Preface . . . . v
Acknowledgments . . . . vii
Summary Table of Contents . . . . xiii

PART I INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION. . . . 3

A. The Themes of Family and Family Law . . . . 3
Glendon, Abortion and Divorce in Western Law (1987) . . . . 3
Minow, "Forming Underneath Everything That Grows": Toward a History of Family Law (1985) . . . . 3
Witte, From Sacrament to Contract: Marriage, Religion, and Law in the Western Tradition (1997) . . . . 3
Friedman, A History of American Law (1985) . . . . 4
Fineman, The Autonomy Myth: A Theory of Dependency (2004) . . . . 5
Hafen, The Constitutional Status of Marriage, Kinship, and Sexual Privacy - Balancing the Individual and Social Interests (1983) . . . . 6
Becker, A Treatise on the Family (1991) . . . . 7
Note on Family Law and Cultural Norms. . . . 7
Schneider, Moral Discourse and the Transformation of American Family Law (1985) . . . . 8
Hafen, Individualism and Autonomy in Family Law: The Waning of Belonging (1991) . . . . 12
Note . . . . 14
Glendon, The Transformation of Family Law (1989) . . . . 14
Notes . . . . 18

B. The "Family" as a Regulatory Classification . . . . 20

[1] Zoning Rules. . . . 20
Moore v. City of East Cleveland . . . . 20
Haddock & Palsby, Family as a Rational Classification (1996) . . . . 23
Notes . . . . 27
Problems . . . . 33

[2] Rent Control Regulation . . . . 34
Braschi v. Stahl Associates Co. . . . . 34
Notes . . . . 36

C. Family, Work, and Gender . . . . 40

[1] Patterns of Employment, Family Responsibilities, and Gender Roles: Then and Now. . . . 40
Spain & Bianchi, Balancing Act: Motherhood, Marriage & Employment Among American Women (1996) . . . . 40
Ellman, Divorce Rates, Marriage Rates, and the Problematic Persistence of Traditional Marital Roles (2000) . . . . 43
Notes . . . . 48

[2] Future Directions for Legal Policy. . . . 53
Williams, Unbending Gender: Why Family and Work Conflict and What to do About It (2000) . . . . 55
Mahlin, Fathers and Parental Leave (1994) . . . . 57
Ellman, Divorce Rates, Marriage Rates, and the Problematic Persistence of Traditional Marital Roles (2000) . . . . 59
Notes. . . . 62

PART II MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE

CHAPTER 2 MARRIAGE . . . . 73

A. Entering Marriage . . . . 73

[1] Formal Requirements . . . . 73

[a] Licensure and Solemnization. . . . 73
Model Marriage and Divorce Act ' 206. . . . 73
Notes . . . . 73
State v. Denton . . . . 75
Notes . . . . 77

[b] Common Law Marriage: Exception to Formality Requirements . . . . 80
In Re Estate of Hall . . . . 80
Notes . . . . 83

[c] Putative Spouse Doctrine: Form over Substance or Substance over Form? . . . . 88
California Family Code '' 2251, 2254. . . . 88
In Re Estate of Vargas . . . . 88
Notes . . . . 90
Problems . . . . 94

[2] Substantive Requirements . . . . 95

[a] Constitutional Restraints Upon Substantive Requirements . . . . 95
Zablocki v. Redhail. . . . 95
Notes . . . . 101
Problems . . . . 102

[b] Same-Sex Prohibitions . . . . 104
Goodridge v. Department of Public Health . . . . 104
Notes . . . . 118
Notes on Conflict of Law and Marriage Regulation . . . . 129

[c] Other Restrictions on Available Marital Partners . . . . 134

[i] Age . . . . 134
Notes . . . . 134
Problem. . . . 135

[ii] Non-Relation . . . . 135
Model Marriage and Divorce Act ' 207. . . . 135
Grady, Few Risks Seen to the Children of First Cousins (2002). . . . 137
Notes . . . . 138

[iii] Monogamy . . . . 140
Notes . . . . 140

[d] Consent Requirements . . . . 142
Georgia Code '' 19-3-2, 19-3-4. . . . 142
Notes . . . . 143
Problems . . . . 147

