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The article examines the gap between formal and substantive equality for women in the context of family law in England and Wales. It cites the division of assets on divorce and the arrangements for post-separation parenting of children under the English family law in which the equality principle of the asset sharing and the care of children is determined. It also notes the insufficient condition for promoting an improved position for women and the underlying principle of fairness in the law.

This paper reports on the findings from a large-scale study of public attitudes to inheritance law, particularly the rules on intestacy. It argues that far from the assumption that the family' is in terminal decline, people in England and Wales still view their most important relationships, at least for the purposes of inheritance law, as centred on a narrow, nuclear family model. However, there is also widespread acceptance of re-partnering and cohabitation, producing generally high levels of support for including cohabitants in the intestacy rules and for ensuring that children from former relationships are protected. We argue that these views are underpinned by a continuing sense of responsibility to the members of one's nuclear family, arising from notions of sharing and commitment, dependency and support, and a sense of lineage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]