Many families turn to mental health professionals for advice and counseling on how to cope with the stresses of legal crises. The first and only book of its kind, this handbook provides mental health professionals with comprehensive coverage of the interface between the legal and family systems. Organized by developmental stages, the book covers a wide range of topics including pre-nuptial agreements, divorce, child custody, adoption, spousal abuse; gay, bisexual, and lesbian issues; family business succession, and euthanasia.