A well-established, clear and comprehensive book on Scots family and child law that will be of practical use to students and practitioners. This book is set out in a clear and logical manner and includes chapters on: · the formalities and legal consequences of marriage; civil partnership and cohabitation; · divorce, dissolution and the breakdown of cohabitation; · the rights and capacity of children; · adoption and permanence; and · the Children's Hearings System. The eighth edition incorporates all recent legislative changes including the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018, Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Act 2019, Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Act 2019, Children (Scotland) Act 2020 and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2020. This title is included in Bloomsbury Professional's Scottish Law and Scots Law Student online services.

The author of this book suggests that there are two main reasons for the expansion of family planning in the last thirty years. The first is the greater rights consciousness of women in the western world which has led to a greater expectation of choice of whole lifestyle; and the second a recognition that sexual intercourse is something good in itself. Legislation has reflected this change and the book discusses the various kinds of family planning available and the legal situation eg. birth control and minors, the rights of partners, the rights of the mentally disabled, and the responsibilities of doctors and other professionals.

Scotland is probably the only sovereign nation to have chosen, in a more or less free vote, to surrender its independence in order to merge with a larger, more powerful, neighbour. For most of the period since the Union of 1707 the Scots were enthusiastic partners with England in creating and administering the British Empire. Inevitably, therefore, the end of empire caused an identity crisis in Scotland. For more than a Century pressure for political home rule produced no tangible result; however, the decisive vote in favour of devolution in the referendum of September 1997 means that a restored Scottish Parliament is now likely to be in place by the millennium. Irrespective of political developments, the last two decades have seen a renaissance in Scottish culture and historiography. This bibliography fully reflects the wealth of new developments in Scottish life and culture over the past twenty years and the new vibrancy of Scottish publishing.

Combining legal principles with discussion of policy and practice issues, this updated edition takes account of a large body of important case law developments which have accumulated in relation to the Children Act. It also reflects the Child Support Act, divorce reform and the reform and codification of the law governing remedies against domestic violence. The work also covers the international dimension, outlining the rules governing cross-frontier jurisdiction and enforcement. The European Convention on Human Rights is covered in detail.