Family law is a very important branch of law, which is within numerous legal systems analysed as a part of civil-law contents. Since it is in Croatian legal system an independent legal branch, it is considered that foreign students should be also offered such a course in English. Such an idea has already been developed, however the multiannual practice and the students’ feedback indicate that it is necessary to inform the students, within a particular course, of the most important family-law issues.
This course is intended for Erasmus students as an introductory one, and the further deepening of their knowledge is already available to them within the existing course Family law, the credit value of which is 8 ECTS with the 90 hours in total.
The objective of the course is to inform the students of the most important family law issues, such as marriage, adoption or maintenance, as well as their significance in contemporary society. Students would be furthermore informed of the trends in the family law, especially from a comparative perspective. Particular attention would be paid to the issues of harmonisation and unification of family law in Europe.
Introduction to Family Law
Literatura
OBVEZNA LITERATURA
Hrabar, Dubravka; Guidelines of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on child friendly justice (2010) – family law aspect, u: Children and non-discrimination, Interdisciplinary textbook / Kutsar, Dagmar; Warming, Hanne (ur.); Children’s Rights Erasmus Academic Network (2014), str. 77-90
Hrabar, Dubravka; Hrabar, Dubravka: Family Law // Introduction to the Law of Croatia / Josipović, Tatjana (ur.).; Wolters Kluwer Law Business (2014), str. 217-243
Hrabar, Dubravka; Korać Graovac, Aleksandra; Kroatien // Bergman/Ferid/Henrich: Internationales Ehe- und Kindschaftsrecht, 208. Lieferung; Verlag fuer Standesamtswesen GmbH (2014), str. 1-22, 37-38 c, 79-88
Hrabar, Dubravka; The Establishment of a European Court for the Rights of the Child as a New Contribution to the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice. // Zbornik Pravnog fakulteta u Zagrebu; Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu (2014), str. 181-198
Majstorović, Irena; Children’s Participation in Family Mediation: an Example of New Challenges for Non-Discrimination // Children and non-discrimination, Interdisciplinary handbook, u: Kutsar, Dagmar; Warming, Hanne (ur.); Children’s Rights Erasmus Academic Network (2014), str. 91-110
Majstorović, Irena; Family law and the EU – at the crossroads? // New Developments in EU Labour, Equality and Human Rights Law, Proceedings from the International Jean Monnet Conference “New Developments in EU Labour, Equality and Human Rights Law”, Osijek 21 and 22 May 2015, u: Vinković, Mario (ur.); Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek Faculty of Law, Jean Monnet Chair in EU Labour (2015), str. 323-340
Majstorović, Irena; The protection of elderly family members and the role of the state: a family law perspective // The future of family property in Europe, u: Boele-Woelki, K.; Miles, J.; Scherpe, J. M. (ur.); Intersentia (2011), str. 163-184
Čulo Margaletić, Anica; Parents with Mental Disabilities and Protection of the Child’s Interest // 5th International Multidisciplinary Scientific Conference on Social Sciences and Arts SGEM 2018, Conference Proceedings, Volume 5, Modern Science, Issue 1.2; SGEM International Multidisciplinary Scientific Conference on SOCIAL SCIENCES and ARTS (2018), str. 689-696
Majstorović, Irena; The realisation of the right of the child to express his/her views- How “visible” are children in Croatian family judicial proceedings? // Ljetopis Socijalnog Rada; Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Studijski centar socijalnog rada (2017), str. 55-71
Hrabar, Dubravka; What is Local and What is Global in the Legal Regulation on Human Reproduction?//Donald School Journal of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (0973-614X) 14 (2020), 3; (2020), str. 265-278
Literatura u akad. god. 2024./2025.:
- Hrabar, D., Die Leihmutterschaft in der Urteilen des Europäischen Gerichtshofes für Menschenrechte // Exploring the social dimension of Europe – Essays in Honour of Nada Bodiroga-Vukobrat / Sander, Gerald G. ; Poščić, Ana ; Martinović, Adrijana (Eds.). Hamburg: Verlag Dr. Kovač, 2021, pp. 361-379.
