Family Law

Text 1

THE LAW AND THE FAMILY

Here, we will look at how the law sees the family a special institution
how some legal systems treat married couples and their children differently from the unmarried; the process of divorce; custody of and responsibility
for children; and protection from violence in the home. Finally, we will
consider the rights of succession to the property of a member when
they die.

Beyond the mere function of providing a new generation of children,
the family is often promoted for its moral contribution to society. Despite a
growing labor shortage, the Japanese government has passed very little
legislation challenging the assumption that mothers should stay at home rather
than go out to work. In Ireland, which is strongly influenced by the doctrines
of the Catholic Church, divorce remains illegal.

In some societies the family is thought to be so important that there is
very little legal intervention in family life. In many Islamic countries, for
example, fathers, brothers and sons are allowed considerable authority over
the females in their family. As late as the 1970s, the male head of the
household in Switzerland was deemed to represent the interests of
within that household, and, consequently, none of the women could vote in
national elections. But in many parts of the world, the law now рromotes the rights of individuals within the family unit, and regulates family relation.
through legislation. Raised from the taxes of the working population as a
whole, child benefit is paid directly to the mother, and retirement pensions
are paid to grandparents, so that they are less dependent upon financial
support from a family member. In Sweden, parents can be prosecuted for
physically punishing their children and children have a limited capacity to
divorce their parents. In Britain, as in many countries, there are special
family courts with very strong powers to control and transfer private property
in the interests of children. Much of the work of other courts is also directly
relevant to family life.

Notes

institution — учреждение
custody —опека

protection from violence — зашита от насилия
rights of succession — права наследования

property - собственность

generation - поколение

promote - зд. поддерживать

shortage - нехватка, недостаток

challenge - бросать вызов

assumption - предположение

legal - законный

Intervention - вмешательство

Islamic -мусульманский, исламский

authority- власть

female- существо женского рода

male - существо мужского рода

be- deemed to - полагаться, считаться

through legislation — законодательным путем

taxes - налоги

child benefit - пособие на ребенка

retirement pensions — пенсии по старости

he prosecuted - подвергаться судебному преследованию

punish наказывать

capacity - способность

directly relevant to – прямо относящийся к