[3] Breach of Promise to Marry: "A Change of Heart" . . . . 148
Notes . . . . 148
Problems . . . . 151

B. Law of the Intact Marriage . . . . 152

[1] Duty to Support . . . . 152
McGuire v. McGuire . . . . 152
Notes . . . . 155
North Carolina Baptist Hospitals v. Harris . . . . 157
Notes . . . . 159
Problem. . . . 161

[2] Spousal Control Over Earnings and Property . . . . 162
Notes . . . . 164

[3] Varying the Marriage "Contract" . . . . 167
Notes . . . . 167

C. Consequences of Marital Status . . . . 171

[1] Names . . . . 171
In re Natale . . . . 171
Notes . . . . 173

[2] Liability for Spousal Violence . . . . 176
Siegel, "The Rule of Love": Wife Beating as Prerogative and Privacy (1996). . . . 176
Notes . . . . 179
Problems . . . . 194

[3] Evidence, Torts and Criminal Responsibility . . . . 195
Problem. . . . 197
Notes on Torts and the Married Couple . . . . 197
Note on Marriage and Criminal Responsibility . . . . 201

CHAPTER 3 DISSOLVING THE MARITAL STATUS. . . . 203

A. The Origins and History of American Divorce Law . . . . 204

[1] Early American Divorce . . . . 204
Friedman, A History of American Law (1985). . . . 204

[2] American Divorce in the Twentieth Century . . . . 207
Note, Collusive and Consensual Divorce and the New York Anomaly (1936). . . . 208
Friedman, American Law in the Twentieth Century (2002). . . . 209
Notes . . . . 211

[3] The Development of the No-Fault Approach . . . . 212
Rheinstein, Marriage Stability, Divorce and the Law (1972). . . . 213
Notes on Comparative Law of Divorce . . . . 215

B. The Modern Law in Action . . . . 217

[1] Pure No-Fault Systems . . . . 217
Model Marriage and Divorce Act ' 302, 305. . . . 217
Notes . . . . 218

[2] Limited No-Fault Systems . . . . 223
Missouri Annotated Statutes ' 452.320 . . . . 223
Marriage of Mitchell . . . . 224 Notes . . . . 229

C. Reprise: Re-Evaluating No-Fault, Fault, and the Law's Role in Promoting Marital Stability . . . . 232

[1] The Data on Marriage and Divorce Rates . . . . 234

[a] What Are the Trends? . . . . 234

[b] Did the Move to No-Fault Divorce Laws Cause the Rise in Divorce Rates, and If Not, What Did? . . . . 237

[2] Themes in the Revived Policy Debates on No-Fault . . . . 242

[a] Legal Strategies, New and Old: Commitment and Delay . . . . 242
Scott, Marriage as Precommitment, in Marriage in America: A Communitarian Perspective (2000). . . . 242
Ellman, The Misguided Movement to Revive Fault Divorce (1997). . . . 246
Notes . . . . 248

[b] Working Justice Between Divorcing Spouses . . . . 249

[c] The Effects of Divorce on Children . . . . 252

[d] Covenant Marriage and Other Proposals for Strengthening Marriage and Reducing the Divorce Rate . . . . 260

[e] Epilog: The Role of Family Law in Producing Social Change . . . . 265
Problems . . . . 266

CHAPTER 4 PROPERTY DIVISION AND ALIMONY UPON DIVORCE. . . . 269

American Law Institute, Principles of the Law of Family Dissolution (2002). . . . 270

A. Property Division: General Principles . . . . 272

[1] The Classic Common Law Title Rule . . . . 272

[2] Equal Division . . . . 274
Problem. . . . 276

[3] Equitable Division . . . . 277
Michael v. Michael . . . . 277
Provinzano v. Provinzano . . . . 280
Notes and Questions . . . . 281
Problems . . . . 297

B. Property Division: Problems in Classifying Property as Marital or Separate . . . . 298

[1] The Basics . . . . 298
ALI Principles ' 403 (2002). . . . 298
Notes . . . . 300

