This new title examines the diversity of perspectives and approaches in family law scholarship and drawing upon this work, provides an analysis of recent trends in family law from a socio-legal and feminist perspective. The book brings together the research findings of empirical studies on the behaviour of families and professionals involved with the law, and synthesizes the main theoretical approaches to understanding intimate connections, family laws and family law reform. It draws upon these works to explain and to question the nature of the 'nuclear' family which lies at the heart of family laws and policy, and which provides the basis for recent family law reform initiatives.