This book focuses upon two themes: the definition of 'family' and the impact of the expansion of the concept of 'family' in law: and family fights over wills and estates - what recourse family members may have in challenging an estate. The first part, `The challenge of the "new family" for Law', considers the challenge both in the inter vivos and the postmortem contexts in the United States, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. A particular focus is upon the dramatic expansion of the definition of family from the traditional nuclear family consisting of a husband, wife and their mutual children to a definition that includes unmarried heterosexual and same sex couples living together and, in some jurisdictions to new kinds of companionate partnerships that are not based on a sexual relationship. In some jurisdictions such developments are simply an expression of sharing responsibility by allocating it in the private domain, as opposed to the public potentially through social welfare; in others, particularly in the United States, it is a defence of fundamental institutions and, with it, a defence of society itself. The second part, 'Family fights over wills and estates', examines the law in Australia, Switzerland, France, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. Its comparison of civil and common law approaches shows how the law expresses the same principle objects - protection of family and obligations towards key family members - but does so from entirely different perspectives; and where the common law which enshrined the notion of testamentary freedom is being qualified through the expanding domain of family provision legislation, the civil law which is based on codified shares and allocated responsibilities expressed through proportionate entitlements in estates, is being qualified through a range of disqualifying and varying mechanisms.

Too often accounts of African family life have tended to describe the family in purely static terms. The contributors to this book emphasize the developmental or time dimension of the family, analysing it as a process. In the seven different societies described in East Africa, the Congo and the Transvaal the changing nature of the distribution of rights in the family property and resources is directly linked with the growth and change of the family itself. First published in 1964.

How to Divide Your Family's Estate and Heirlooms Peacefully and Sensibly is a must-have resource packed with practical expertise and a fair, equitable process for dividing personal property within a family estate. From how to minimize fighting and manage the emotional roller coaster that comes with a loved one's loss, to understanding legal responsibilities and suggestions for executors, this guide offers solutions based on decades of experience in working with families and estates coast to coast. This guide is a must-read for every family challenged with dividing an estate and not wanting the family to divide in the process. This guide includes practical problems and solutions, and many helpful resources.

Richard Cayne of Meyer International is a respected financial expert who has helped high-net worth individuals around the world develop and protect their portfolios. He has shared many financial strategies, offering tips and explanations for readers online. This book is a compilation of the articles that focus on estate planning and on financial planning for families. In this edition, readers can learn about estate planning options as well as gain knowledge about family finances. We hope that you will find this book a useful and informative tool that will assist you in your personal estate planning and family portfolio strategies.