The Family Law Act 1996 not only radically changes both the law and practice of divorce,it also clarifies and extends the law of domestic violence, and provides a new code of protection.;This book is intended to provide an easily assimilated overview of the new system, which is explained in the context of its law reform and parliamentary background. It draws attention to the important implications of change from the present law, namely that, far from making divorce easier, it will now generally become much more difficult, complex and drawn out and, although initially shifting the process away from the lawyers, it will create significant new work for them.;This book will be equally useful for practitioners, law students, lecturers, and students on Legal Practice and the Bar Vocational courses.