Introduction -- Introduction -- Types of unions -- Engagement -- Marriage -- The personal consequences of marriage -- The patrimonial consequences of marriage : general introduction -- Marriage in community of property -- Marriage out of community of property -- The dissolution of a marriage -- The personal consequences of divorce, spousal maintenance and children -- The patrimonial consequences of divorce -- Civil unions -- Customary marriages -- Religious marriages -- The legal position of life partners in South Africa -- Children -- Parental responsibilities and rights -- International child abduction -- Adoption -- Inter-country adoption -- Regulation of surrogate motherhood agreements in South Africa -- Foster care -- Customary law in real life rights, responsibilities and rituals pertaining to children -- Family law in practice -- Family law in practice : courts, mediation, maintenance and domestic violence