Family Law in Australia, 11th edition

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

Related Titles

• Alexander, Gender Issues in Family Law

• Chisholm, Kearney & Barnett, Annotated Family Law Legislation, 8th edition

• Dickey, Financial Agreements under the Family Law Act

• Serisier, Practising Family Law, 5th edition