Margaret Robinson has been involved in therapeutic work with families for over thirty years, and in mediation for ten years. She is Consultant Conciliator to the Institute of Family Therapy, London, a marital and family therapist in private practice, and a guardian ad litem.

`... a sharing of years of accumulated knowledge and wisdom made available in a form which is accessible and relevant to anyone with an interest in family change.' - British Journal of Social Work`a comprehensive study ... clear, flows well and is full of wisdom and knowledge' - Young Minds'This is an essential and rewarding work of reference for all concerned with the present state of the family, and will become a classic in its particular field.' - The British Journal of Psychiatry`This will be an invaluable handbook for anyone contending with the repercussions of marital breakdown, divorce and re-marriage, whether as participants or practitioner.' - Journal of Social Work Practice'Comprehensive, informative and an excellent source of reference.' - Journal of Social Welfare and Family LawBoth interesting and informative ... a mine of useful references ... a significant contribution to the divorce literature.' - Association of Family Therapy Journal`This book, with its clear and simple language and interesting case studies, points the way for the reader towards a meshing of the conciliation and legal processes' Family Law`This book is a tour-de-force ... Margaret Robinson's personality and experience shine through as each chapter leads coherently to the next ... it is an essential departmental reference book.' - Journal of Adolescence

• 1 Introduction: the post-nuclear family 2 The family as a system 3 The family as a system: models of intervention 4 Families through the divorce process: divorce as a private Sorrow 5 Families through the divorce process: when divorce becomes a public issue 6 Becoming a stepfamily: starting out 7 Becoming a stepfamily: getting it together 8 Children during divorce and remarriage 9 Ways and means of intervening during divorce and remarriage: outside the courts 10 Ways and means of intervening during the divorce process: ‘Within the shadow of the law’—complementary roles or adversarial partisans? 11 Can re-formed extended families become ‘good enough’? 12 Afterword: the reformation of family policy—a second chance for families in transition?