FAMILY LAW
LARGE GROUP 1
Student Guide
Marriage and Civil Partnership
Context
Family Law is essentially a study of relationships and their legal consequences. In
this Large Group you begin your study of Family Law by looking at the relationship
which has been central to Family Law for centuries, namely marriage, and also at its
much more recent counterpart, civil partnership.
Marriage and civil partnership carry a special and favoured legal status. Those who
are able to acquire this special status have bestowed upon them a range of rights
and responsibilities. This Large Group concentrates on the acquisition of this status
and so you will be studying the legal requirements for the creation of a valid
marriage/civil partnership.
Outcomes
By the end of this Large Group you should be able to:
1. Describe the formalities of marriage/civil partnership.
2. Outline the capacity requirements for marriage/civil partnership.
3. Explain the distinction between void and voidable marriages.
1. Introduction to Family Law
- interference must be in accordance with law- necessary in a democratic
society and must be proportionate
Discretion- supports judiciary
Acts contain guideline
Case law used for guidance
-understanding how role will work out in practice
Activity 1
Make a list of three aspects of family life where you think it is legitimate for the
state to make laws to interfere or to regulate.
Financial
, Domestics
Child custody
Inheritance laws
Honour crimes- forced marriages
LARGE GROUP 1
Student Guide
Marriage and Civil Partnership
Context
Family Law is essentially a study of relationships and their legal consequences. In
this Large Group you begin your study of Family Law by looking at the relationship
which has been central to Family Law for centuries, namely marriage, and also at its
much more recent counterpart, civil partnership.
Marriage and civil partnership carry a special and favoured legal status. Those who
are able to acquire this special status have bestowed upon them a range of rights
and responsibilities. This Large Group concentrates on the acquisition of this status
and so you will be studying the legal requirements for the creation of a valid
marriage/civil partnership.
Outcomes
By the end of this Large Group you should be able to:
1. Describe the formalities of marriage/civil partnership.
2. Outline the capacity requirements for marriage/civil partnership.
3. Explain the distinction between void and voidable marriages.
1. Introduction to Family Law
- interference must be in accordance with law- necessary in a democratic
society and must be proportionate
Discretion- supports judiciary
Acts contain guideline
Case law used for guidance
-understanding how role will work out in practice
Activity 1
Make a list of three aspects of family life where you think it is legitimate for the
state to make laws to interfere or to regulate.
Financial
, Domestics
Child custody
Inheritance laws
Honour crimes- forced marriages