- Hrabar, D., What is Local and What is Global in the Legal Regulation on Human Reproduction?//Donald School Journal of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (0973-614X) 14 (3), 2020, pp. 265-278.
- Korać Graovac, A., Parental Care Following Divorcee in the Republic of Croatia // Law, identity and values, 2, 2022; pp. 45-64.
- Korać Graovac, A., Legal Development of Non-Marital Union in Croatia // Law, identity and values, 1 (1), 2021, pp. 55-70.
- Korać Graovac, A., Family Protection in Croatia // Family Protection in Croatia. In: Family Protection From a Legal Perspective / Barzo, Timea ; Lenkovics, Barnabas (ur.). Budimpešta : Miskolc: Ferenc Mádl Institute of Comparative Law ; Central European Academic Publishing (CEA Publishing), 2021, pp. 37-76.
PREPORUČENA LITERATURA
Hrabar, Dubravka; Children’s Rights within the Family; International journal of children’s rights (2009), str. 561-583
Hrabar, Dubravka; Legal status of cohabitants in Croatia // Die Rechtstellung nichtehelicher Lebensgemeinschaften – The Legal Status of Cohabitans, u: Scherpe, Jens M.; Yassari, Nadjma (ur.); Max-Planck-Institut fuer auslaendisches und internationales Privatrecht (2005), str. 399-414
Hrabar, Dubravka; Ehescheidung, Scheidungsverfahren und Scheidungsfolgen – Laenderbericht Kroatien; Der Familienrechtsberater internationa (2006), str. 65-71
Majstorović, Irena; Promoting intergenerational solidarity in Croatian family law system: in search of coherent and efficient solutions, u: Les solidarites entre generations = Solidarity between generations, Fulchiron, Hugues (ur.).; Bruylant (2013), str. 281-296
Majstorović, Irena; Šimović, Ivan; The scope of the deprivation of legal capacity as a precondition for the protection of rights and dignity of persons with disabilities // Ljetopis socijalnog rada; Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Studijski centar socijalnog rada (2018), str. 65-86
Preložnjak, Barbara; Šimović, Ivan; European experiences and Croatian perspectives of compensation programs in case of childhood vaccine injury // InterEU law east: journal for the international and european law, economics and market integrations; Ekonomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu (2018), str. 15-35
Preložnjak, Barbara; Čulo Margaletić, Anica; Šimović, Ivan; PRESUMPTION OF MOTHERHOOD ON THE CROSSROAD OF SURROGACY ARRANGEMENTS IN EU // EU and Comparative Law Issues and Challenges Series; Faculty of Law Osijek, University of Osijek Josip Juraj Strossmayer (2019), str. 778-802
Čulo Margaletić, Anica; Šimović, Ivan; FROM PROTECTION TO AUTONOMY AND SUPPORT – CHALLENGES OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES STANDARDS // 5th International Multidisciplinary Scientific Conference on Social Sciences Arts, SGEM 2018, Conference Proceedings, Vol. 5, Modern Science, Issue 1.1; SGEM International Multidisciplinary Scientific Conference on SOCIAL SCIENCES and ARTS (2018), str. 161-169
Čulo Margaletić, Anica; The Role of Lawyers in Family Law Disputes // Zbornik Pravnog fakulteta u Zagrebu; Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu (2018), str. 217-241
Majstorović, Irena; Family law and the EU – at the crossroads? // New Developments in EU Labour, Equality and Human Rights Law, Proceedings from the International Jean Monnet Conference “New Developments in EU Labour, Equality and Human Rights Law”; Faculty of Law Osijek, University of Osijek Josip Juraj Strossmayer (2015), str. 323-340
Hrabar, Dubravka; The commandment of law in family law // Law, Religion and Love – Seeking Ecumenical Justice for the Other; London / New York: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group (2018), str. 289-305
Hrabar, Dubravka; Bridging the Non-protection of Children’s Rights Through the Optional Protocol to the CRC on Communications Procedure and a Future European Court // Godišnjak Akademije pravnih znanosti Hrvatske; Akademija pravnih znanosti hrvatske (2017), str. 13-33
Korać Graovac, Aleksandra; Family Forms and Parenthood in Croatia//Family Forms and Parenthood, Theory and Practice of Article 8 ECHR in Europe; Intersentia (2016), str. 125-144
Majstorović, Irena; Origin of a child between tradition and reform: legal presumptions in Croatian family law//Exploring the social dimension of Europe – Essays in Honour of Nada Bodiroga-Vukobrat; Verlag Dr. Kovač (2021), str. 591-601
Literatura u akad. god. 2024./2025.:
- Hrabar, D.; Peročević, K., Abortion as a Natural or Political Issue in Croatian Constitutional Judicial Practice // Bogoslovska smotra, 53 (5), 2023; pp. 895-915.
