International Family Law describes all family law matters with an international element. People are increasingly mobile, living outside their country of origin and experiencing international relationships more frequently. In such cross border situations the rules of international family law determine jurisdiction and the aplicable family law. The closest link to determine which national family law rules are applicable to specific family matters is the habitual residence or domicile of the parties concerned. Family matters include marriage, divorce, maintenance obligations, spouses, inter-country adoption, lineage, inheritance etc.
This Research Guide provides a starting point for research on the International Family Law. It provides the basic legal materials available in the Peace Palace Library, both in print and electronic format. Handbooks, leading articles, bibliographies, periodicals, serial publications and documents of interest are presented in the Selective Bibliography section. Links to the PPL Catalogue are inserted. The Library's subject heading (keyword) International Family Law is instrumental for searching through the Catalogue. Special attention is given to our subscriptions on databases, e-journals, e-books and other electronic resources. Finally, this Research Guide features links to relevant websites and other online resources of particular interest.
Sources of international law
Treaties
- Blair, D.M. and M.H. Weiner, International Family Law: Conventions, Statutes, and Regulatory Materials, Durham, NC, Carolina Academic Press, 2010.
- Family Law Statutes, International Conventions and Uniform Laws, New York, NY, Foundation Press, 2007.
- Hausmann, R., Internationales und Europäisches Familienrecht: EU-Verordnungen (EuEheVO, EuGüVO, EuPartVO, EuSchutzMVO, EuUntVO, Rom III-VO) und Staatsverträge (ErwSÜ, EuSorgeRÜ, HAdoptÜ, HKÜ, HKUntÜ,HKUntVÜ, HUntÜ, HUntVÜ, HUP, HUÜ 2007, KSÜ, LugÜ 2007, MSA, UNUntGÜ) mit AdÜbAG, AdVermiG, AdWirkG, AUG, EGBGB, ErwSÜAG, EuGewSchVG, FamFG, IntFamRVG, VFGüterstG, ZPO, München, C.H. Beck, 2018.
Case-law
The EUPILLAR database provides case law on the Brussels I (Brussels I Recast), Brussels IIa, Maintenance, Rome I and Rome II Regulations and the Maintenance Protocol in the Court of Justice of the European Union and in Belgium, Germany, England and Wales, Italy, Poland, Scotland and Spain from the entry into force of the Brussels I Regulation on 1 March 2002.
Soft law
Reference works
- Althammer, C. (ed.), Brussels IIa, Rome III: Article-by-Article Commentary, München, C.H. Beck, Oxford, Hart Baden-Baden, Nomos, 2019.
- Andrea, M., Internationales Familienrecht, Vierte Auflage, Baden-Baden, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft, 2019.
- Bergmann, A., Ferid. M., (ed.), Internationales Ehe- und Kindschaftsrecht mit Staatsangehörigkeitsrecht, looseleaf edition.
- Carruthers, J.M. and B.W. M. Lindsay (eds.), Research Handbook on International Family Law, Cheltenhamn Edward Elgar Publishing, 2024.
- Erb-Klünemann, M., Internationales Familienrecht in der Praxis. Ein Leitfaden, Frankfurt am Main, Wolfgang Metzner Verlag, 2019.
- Estin, A.L., International Family Law Desk Book, Chicago, American Bar Association, 2012.
- Groot de, G.R. and O. Vonk, International Standards on Nationality law, Texts, Cases and Materials, Wolf Legal Publishers, 2016.
- Hodson, D., A Practical Guide to International Family Law, 2008.
- Morley, J.D., International Family Law Practice, Eagan, Thomson Reuters, 2020.
- Pagano, E., Diritto Internazionale Privato: Parte Generale e Diritto di Famiglia, Napoli, Ed. Scientifica, 2012.
- Scherpe, J.M. (ed.), European Family Law, Cheltenham, 2016.
- Stark, B. and J. Heaton (eds), The Routledge Handbook of International Family Law, Abingdon, Routledge, 2019.
Recent books and peer-reviewed articles
- Budzikiewicz, C,, et al., (eds.), Grenzen und Grenzverschiebungen im internationalen Familienrecht, Baden-Baden, Nomos, 2024.
- Bumbaca, V.J., Habitual Residence in International Family Law: Theory, Practice and Reform, Genève, Schulthess, 2022.
- Campuzano Díaz, B. (ed.), Derecho de familia internacional en un contexto de creciente migración: cuestiones vinculadas con el Reglamento 2019/1111, Cizur Menor, Aranzadi, 2024.
- Corneloup, S. (ed)., The Rome III Regulation: a Commentary on the Law Applicable to Divorce and Legal Separation, Cheltenham, Elgar, 2020.
- Gray, J., Party Autonomy in EU Private International Law: Choice of Court and Choice of Law in Family Matters and Succession, Cambridge, Intersensia, 2021.
- Hamilton, F. and G. Noto La Diega (eds), Same-sex Relationships, Law and Social Change, London, Routledge, 2020.
- Rebouché, R. (ed.), Feminist Judgments: Family Law Opinions Rewritten, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2020.
- Roberts, M. and M.F. Moscati, Family Mediation: Contemporary Issues, London, Bloomsbury Professional, 2020.
- Scherpe, J.M. and E. Bargelli (eds), The Interaction Between Family Law, Succession Law and Private International Law: Adapting to Change, Cambridge, Intersentia, 2021.
- Trimmings, K., S. Shakargy and C. Achmad (eds.), Research Handbook on Surrogacy and the Law, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2024.
- Vandenhole, Wouter, et al. Children’s Rights : A Commentary on the Convention on the Rights of the Child and Its Protocols. Second edition, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2024.
For all peer-reviewed articles in the PPL Catalogue, click here.
Periodicals, serial publications
- Child and Family Law Quarterly
- European Family Law Series
- International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family
- International Journal of the Jurisprudence of the Family
- International Survey of Family Law
Bibliographies
Encyclopedias
The EUPILLAR database provides case law on the Brussels I (Brussels I Recast), Brussels IIa, Maintenance, Rome I and Rome II Regulations and the Maintenance Protocol in the Court of Justice of the European Union and in Belgium, Germany, England and Wales, Italy, Poland, Scotland and Spain from the entry into force of the Brussels I Regulation on 1 March 2002.
French database on marriage, divorce and family law (text) per region/country, "qui permet de trouver la règle de conflit en matière de divorce, responsabilité parentale, obligations alimentaires, régimes matrimoniaux, bref de raisonner les questions courantes de DIP de la famille."
Dalloz répertoires (updated portefeuilles)
- Répertoire de droit européen: Compétence, reconnaissance et exécution: matières matrimoniale et de responsabilité parentale, E. Gallant, janvier 2013 (actualisation avril 2021)
- Répertoire de droit international: Adoption, J. Foyer, septembre 2003 (actualisation janvier 2021)
- Répertoire de droit international: Aliments, N. Joubert, janvier 2019 (actualisation octobre 2020)
- Répertoire de droit international: Divorce et séparation de corps, P. Hammje, novembre 2018 (actualisation avril 2021)
- Répertoire de droit international: Droits de l'enfant, F. Monéger, janvier 2017 (actualisation juin 2020)
- Répertoire de droit international: Filiation, J. Foyer, juillet 2015 (actualisation juillet 2020)
- International Family Law: a Selective Resource Guide, by Marylin J. Raisch
- International Family Law, The Law Office of J.D. Morley, New York
- International Society of Family Law
- European Union: Family Law
- European Union: Marital Property Law
- European Union: Succession Law
- Decisions applying the European Union Regulations on cross-border litigation in family matters