Family law is an area of the law that deals with family-related issues and domestic relations including, but not limited to: the nature of marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships. 

Issues arising during marriage, including spousal abuse, legitimacy, adoption, surrogacy, child abuse, and child abduction the termination of the relationship and ancillary matters including divorce, annulment, property settlements, alimony, and parental responsibility orders (in the United States, child custody and visitation, child support awards).

This list is by no means dispositive of the potential issues that come through the family court system. In many jurisdictions in the United States, the family courts see the most crowded dockets. Litigants representative of all social and economic classes are parties within the system.

For the Conflict of Laws elements dealing with transnational and interstate issues, see marriage (conflict), divorce (conflict) and nullity (conflict).

Fathers' Rights Movement

The fathers' rights movement is a grouping of individuals and groups who are highly diverse in goals, methods and political views, and who focus on a narrow set of issues of interest to their members. It is not simply a men's movement, as women have increasingly become involved in activities promoting fathers' rights; these women are often the second wives of divorced fathers or other family members of men who have had some engagement with family law.

Discussion about fathers' rights issues began in the West in the 1960s as changes in law (discussed below) prompted an examination of the legal rights and responsibilities of fathers and parents in general. During the 1970s fathers' rights organisations such as Families Need Fathers emerged. The movement has become increasingly vocal, visible and organised, and has played a powerful presence in family law debates. Some commentators see the rise of the movement as a 'backlash' to increasing female power in the family and in society, and the consequent challenge to men's traditional roles and authority. In this view, the movement is seen as part of a 'gender war' between the sexes. Other commentators propose a more complex analysis that sees several interrelated trends as leading to the growing prominence of the movement. They suggest that shifting household demographics, including greater fragmentation of families through the decline in marriage and rising divorce/separation rates, have increased the fragility of men's relationships with their children.

Some fathers’ rights groups have been short-lived and unstable, as members and leaders do not remain with the group after they have been helped. Infighting within groups has occurred.

Differences in philosophy between groups show in their approaches to the issues they are concerned for. While Fathers 4 Justice has used demonstrations and stunts to secure public attention, other groups have attempted to engage the political process. The Cheltenham Group has conducted a comprehensive survey of father's experiences, of the then members of Families Need Fathers in 1995. Publishing their report The Emperor's New Clothes in 1996, it remains online at Cheltenham Group website.

Some fathers' rights activists in various countries have been accused and/or convicted of criminal activities, including stalking and harassment. In addition, Darren Mack, who sought help from a fathers' rights group and who later killed his wife and attempted to kill a family court judge, was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. Glenn Sacks, a prominent fathers' rights activist, has criticized persons he has called "the lunatic fringe of the fathers' rights movement", who describe the perpetrators of violent crimes against family court judges and others as "some sort of freedom fighters."