[2] Some Special Problems . . . . 301
Niroo v. Niroo . . . . 302
Notes . . . . 307
Problems . . . . 315

[3] Applying Marital Property Rules to Pensions . . . . 316

[a] State Law Issues . . . . 316
Notes . . . . 316

[b] Federal Preemption of State Law . . . . 321
Problems . . . . 324

C. Should Earning Capacity, Professional Credentials, or Goodwill be Treated as Marital Property? . . . . 324

[1] Earning Capacity and Professional Credentials . . . . 324
O'Brien v. O'Brien . . . . 325
Postema v. Postema . . . . 329
ALI Principles ' 4.07 (2002). . . . 336
Notes . . . . 338

[2] Goodwill . . . . 345
Hanson v. Hanson . . . . 348
Notes . . . . 355
Problems . . . . 362

D. Alimony . . . . 363

[1] History and Historical Justifications . . . . 363
ALI Principles (2002). . . . 363
Notes . . . . 365

[2] The Struggle for a Modern Rationale . . . . 366
Model Marriage and Divorce Act. . . . 366
Note: Gender Patterns in Alimony Claims . . . . 367
Note: The Debate Over Differences in the Financial Impact of Divorce on Men and Women . . . . 367

[a] The Weitzman Data on the Gender Impact of Divorce . . . . 368

[b] Beyond Weitzman: Assessing the Gender Impact of Divorce . . . . 370
Note: The Alimony Puzzle . . . . 372

[3] Why Do We Have Alimony? . . . . 375
Clapp v. Clapp . . . . 375
Marriage of Wilson . . . . 378
Notes . . . . 380
Problem. . . . 391

[4] Size and Duration of Awards Following a Long-Term Marriage . . . . 392
Rainwater v. Rainwater . . . . 392
Hecker v. Hecker . . . . 396
Notes . . . . 398
Problem. . . . 402
Note: Earning Capacity Losses and Their Recovery . . . . 402
Problems . . . . 404

E. Rescission After the Short-Term Marriage . . . . 406
Rose v. Rose . . . . 406
Notes . . . . 409

F. Modification of Awards: Some Special Problems . . . . 410

[1] Basic Rules . . . . 410
Model Marriage and Divorce Act ' 316. . . . 410

[2] Remarriage of the Obligee . . . . 412
Notes . . . . 413
Problems . . . . 415

[3] Cohabitation of the Obligee . . . . 416
Melletz v. Melletz . . . . 416
O'Connor Brothers Abalone Co. v. Brando . . . . 419
Notes . . . . 422
Problem . . . . 427

[4] Economic Changes . . . . 427

[a] Increase in Obligor's Income . . . . 427

[b] The Obligor's Retirement or Change in Employment . . . . 428

[c] Voluntary Employment Changes by the Obligee . . . . 430

[d] Inflation . . . . 430 Problems . . . . 431

G. Should Courts Consider Claims of Marital Misconduct? . . . . 432

[1] As a Factor in Alimony or Marital Property Adjudications?. . . . 432
Ellman, The Place of Fault in A Modern Divorce Law (1996). . . . 432
Notes . . . . 438

[2] As the Basis of an Interspousal Tort Claim? . . . . 440

[a] Ordinary Battery Claims . . . . 441

[b] Emotional Distress Claims Based Upon Adultery . . . . 442

[c] Other Interspousal Claims for Outrageous Infliction of Emotional Distress . . . . 443

[d] Criminal Conversation and Related Tort Actions . . . . 444
Problems . . . . 445

CHAPTER 5 CHILD SUPPORT . . . . 447

A. Duty of Support . . . . 448

[1] Duration . . . . 448

[a] General Rule . . . . 448

[b] Post-Majority Support for Disabled Children . . . . 448

[c] Post-Majority Support for Higher Education . . . . 449 Notes . . . . 449
Problems . . . . 451

