Justify the solutions to contemporary social issues that influence

Caribbean family life

1. Education and training
2. Financial support
3. Increased employment opportunities
4. Counselling
5. Law enforcement
6. Social services
7. Family support
 The family and the law
Governments usually introduce certain laws to protect the interests of individual family
members
1.Laws related to inheritance:
-Inheritance is the money or property that passes from a deceased person to his or her
successors.
-A person receiving an inheritance is called a beneficiary and what each person should
receive is described in a person’s will.
-This prevents family members from taking assets not intended for them.
-Without a will, possessions are shared between the family, prioritising the deceased person’s
partner and children.
-In most Caribbean countries ‘recent amendments to this Act:
a. The surviving partner in a common-law union the right to a share of property of the union.
b. A child born out of wedlock has the same rights to inheritance as a child born to married
parents.

2.Laws related to childcare:

-Family law legislation seeks to establish in law the responsibilities of parents to provide
maintenance for any unmarried children they have up to the age of 18.
-Other laws attempt to ensure that:
a. A single parent receives money for the maintenance of a child from the other parent.
b. Parents do not leave their child or children unattended for long periods without making
provision for their safekeeping.

3.Laws related to legal separation:

-A legal separation is the separation of a married couple by an order of the court.
-It is usually a step taken before a couple divorce.
-A legal separation does not end the marriage, but it gives married partners certain rights
while they live separately and will usually involve some legally binding agreements.
4. Laws related to domestic violence:
-The governments of many Caribbean countries are introducing laws to prevent violence,
particularly against women and children.
-In some Caribbean countries, family law is being drawn up or reformed to ensure that:
a. a wider range of unacceptable behaviours beyond violence are addressed by the legislation.
b. individuals in different domestic relationships are equally protected.
5. Laws related to divorce:
- A divorce is the legal termination of a marriage and is the only way in which a marriage can
be legally ended. (annulment)-Other reasons for seeking a divorce have also been introduced
and accepted in law:
a. A partner seeking a divorce is a petitioner. He or she must prove to the courts that the
marriage has broken down and that the relationship is unlikely to improve.
b. Couples who have been married for less than two years will not be granted a divorce unless
the courts are satisfied that all efforts have been made to retrieve the marriage, including
receiving assistance from marriage counsellors.
c. Divorce law also provides that one party to the marriage is liable to maintain the other
party if that other party is unable to support themselves for any of the following reasons:
-The partner has to take care of a child of the marriage who is under 18.
-The partner’s age or physical or mental condition prevents them from working to earn a
living.
-any other reasonable reason.
N.B: -The money a court orders a partner to pay to another is called alimony.