Legal Intervention in Family Ties

Abstract

Family ties generally are a private matter involving personal relationships. However, there are times when family relationships invite the involvement of governmental authority. Different forms of legal intervention, including legislation, regulation, and judicial decisions, influence family dynamics and address family problems. Legal interventions defining the institution of marriage, encouraging joint or substitute decision making, and facilitating family caregiving may be appropriate to proactively respect and empower loving families in their proper functioning. Conversely, legal interventions pertaining to abuse and neglect, filial responsibility, guardianship, and recognition of personal service contracts may be necessary to step in and regulate certain dysfunctional family relationships to protect vulnerable individuals from possible family‐inflicted harm.