[d] Pre-Majority Termination of Support . . . . 453
Problem. . . . 454

[2] Support of Step-Children . . . . 455

[a] General Rule of Non-Liability . . . . 455

[b] Imposing Liability on Step-Parents . . . . 456

[c] Same-Sex Partners as Step-Parents? . . . . 456

[3] Relationship Between Visitation and Support Obligations . . . . 457
Problems . . . . 457

B. Establishing the Amount of Support: From Discretion to Guidelines to a Support Order. . . . 459

[1] Existing Guideline Models, and How We Got Here . . . . 459
Espenshade, Investing in Children: New Estimates of Parental Expenditures (1984). . . . 460
Notes . . . . 461

[2] Alternative Ways to Think About Guideline Construction . . . . 469
Problem. . . . 475

[3] Aspects of Support Not Included Within the Ordinary . . . . 475

[a] Expenditure for Child Care Required by the Custodial Parent's Gainful Employment . . . . 475

[b] Expenditure for Health Insurance and for Uninsured Health Care Costs . . . . 476

[c] Rethinking Postsecondary Education and Other Issues in Light of the Marginal Expenditure Principle . . . . 476

[4] Determining the Obligor's Resources . . . . 477 In Re Marriage of Dennis . . . . 477 Notes . . . . 482

[5] Customizing a Child Support Order . . . . 483 Donohue v. Getman . . . . 483 Notes . . . . 485 State v. Hall . . . . 487 Notes . . . . 491

[6] Non-Judicial Processes for Establishing Support . . . . 496

[7] Modification of Child Support Awards . . . . 497 Notes . . . . 499 Price v. Price . . . . 503 Note . . . . 505 Problems . . . . 507

C. Enforcement of Support Orders . . . . 508

[1] Traditional Difficulties in Collecting Support . . . . 508

[2] Governmental Involvement in Support Enforcement . . . . 510
Legler, The Coming Revolution in Child Support Policy: Implications of the 1996 Welfare Act (1996) . . . . 510
Note on Federal Involvement in Support Enforcement . . . . 512

[3] Enforcement Remedies . . . . 515

[a] Income Withholding . . . . 515

[b] Contempt . . . . 517
Notes . . . . 517
Problem. . . . 519

[c] Other Enforcement Techniques . . . . 520

[i] Criminal Prosecution . . . . 520

[ii] Civil Remedies . . . . 522

[iii] Revocation or Denial of State-Created . . . . 524

[iv] Termination of Parental Rights . . . . 525

[4] Defenses to Actions to Collect Arrearages . . . . 525

[a] Prior Payment . . . . 525

[b] Custodial Changes . . . . 526

[c] Delay . . . . 526

[d] Estoppel . . . . 527

[e] Nature of Obligor's Resources . . . . 528

[f] Bankruptcy . . . . 528

[5] Special Procedures in Enforcement of Support for Indigent Families . . . . 528
Problems . . . . 529

D. Interstate Support Litigation . . . . 530
Sampson & Kurtz, UIFSA: An Interstate Support Act for the 21st Century (1993) . . . . 531

[1] Establishing a Support Decree Through UIFSA . . . . 533
Notes . . . . 536

[2] UIFSA Litigation When an Order Exists . . . . 540
Harbison v. Johnston . . . . 547
Notes . . . . 551
Problems . . . . 557

CHAPTER 6 CHILD CUSTODY . . . . 559

A. Introduction . . . . 559

[1] Brief History of Inter-Parental Custody Disputes . . . . 559

[2] Children and Divorce: Perspectives from Social Science . . . . 561
Hetherington, Stanley-Hagan & Anderson, Marital Transitions: A Child's Perspective (1989). . . . 562

B. The Best Interest of the Child Standard . . . . 564

[1] Introduction . . . . 564
Minnesota Statutes Annotated ' 518.17. . . . 566
Model Marriage and Divorce Act (1973). . . . 566

[2] Determining the Child's Best Interests . . . . 567

[a] Gender and Caretaking Roles . . . . 567
Burchard v. Garay . . . . 567
Notes . . . . 570
Problem. . . . 572
Note on Domestic Violence as a Factor in Custody Decisions. . . . 573