- Sobzyck, P.; Poniatowski, M.; Korać Graovac, A.; Kralickova, Z.; Barzo, T.; Andrzejewski, M.; Kovaček Stanić, G.; Kraljić, S.; Garayova, L.; Sobzyck, P., Content of the Right to Parental Responsibility Experiences – Analyses – Postulates. Miskolc, Budapest: Central European Academic Publishing; Sobzyck, Pawel (eds.), 2022.
- Korać Graovac, A., Family Forms and Parenthood in Croatia // Family Forms and Parenthood, Theory and Practice of Article 8 ECHR in Europe / Buechler, A. and Keller, H. (eds.). Cambridge: Intersentia, 2016, pp. 125-144.
- Majstorović, I.; Šimović, I., The scope of the deprivation of legal capacity as a precondition for the protection of rights and dignity of persons with disabilities // Ljetopis socijalnog rada; Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Studijski centar socijalnog rada, 2018, pp. 65-86.
- Preložnjak, B.; Šimović, I., European experiences and Croatian perspectives of compensation programs in case of childhood vaccine injury // InterEU law east: journal for the international and european law, economics and market integrations; Ekonomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, 2018, pp. 15-35.
- Preložnjak, B.; Čulo Margaletić, A.; Šimović, I., Presumption of motherhood on the crossroad of surrogacy arrangements in EU // EU and Comparative Law Issues and Challenges Series; Faculty of Law Osijek, University of Osijek Josip Juraj Strossmayer, 2019, pp. 778-802.
- Čulo Margaletić, A., The Role of Lawyers in Family Law Disputes // Zbornik Pravnog fakulteta u Zagrebu; Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, 2018, pp. 217-241.
- Hrabar, D., The commandment of law in family law // Law, Religion and Love – Seeking Ecumenical Justice for the Other; London / New York: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, 2018, pp. 289-305.
- Majstorović, I., Origin of a child between tradition and reform: legal presumptions in Croatian family law//Exploring the social dimension of Europe – Essays in Honour of Nada Bodiroga-Vukobrat; Verlag Dr. Kovač , 2021, pp. 591-601.
- Majstorović, I.; Šimović, I., The scope of the deprivation of legal capacity as a precondition for the protection of rights and dignity of persons with disabilities // Ljetopis socijalnog rada; Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Studijski centar socijalnog rada, 2018, pp. 65-86.
