Family Law in Australia provides a comprehensive, detailed and accessible analysis of key family law issues and their positioning in the Australian society. The underlying principles of family law as expressed in the present law are placed in their historical, social and legal context. The authors critically evaluate patterns of past and future reforms, making this text invaluable for scholarly and vocational study in law and as an authoritative text for practitioner use. The ninth edition of Family Law in Australia has been fully revised and updated by a team of authors highly experienced in family law. Developments include: • major revision of chapters on property settlement, including developments arising out of Stanford (ZCA), Bevan & Bevan, Hoffman & Hoffman and Fields & Smith (FamCAFC), the changes in the area of ‘big money’ cases and the future of add-backs • complex recent litigation on financial agreements, third parties and de facto relationships • the impact of the 2012 amendments to Pt VII of the Family Law Act (relating to Children and Parenting) • legislative developments and solutions on parentage and related issues, particularly surrogacy arrangements and assisted conception • discussion of developments in relation to special medical procedures: Re Jamie (FamCAFC) (childhood gender identity disorder and the role of the court) • increased focus on family dispute resolution methods, including the relevance of family law arbitration • extended discussion of social policy throughout.