The law governing family relationships has changed dramatically in the past one hundred years. This book is a study of the pressures and processes which led to those changes. It examines the work of individuals and organisations campaigning for change, and the (often ignored) influence of officials in government and (in particular) the Parliamentary draftsmen. It gives particular attention to the pressures for compromise which have so often influenced the otherwise difficult to understand legislation. The book makes extensive use of archival material and of the results of empirical research, a ... More

The law governing family relationships has changed dramatically in the past one hundred years. This book is a study of the pressures and processes which led to those changes. It examines the work of individuals and organisations campaigning for change, and the (often ignored) influence of officials in government and (in particular) the Parliamentary draftsmen. It gives particular attention to the pressures for compromise which have so often influenced the otherwise difficult to understand legislation. The book makes extensive use of archival material and of the results of empirical research, and tells the stories of the sometimes rather eccentric individuals who have had an impact on the law-making process. Although the book focuses on the twentieth century, it reaches back into earlier periods when relevant to later developments.