Marriage and Divorce Laws of the World

The volume provides a comparative survey of marriage and divorce law across numerous legal systems, offering descriptive summaries of statutes, procedures, and customary practices in European, Asian, American, and colonial jurisdictions. Chapters treat historical background, doctrinal principles, grounds and remedies for divorce, marital capacity and consent, ceremonial and civil formalities, and the legal status and rights of spouses, with attention to religious and customary systems such as Hindu, Mohammedan, and Chinese law. The editor notes contemporary legislative trends toward greater uniformity among nations and documents changes expanding legal protection and recognition for women while recording persistent variations among jurisdictions.