[b] Sexual conduct and moral unfitness . . . . 575
Van Driel v. Van Driel . . . . 575
Notes . . . . 577
Problem. . . . 580

[c] Race . . . . 581
Palmore v. Sidoti . . . . 581
Notes . . . . 583
Problem. . . . 584
Note on Custody and Parental Health. . . . 584
Problem. . . . 585

[d] Religion . . . . 585
Leppert v. Leppert . . . . 585
Notes . . . . 588
Problems . . . . 590

[e] Alienation of the Child's Affections . . . . 591
Renaud v. Renaud . . . . 591
Note . . . . 593

[f] Child's Preference: The Role of Child Preferences in Custody Decisions . . . . 594
Note on the Role of the Child's Attorney. . . . 597
Problem. . . . 599

C. Alternative Custody Decision Rules . . . . 599

[1] Joint Custody . . . . 600
McCarty v. McCarty . . . . 600
Notes . . . . 603
Problem. . . . 609

[2] Past Parental Caretaking Roles . . . . 609

[a] Primary Caretaker Preference . . . . 610

[b] The ALI Standard - Approximation of Past Parental Roles . . . . 613
West Virginia Code Annotated ' 48-9-206. . . . 613
Scott, Pluralism, Parental Preference and Child Custody (1992). . . . 615
Notes . . . . 617
Problem. . . . 618

D. Rights of the Noncustodial Parent . . . . 619

[1] Visitation Rights . . . . 619
Zummo v. Zummo . . . . 620
Notes . . . . 625
Note on Enforcement of Visitation Orders. . . . 629
Problems . . . . 631
Note on Custody Agreements and Parenting Plans. . . . 632

[2] Naming the Child . . . . 634
Problem. . . . 635

E. Modification of Custody . . . . 636

[1] General Principles . . . . 636
Burchard v. Garay . . . . 636
Notes . . . . 638
Problem. . . . 642

[2] The Problem of Relocation . . . . 643
Marriage of Lamusga . . . . 643
Notes . . . . 649

F. Parent Non-Parent Disputes . . . . 655

[1] Custody Disputes Between Legal and De Facto Parents . . . . 655
V.C. v. M.J.B. . . . . 655
Notes . . . . 660
Problems . . . . 666

[2] Grandparent Visitation . . . . 667
Troxel v. Granville . . . . 667
Notes . . . . 673
Problem. . . . 678

G. The Role of the Attorney in Custody Cases . . . . 678 Problem. . . . 679

CHAPTER 7 DIVORCE JURISDICTION . . . . 681

A. Termination of Marital Status . . . . 681
Sosna v. Iowa . . . . 681
Notes on Divorce Jurisdiction . . . . 683

B. Jurisdiction to Issue Support Orders and Divide Property . . . . 687
Kulko v. Superior Court of California . . . . 687
Notes . . . . 691
Problems . . . . 697

C. Jurisdiction to Adjudicate Custody Disputes . . . . 698

[1] Constitutional Framework . . . . 698

[2] The Modern Statutory Framework . . . . 700
Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act . . . . 701
Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act 28 U.S.C. ' 1738A. . . . 705

[a] Jurisdiction to Render Initial Custody Decree . . . . 707
Welch-Doden v. Roberts . . . . 707
Notes . . . . 713
Problems . . . . 718

[b] Jurisdiction to Modify an Existing Decree . . . . 720
Snow v. Snow . . . . 720
Notes . . . . 723
Problems . . . . 728
Domestic Relations Jurisdiction and Federalism . . . . 730

CHAPTER 8 FIXING THE CONSEQUENCES OF DIVORCE BY AGREEMENT OF THE PARTIES. . . . 733

A. Premarital Agreements . . . . 734

[1] Introduction . . . . 734 Notes . . . . 734

[2] Should Courts Ensure the Procedural or Substantive Fairness of Premarital Agreements? . . . . 737

[a] The Traditional Rule of Heightened Scrutiny . . . . 737
Wisconsin Statutes ' 767.255(3) (2003) . . . . 737
Button v. Button . . . . 737

