This concise casebook introduces students to basic family law doctrines in the context of moral and policy debates. The 24 chapters discuss family law regulation of the formation, continuation, and dissolution of horizontal (adult) and vertical (parent-child) family relationships. Each chapter includes cases, statutes, short notes (emphasizing the variations among state laws), problems, and a review of multiple perspectives that have influenced the development of the relevant family law doctrines, rules and policies. The second edition has been updated to include cases and perspectives that reflect the continued evolution of family law doctrines, practice, and policy.