This reliable work is a comprehensive collection of cases, articles, commentary, notes and questions. It is designed as a teaching tool for a foundation course in family law, particularly within Ontario, however much of the material in this text is relevant to students nationwide as the trend continues toward similar outcomes in family law cases across Canada.
The work covers a broad range of topics, including:

• Impact of the Charter
• The expanding concept of “family”
• Domestic violence (spousal abuse)
• Legal regulation of cohabitation
• The impact of family breakdown on women and children
• Validity of marriage, including same-sex marriage
• Divorce
• Family property
• Spousal and child support
• Custody and access
• Domestic contracts
• Child protection and adoption.

The 7th edition also includes coverage of numerous topics of current news value such as:
• -Children’s issues
• -The Legal Concept of Parent
• -Court-based and non-judicial processes
• -The Family Statute Law Amendment Act, 2008
• Same-sex marriage
• The rights and obligations of same-sex partners
• Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines
• Disclosure of adoption records.

Professor Berend Hovius joined the Faculty of Law at The University of Western Ontario in 1978. He served as Associate Dean (Administration) from 1999 to 2004. His teaching areas encompass Constitutional Law, Family Law, Children’s Law and Law and Journalism. He has written numerous articles in the areas of Family and Constitutional Law. Professor Hovius has served as Associate Editor of the Ontario Reports, a panel member of the Board of Inquiry under the Ontario Human Rights Code, a referee under the Employment Standards Act and an arbitrator under the Farm Products Marketing Act. He is the author of Family Law: Cases, Notes and Materials, 6th Edition and is currently an Associate Editor of the Dominion Law Reports.

Mary Jo is an Assistant Professor (Sessional) in the Faculty of Law at Queen’s University, and practices Family law in the Kingston area.