[b] The Contractual Model . . . . 743
Uniform Premarital Agreement Act . . . . 743
Marriage of Bonds . . . . 745

[c] Current Trends and the ALI's Proposals . . . . 758
American Law Institute, Principles of the Law of Family Dissolution ' 7.05 . . . . 766
Problems . . . . 773

[3] Limitations on Subjects Governed by Premarital Agreements . . . . 776
Diosdado v. Diosdado. . . . 776
Notes and Questions . . . . 779
Problems . . . . 782

B. Separation Agreements . . . . 783

[1] Achieving an Agreement . . . . 784

[a] The Traditional Bargaining Process . . . . 784

[i] Factors influencing whether a case is settled . . . . 784

[ii] Factors influencing the terms of a settlement . . . . 787

[b] Mediation as a Means of Achieving Agreement . . . . 789
Notes . . . . 791

[2] The Requirement that Divorce Settlements be Judicially Approved . . . . 798

[a] In General . . . . 798
Model Marriage and Divorce Act . . . . 799
Weber v. Weber . . . . 799
Notes and Questions . . . . 803

[b] Special Rules To Govern Bargaining Over Children . . . . 811

[3] Where There is Only One Attorney . . . . 815

[a] Joint Representation . . . . 815

[b] Where Only One Party is Represented . . . . 820

[4] The Impact of the Decree on the Agreement: of Merger and Modification . . . . 822
ALI Principles ' 7.10 . . . . 822
Notes . . . . 822

[5] Limitations on the Subject or Terms of Separation Agreements . . . . 827

[a] Children . . . . 827 Note . . . . 830

[b] Arbitration Clauses . . . . 830

[c] No-Modification Clauses . . . . 832
Problems . . . . 834

PART III NONTRADITIONAL FAMILIES

CHAPTER 9 NONTRADITIONAL FAMILIES. . . . 839

A. Constitutional Protection of Nontraditional Families . . . . 839

[1] Evolution of the Right of Privacy . . . . 840

[2] Constitutional Protection of Private Consensual Sexual Conduct and Same-Sex Relationships . . . . 844
Lawrence v. Texas . . . . 847
Notes . . . . 860
Problem. . . . 869

B. Nonmarital Cohabitation . . . . 870

[1] The Demographics of Unmarried Cohabitating Couples in the United States . . . . 870
Statistical Note . . . . 874

[2] Enforcing Obligations Between Cohabitants . . . . 876

[a] Contract-Based Remedies . . . . 876
Marvin v. Marvin . . . . 876
Hewitt v. Hewitt . . . . 883
Notes . . . . 887

[b] The Status Alternative to Contract Remedies . . . . 896

[i] Critiques of the Contract Approach . . . . 896
Blumberg, Cohabitation Without Marriage: A Different Perspective (1981) . . . . 896
Ellman, "Contract Thinking" was Marvin's Fatal Flaw (2001) . . . . 898

[ii] The Status Alternative. . . . 900
American Law Institute, Principles of the Law of Family Dissolution: Analysis and Recommendations (2002) . . . . 901

[iii] The Blending of Contract and Status Frameworks . . . . 903
Scott, Marriage, Cohabitation and Collective Responsibility for Dependency (2004) . . . . 903
Notes . . . . 906
Problems . . . . 915

[3] Legal Status of Unmarried Partners vis a vis Third Parties . . . . 918
Notes . . . . 918
Problems . . . . 928

[4] Formal Status Alternatives to Marriage in the International Community and in the United States . . . . 928

[a] Formal Registration Schemes Outside of the United States . . . . 929
Developments in the Law: The Law of Marriage and Family (2003) . . . . 930

[b] Formal Registration Schemes Within the United States: Domestic Partnerships, Civil Unions, and Reciprocal Beneficiary Relationships . . . . 932

[i] Civil Unions and Civil-Union-Like Domestic Partnerships . . . . 936

[ii] Reciprocal Beneficiary Relationships . . . . 938
Notes . . . . 939

C. Unmarried Parents and Their Children . . . . 944

[1] Establishing Paternity . . . . 949

[a] Methods of Proof . . . . 949

[i] Historical Difficulties . . . . 949

[ii] Development of Modern Parentage Testing . . . . 951

[b] Biological or Social Paternity? Of Procedures and Presumptions . . . . 953
Ellman, Thinking About Custody and Support in Ambiguous-Father Families (2002) . . . . 953