Ishodi učenja
Discuss the most important characteristics and principles of family law
-
DOPRINOSI OSTVARENJU ISHODA UČENJA NA RAZINI STUDIJSKOG PROGRAMA
1. Identify historical, political, economic, European, international and
other social factors relevant for the creation and implementation of the
law
4. Classify and interpret the normative framework relevant for a certain
branch of law
8. Develop ethically, legally and morally responsible behaviour
9. Analyse various aspects of law regulation of the Republic of Croatia,
including the comparative perspective
12. Value legal institutes and principles in their developmental dimension
and in relationship to contemporary legal system -
KOGNITIVNO PODRUČJE ZNANJA I RAZUMIJEVANJA
Comprehension
-
VJEŠTINE
Information management skill, research skills, learning skills, ability to
adapt to new situations, ability to create a new idea, negotiating skills -
SADRŽAJ UČENJA
Teaching units:
1. Principles of family law
2. Marriage law
3. Family mediation
4. Origin of a child
5. Rights of the child, parental care
6. Adoption
7. Guardianship
8. Maintenance
9. Property relations between family members -
NASTAVNE METODE
Lectures, guided discussion, students debate, autonomous literature study
Compare national family law framework to the global standards
-
DOPRINOSI OSTVARENJU ISHODA UČENJA NA RAZINI STUDIJSKOG PROGRAMA
4. Classify and interpret the normative framework relevant for a certain
branch of law
5. Explain the institutes of substantive and procedural law
7. Use information technologies and the legal data bases (legislation, court
practice, legal journals)
9. Analyse various aspects of law regulation of the Republic of Croatia,
including the comparative perspective
12. Value legal institutes and principles in their developmental dimension
and in relationship to contemporary legal system -
KOGNITIVNO PODRUČJE ZNANJA I RAZUMIJEVANJA
Application
-
VJEŠTINE
Information management skill, team-work skill, ability to criticise and be
criticised, research skills, learning skill, writing scientific papers, research
presentation skills, -
SADRŽAJ UČENJA
Teaching units:
1. Marriage law
2. Family mediation
3. Origin of a child
4. Rights of the child, parental care
5. Adoption
6. Guardianship
7. Maintenance
8. Property relations between family members -
NASTAVNE METODE
Lectures, autonomous literature study, guided discussion, writing a paper,
students debate,
Assess the quality of national family law regulation
-
DOPRINOSI OSTVARENJU ISHODA UČENJA NA RAZINI STUDIJSKOG PROGRAMA
4. Classify and interpret the normative framework relevant for a certain
branch of law
8. Develop ethically, legally and morally responsible behaviour
9. Analyse various aspects of law regulation of the Republic of Croatia,
including the comparative perspective
11. Analyse relevant court practice
12. Value legal institutes and principles in their developmental dimension
and in relationship to contemporary legal system -
KOGNITIVNO PODRUČJE ZNANJA I RAZUMIJEVANJA
Evaluation
-
VJEŠTINE
Information management skill, ability to criticise and be criticised, research
skills, learning skills, ability to adapt to new situations -
SADRŽAJ UČENJA
Teaching units:
1. Marriage law
2. Family mediation
3. Origin of a child
4. Rights of the child, parental care
5. Child abduction
6. Adoption
7. Guardianship
8. Maintenance
9. Property relations between family members -
NASTAVNE METODE
Lectures, guided discussion, solving problem tasks, writing a paper,
students debate, autonomous literature study
Predict the future development of national family law systems, especially in regards to supranational trends
-
DOPRINOSI OSTVARENJU ISHODA UČENJA NA RAZINI STUDIJSKOG PROGRAMA
1. Identify historical, political, economic, European, international and
other social factors relevant for the creation and implementation of the
law
4. Classify and interpret the normative framework relevant for a certain
branch of law
8. Develop ethically, legally and morally responsible behaviour
9. Analyse various aspects of law regulation of the Republic of Croatia,
including the comparative perspective
12. Value legal institutes and principles in their developmental dimension
and in relationship to contemporary legal system -
KOGNITIVNO PODRUČJE ZNANJA I RAZUMIJEVANJA
Synthesis
-
VJEŠTINE
Ability to create a new idea, information management skill, research skills,
research presentation skills, problem-solving skill, team-work skill, ability to
criticise and be criticised, -
SADRŽAJ UČENJA
Teaching units:
1. Principles of family law
2. Marriage law
3. Family mediation
4. Origin of a child
5. Rights of the child, parental care
6. Child abduction
7. Adoption
8. Guardianship
9. Maintenance
10. Property relations between family members
11. European family law -
NASTAVNE METODE
Lectures, guided discussion, solving problem tasks, writing a paper,
students debate, autonomous literature study
