The Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (JAAML) was established in 1984 and features peer reviewed articles, reviews, and editorials covering all aspects of the Family Law profession. The Journal is published by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and issued semiannually.

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Vol. 38 - #2

2026

Cohabitation: Law and Policy

The number of unmarried partners living together in the United States nearly tripled in two decades from six million to 17 million, and this cohort now constitutes approximately seven percent of the total adult population. Considering this continued increase and the myriad social and legal implications of these arrangements, this issue is devoted to law and policy issues regarding cohabitation. The difficulty of creating legislation to address these issues because of social and political realities is discussed. We also feature articles on the implications for ongoing financial support such as “palimony” and the effect of cohabitation on the modification of existing awards. Parent-child relationships are considered in an article about stepfamilies and one on multiparent recognition. The differences in how the law responds to the legal challenges created as a result of non-traditional arrangements is the focus of a piece on procedures designed to better recognize differing arrangements found in our diverse population. Procedural issues such as proving cohabitation and the enforcement of cohabitation agreements are the focus of two student pieces. We include an article on the timely topic of the use of artificial intelligence and return to our main theme with an extensive bibliography of articles related to cohabitation. 

Vol. 38 - #1

2025

Improving Access to Justice Through Technology

The focus of the issue was inspired by the Academy’s continued commitment to access justice for families and the ability of technology to further that goal. It features three articles on improving docket management for family law cases in the places they are most likely to take place, that is state courts. One describes a system instituted in the Connecticut court system co-written by the judges who spearheaded the initiative. Another article describes the development of a portal that can be implemented on a wider scale, that screens cases in family court to guide proper service delivery. A third, written by a Kansas family court judge, expounds on the advantages and perils of the use of AI by attorneys in family court and offers a model for addressing the issue with a proposed local rule that focuses on the risks of the use of generative AI and responds with a process that includes both education and self-disclosure. The issue includes two articles on child custody matters, one focusing on educational efforts to improve the success of appropriate child custody evaluations and the other offers a critique of courts’ responses to violations of court ordered parenting plans. The final two articles continue the discussion on access to justice by describing an alternative method of handling divorce matters that can be used by family law attorneys nationwide, and the other describes a program designed to use trained community justice volunteers to assist parties involved in the legal system who are facing difficult family law situations. Two student Comments are included, and the issue concludes with an excellent annotated bibliography on the impact of technology on lawyers, courts, and access to justice.

Vol. 37 – #2

2025

Historical Perspectives on Family Law

This issue focuses on the history of many family law matters. It includes an excellent recounting of Abrahm Lincoln as a lawyer as well as a look at how economic history has shaped family law. Two fascinating jurisprudential pieces explore family law exceptionalism and what the application of Rawl’s theory of the veil of ignorance to family law might tell us. Two articles focus on children, one on the state of child marriage and another on the beginnings of child protection laws in the United States. Fault in divorce is explored both from an historical point of view in one article and how it is being reintroduced in divorce proceedings in another. A longer historical lookback is also featured in an article about minor guardianships in medieval times. Two student comments on the history of guardianship in divorce proceedings and premarital agreements are also included along with an excellent bibliography of works related to the history of family law.

Vol. 37 – #1

2024

Dispute Resolution of Family Law Matters

As most family law attorneys know, dispute resolution mechanisms such as arbitration and mediation are no longer described as “alternative.” These types of dispute resolution processes, along with negotiation are now the methods extensively used to resolve family law cases. In this issue, we have assembled an impressive set of articles by experts in the field. The articles include a description of skills that attorneys can pass on to clients to help them to shape future co-parenting relationships and address property issues in the dissolution. Other articles focus on negotiation, arbitration and early dispute resolution. Many states are now requiring continuing legal education that focuses on implicit bias. One of our mediation articles captures some of the key components of that type of training. We also have two additional articles, one on the Hague Convention on Child Abduction and its questionable application to indigenous peoples and also an extensive report on the Uniform Parentage Act of 2017 which was compiled by the AAML Legislative Committee.

Vol. 36 – #2

2024

International Issues in Family Law

With the increase in globalization, many family law attorneys find themselves addressing international issues. This volume of the journal is devoted to those frequently arising challenges. We have several articles on procedural issues, such as discovery, service of process, and strategic planning in international divorce cases. The enforcement of child custody support orders is the focus of two additional articles. We also feature two articles concerning the Hague Abduction Convention, one that addresses issues when there are competing claims under the Convention and conventions offering protection under asylum claims and another that concerns custody disputes between the United States and India, a country that has not adopted the Convention. There are excellent articles on diplomatic immunity, mediation and family law matters in Hong Kong. Student editors have also contributed thought provoking pieces on inter-country adoption, gender- affirming care and international adoption.

