Adult Relations

• Credit value: 15 credits at Level 6
• Convenor: Professor Daniel Monk
• Assessment: a 4000-word essay (100%)

Adult relations is a dynamic subject that directly or indirectly impacts on all our lives. On this course we ask 'what is a family?' and 'what personal/private relationships should the State recognise (and why?)'.

In answering these questions we will look at controversial debates about shifting definitions of marriage; how the law should treat divorcing or separating couples; the rationale for treating married couples differently from those that cohabit, domestic violence, and familial disputes arising on death.

In this course you will achieve not only a sound knowledge of the legal framework governing the family but also a good grasp of the sociological context in which the legal questions arise. We will focus on what happens in practice as well as what should happen in theory.

The Adult Relations module is followed in the spring term by the Child Law module. You may take Adult Relations or Child Law independently or choose to take both of these options.

Indicative Module Content

• The family
• Marriage and civil partnership
• Forced marriage
• Divorce and dissolution
• Financial consequences of relationship breakdown
• Inheritance disputes