[i] The Uniform Parentage Acts of 1973 and 2002 . . . . 955
National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, Prefatory Note, Uniform Parentage Act (2002) . . . . 956
Uniform Parentage Act (1973) . . . . 957
Uniform Parentage Act (2002) . . . . 959
Notes . . . . 967
Problems . . . . 972
Note . . . . 973
Enforcing Paternal Support Obligations for Nonmarital Children: Some Special Considerations . . . . 973
Problems . . . . 980

[2] Establishing Paternal Rights . . . . 981

[a] Constitutional Protection of the Unwed Father's Claim . . . . 981
Lehr v. Robertson . . . . 987
Notes . . . . 994
Uniform Parentage Act (2002) . . . . 1006
Problems . . . . 1011

[b] The Unwed Father v. the Mother's Husband . . . . 1013
Michael H. v. Gerald D. . . . . 1013
Notes . . . . 1027 Problems . . . . 1035

[3] The Constitutional Protection of Nonmarital Children from Discriminatory Treatment by Government. . . . 1035

[4] Gay and Lesbian Parenthood . . . . 1038
Patterson, Family Relationships of Lesbians and Gay Men (2000) . . . . 1039

[a] Adoptions by Same-Sex Couples and Gay or Lesbian Individuals . . . . 1043

[i] Second-Parent Adoption . . . . 1043
Sharon S. v. Superior Court . . . . 1043
Notes . . . . 1051

[ii] Statutory Bars to Adoptions by Gay and Lesbian Couples and Individuals . . . . 1056
Lofton v. Department of Children and Family Services . . . . 1056
Notes . . . . 1064

[b] Parenting Disputes Between Former Same-Sex Partners . . . . 1067
V.C. v. M.J.B. . . . . 1067
Notes . . . . 1067
Problems . . . . 1071

PART IV PARENT AND CHILD

CHAPTER 10 STATE REGULATION OF THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP . . . . 1077

A. The Nature of the Relationship . . . . 1077

[1] Parental Autonomy and State Authority: The Constitutional Boundaries . . . . 1077
Meyer v. Nebraska . . . . 1078
Pierce v. Society of Sisters . . . . 1080
Note . . . . 1080
Prince v. Massachusetts . . . . 1081
Wisconsin v. Yoder . . . . 1084
Notes . . . . 1092
Problem. . . . 1097

[2] The Child's Claim of Autonomy Against Parental and State Authority . . . . 1098

[a] Claims of Independence by the Child from Parental Authority . . . . 1098
In re Welfare of Snyder . . . . 1098
Notes . . . . 1100
Problems . . . . 1103

[b] Minors' Objection to Parental Medical Decisions - The Case of Psychiatric Hospitalization . . . . 1104
Notes . . . . 1104
Problem. . . . 1107

[c] The Child's Claim of Reproductive Privacy and Regulation of Sexuality . . . . 1107

[i] Minor's Independent Access to Abortion . . . . 1107
Bellotti v. Baird (II) . . . . 1107
Notes . . . . 1113
Problem. . . . 1121

[ii] Regulation of Access to Contraceptive Treatment . . . . 1121
Carey v. Population Services International . . . . 1121
Notes. . . . 1125

B. Overriding Parental Authority in Order to Protect Endangered Children . . . . 1127

[1] Standards for State Intervention in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases . . . . 1129
Minnesota Statutes '' 260.012, 260C.007 (2003) . . . . 1129
In re Juvenile Appeal . . . . 1130
Notes . . . . 1134

[2] Failure to Provide Medical Treatment for the Child . . . . 1141

[a] The Minor Child . . . . 1141
Newmark v. Williams . . . . 1141
Notes . . . . 1146
Problems . . . . 1150