Vol. 36 – #1

2023

Real Property Issues In Family Law

This volume of the Journal is devoted to real property issues in family law. We have two excellent articles on the topic as well as an extensive bibliography. The also contains submissions on a number of timely topics, including those related to the division of military pensions, The Uniform Cohabitants Economic Remedies Act and a review of safe haven legislation throughout the country. It also includes an excellent piece of interest to many experienced family law attorneys, on the ethical risk of relying too much on that experience. The issue concludes with four well researched comments by our student editors.

Vol. 35 – #2

2023

Constitutional Issues in Family Law - Part II

This is the second volume of Constitutional Issues in Family Law where we continue with excellent and thought-provoking articles on the intersection of family law and the Constitution. This issue features essays on the constitutional implications of the Dobbs decision as well as how it may affect families. Parentage issues are discussed in both multistate cases and those involving unwed parents. Empirical research forms the basis on an article regarding functional parenthood and home schooling in a pandemic is also discussed. Interesting issues are raised in the context of family support obligations and the thirteenth amendment and practical methods of considering constitutional issues in the legal practice related to ART are also presented. Part II of an excellent bibliography on articles touching on the Constitution and Family Law concludes the issue.

Vol. 35 – #1

2022

Constitutional Issues in Family Law

This issue of the Journal is devoted to Constitutional Issues in Family Law. It covers issues ranging from the second amendment as it pertains to cohabitants, the fifth amendment privilege against self-incrimination, and the constitutional rights of parents. There are also articles on the Indian Child Welfare Act and the Supreme Court’s recent controversial abortion decision. First and fifth amendment issues are also discussed as are changes to the MMPI, a psychological tool often used in family courts. At the end of the issue there is bibliography that addresses some of the significant constitutional issues arising in the realm of family law today, as well as other legal and policy issues spinning off the constitutional controversies.

Vol. 34 – #2

2022

COVID-19 AND FAMILY LAW

In this issue we consider how Covid-19 government programs affect families’ finances and certainly the children of those families. We also include timely comments on other child custody issues, parentage, and property distribution at divorce. As usual we have an extensive annotated bibliography which also includes a special section on the latest on decision making regarding vaccinations for children.

Vol. 34 – #1

2021

Trusts in Family Law Cases

This issue of the Journal was scheduled to be on the use of trusts in family law cases and we have three excellent articles related to that topic as well as an extensive annotated bibliography. It soon expanded, however with the addition of excellent submissions on other topics. It now also features articles related to child custody, the tax treatment of S corporations and citizenship for children born abroad through assisted procreation.

Vol. 33 – #2

2020

The Use of Experts in Family Law Cases

Vol. 33, – #1

2020

The Future of Family Law

Vol. 33 – #2

2020

Issue: BIAS

The Use of Experts in Family Law Cases

AMBIGUOUS GENITALS & SOCIETAL DISDAIN

Comment, AMBIGUOUS GENITALS & SOCIETAL DISDAIN: A CASE FOR A PROHIBITION OF MEDICALLY UNNECESSARY, COSMETIC GENITAL NORMALIZATION SURGERIES ON INFANTS AND CHILDREN

00 Vol. 32 – #1

2019

Complex Families and Evolving Legal Needs

This issue of the Journal is devoted to complex families and evolving legal needs. It features articles that focus on aging families, immigrant families and affluent ones. It covers timely topics such as the opioid epidemic and the new Uniform Parentage Act. Changes in the legal system are also addressed in articles suggesting alternative uses of experts in family law cases and challenges presented by self-represented litigants. Issues related to child custody such as parental alienation syndrome and challenges posed by parents with addiction issues are also discussed.

01 Vol. 31 – #2

2019

Ethics, Malpractice and Professional Liability in Family Law Cases

02 Vol. 31 – #1

2018

Assisted Reproduction and Adoption

04 Vol. 30 – #1

2017

International Family Law

08 Vol. 28 – #1

2015

09 Vol. 27 – #2

2015

Ethics

UNETHICAL ACCUSATIONS

Comment, UNETHICAL ACCUSATIONS: MAINTAINING ETHICAL INTEGRITY IN THE PROFESSION THROUGH THE PROPER USE OF MANDATORY REPORTING RULES

12 Vol 26 – #1

2013

Multiculturalism Issues In Family Law

13 Vol 25 – #2

2013

Children's Interests

14 Vol 25 – #1

2012

Property

18 Vol 23 – #1

2010

Electronic Evidence

Vol. 21 – #2

2008

Family Law in the Twenty-First Century - Part II

Vol. 21 – #1

2008

Family Law in the Twenty-First Century - Part I

In this issue devoted to Family Law in the Twenty-First Century, we will examine some of the changes that have already occurred and attempt to predict what we might see in the future. Our topics range from the definition of marriage to changing notions of parentage to new ways of practicing law.

26 Vol 19 – #1

2004

Torts & Crimes

27 Vol 18 – #2

2003

Unique Property Issues

31 Vol 16 – #2

2000

33 Vol 15 – #2

1998

Valuation

Vol. 36 – #1

2023
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