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18 October 2007 / Donna Whitehead
Issue: 7293 / Categories: Features , Family
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Family portraits

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What is legally recognised as a “family” today?
Donna Whitehead reports

The image of the traditional family, encompassing a heterosexual married couple and their children, is often captured in family portraits. The reality of family life today, however, is very different. At the recent Labour Party conference, prime minister Gordon Brown said that he stood for a Britain that supports all families, and during his first speech as leader of the Labour Party, he indicated his intention to strengthen family life.

CHANGING FACE OF FAMILY LIFE

If a person is asked to list members of their family, they might identify those to whom they are genetically related. Equally they may consider their family to be those who live in the same household, despite the lack of any genetic link. They may include individuals whom they support financially or emotionally, irrespective of genetics or residence. These assorted groups are more likely today to be recognised as a family unit.

In terms of demographics, the Office for National Statistics has recently reported in Families—Focus on Families that

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Switalskis—Naila Arif, Harriet Findlay & Ellie Thompson

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NEWS
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A Court of Appeal ruling has clarified that ‘rent’ must be monetary—excluding tenants paid in labour from statutory protection. In this week's NLJ, James Naylor explains Garraway v Phillips, where a tenant worked two days a week instead of paying rent
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Three men wrongly imprisoned for a combined 77 years have been released—yet received ‘not a penny’ in compensation, exposing deep flaws in the justice system. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Jon Robins reports on Justin Plummer, Oliver Campbell and Peter Sullivan, whose convictions collapsed amid discredited forensics, ‘oppressive’ police interviews and unreliable ‘cell confessions’
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Family law must shift from conflict-driven litigation to child-centred problem-solving, according to a major new report. Writing in NLJ this week, Caroline Bowden of Anthony Gold outlines findings showing overwhelming support for reform, with 92% agreeing lawyers owe duties to children as well as clients
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