Psychology and Family Law

Edited by M-E. Pipe and Fred Seymour

The increased recognition of children’s rights and adult responsibilities to children has been a major development of the past twenty years. This is reflected in new legislation and in social services relating to guardianship, custody and access, child protection, and domestic violence. The decision-making processes have taken place primarily within the Family Court system, but there has also been an impact in the criminal courts, where an increasing number of child-abuse cases are being heard and innovative legislation concerned with children’s evidence has been introduced. These changes have been marked by co-operation across legal and social science disciplines.

The essays in this book bring together research from the social sciences (psychology in particular) that bears upon the trends contributing to family law policy and practice as it is now in New Zealand. Anyone interested in theses areas will find the book useful. It will be especially valuable for judges hearing and deciding cases, for counsel representing children, for professionals who work with children, and for those formulating government policy.

With a foreword by Principal Family Court Judge, Patrick Mahony.