. Jurisdiction in Divorce, Nullity and Judicial Separation Suits
• 7. The Civil Partnership Act
• 8. The Gender Recognition Act
• 9. Public Funding and Undefended Divorces
• 10. Drafting a Divorce Petition
• 11. Undefended Divorce: Procedure for Obtaining the Decree (
• 12. Amended, Supplemental and New Petitions
• 13. Defended Divorces
• 14. Protection of Respondents in Separation cases
• 15. Judicial Separation
• 16. Nullity
• 17. Ancillary Relief Orders Available
• 18. Procedure for Ancillary Relief Applications
• 19. Factors to be considered on Ancillary Relief Applications
• 20. Child Support
• 21. Preventing and Setting Aside Dispositions Under s 37, MCA 1973
• 22. Collection and Enforcement of Ancillary Relief Orders
• 23. Variation of Ancillary Relief Orders
• 24. Occupation Orders and Non-Molestation Orders
• 25. The Home: Preventing a Sale or Mortgage
• 26. Keeping Up With the Mortgage or Rent
• 27. The Question of Wills
• 28. The Children Act 1989
• 29. Procedure for Orders under the Children Act 1989
• 30. Wardship and the Inherent Jurisdiction
• 31. Preventing the Removal of a Child from the Jurisdiction and Tracing a Lost Child
• 32. Children in Local Authority Care
• 33. Emergency Protection of Children
• 34. Section 27, Matrimonial Causes Act 1973
• 35. Separation and Maintenance Agreements
• 36. Section 17, Married Women's Property Act 1882
• 37. Welfare Benefits
• 38. Tax Considerations
• 39. The Local Authority and Housing
• 40. Cohabitants