[b] The Infant . . . . 1151
Minnesota Statutes ' 260C.007 (2003) . . . . 1151
Notes . . . . 1151
Problem. . . . 1155

[3] Abuse or Neglect of the Fetus . . . . 1156

[a] Court-Ordered Caesareans and Other Mandated Treatment of Mothers . . . . 1156

[b] Drug Abuse by Pregnant Women . . . . 1159
Angela M.W. v Kruzicki . . . . 1159
Notes . . . . 1162
Problem. . . . 1165

[4] State Duties Arising from its Child Protection System . . . . 1166
Deshaney v. Winnebago County Department of Social Services . . . . 1166
Notes . . . . 1171
Note on Foster Care . . . . 1175

[5] Termination of Parental Rights . . . . 1181
Minnesota Statute ' 260C.301 (2003) . . . . 1181
In re Adoption/Guardianship NO. J9610436 . . . . 1183
Notes . . . . 1188
Problems . . . . 1196

[6] Proving Child Abuse and Neglect . . . . 1198
Steward v. State . . . . 1198
Notes . . . . 1202
Maryland v. Craig . . . . 1208
Notes . . . . 1213
Note on Child Abuse Law Reform . . . . 1219

CHAPTER 11 ADOPTION . . . . 1223

A. Consent to Adoption . . . . 1223

[1] When is the Consent of the Birth Parents Unnecessary?. . . . 1223
In the Matter of J.J.J. . . . . 1224
Notes . . . . 1229
Problem. . . . 1233
Adoption Into a New Family . . . . 1234
Problem. . . . 1238

[2] Open Adoption . . . . 1238
Michaud v. Wawruck . . . . 1238
Notes . . . . 1240

[3] Defective Consent and the Revocation of Consent . . . . 1243
Vela v. Marywood . . . . 1244
Notes . . . . 1249
Problems . . . . 1253

B. The Role of the Adoption Agency . . . . 1254

[1] Agency Discretion and Religious Matching . . . . 1254

[a] Agency Control of the Adoption Process . . . . 1254

[b] Religious Practice and Affiliation as Placement Criteria . . . . 1255
Problem. . . . 1257
The Baby Shortage and International Adoption . . . . 1258

[2] Transracial Adoption . . . . 1259
Dewees v. Stevenson . . . . 1259
Notes . . . . 1263
The Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 . . . . 1269
Adoption by Gays and Lesbians . . . . 1273

[3] Agency Liability for Misrepresentation and Failure to Disclose Information to Adoptive Parents . . . . 1273
Jackson v. Jackson . . . . 1273
Notes . . . . 1277

C. Regulation of Independent Adoptions . . . . 1280

[1] Whom Does the Attorney Represent? . . . . 1281
Problem. . . . 1282

[2] Fee Regulation and Baby Brokerage . . . . 1283
Galison v. District of Columbia . . . . 1283
Notes on Independent Adoptions . . . . 1287
Legalize Baby Selling? . . . . 1292

D. The Legal Effect of Adoption . . . . 1294

[1] The Child's Relationship with Old and New Relatives . . . . 1294
Notes . . . . 1294
Abrogation by Adoptive Parents . . . . 1297
Problem. . . . 1299

[2] Should Adoption Records Remain Sealed? The Trend Toward Access to Adoption Records . . . . 1300
Notes . . . . 1302
Problem. . . . 1304

E. Adoption Alternatives: Gestational Mothers and the New Biology . . . . 1305

[1] Gestational Mothering Contracts . . . . 1305
In Re Baby M Notes . . . . 1313
Problems . . . . 1320
The Feminist Response to Gestational Contracts . . . . 1320
Anderson, Is Women's Labor A Commodity? (1988) . . . . 1320
Andrews, Surrogate Motherhood: The Challenge for Feminists (1988) . . . . 1322
Note . . . . 1325

[2] Other Reproductive Technologies . . . . 1325
Artificial Insemination: How Different From Surrogacy? . . . . 1325
In Vitro Fertilization: The Brave New World . . . . 1327
Kass v. Kass . . . . 1328
Note . . . . 1330

Table of Cases. . . . TC-1

Index. . . . I-1