The Harmonisation of Family Law in the United States

EUROPEAN CHALLENGES IN CONTEMPORARY FAMILY LAW, Katharina Boele-Woelki, Tone Sverdrup, eds., Intersentia, Antwerp, 2008

24 Pages Posted: 20 Nov 2007

Abstract

In the US, state laws governing family relations can differ dramatically, even between geographic neighbors. Thus, states can have deep rifts and differences over some very fundamental questions: Who is a parent? Should individuals be able to walk away from the promises made at marriage, and if so under what circumstances? Who should be able to marry at all? During our 200 years of experience with a federalist system, a number of mechanisms have evolved to bring some measure of harmony, although not uniformity, to the treatment of family law by the various states. These include top-down approaches, in which the U.S. Supreme Court resolves differences when constitutional principles are implicated - as well as bottom-up approaches, in which state law reform commissions and national law reform bodies attempt to close gaps between the laws of the states. This Chapter reviews methods in the US for harmonizing state law as one source of guidance for how such differences may be navigated in the European Union.

Suggested Citation

Wilson, Robin Fretwell, The Harmonisation of Family Law in the United States. EUROPEAN CHALLENGES IN CONTEMPORARY FAMILY LAW, Katharina Boele-Woelki, Tone Sverdrup, eds., Intersentia, Antwerp, 2008, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1031149

Robin Fretwell Wilson (Contact Author)

University of Illinois College of Law ( email )

504 E. Pennsylvania Avenue
Champaign, IL 61820
United States
217.244.7582 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.robinfretwellwilson.org

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
112
Abstract Views
1,006
Rank
441,967
PlumX Metrics