The family has evolved a lot, reflecting the evolution of morals, in France as in the rest of the world. This is what the following chronology shows, which lists all the dates that have marked a change in the conception of the family, and of family law.
| – 17 | in Italy, Lex Julia the adultery: the husband of an adulterous woman must repudiate her to avoid being considered a pimp |
| 614 |
king Clotaire II promulgates an edict forbidding the marriage of a woman against her will |
| 1215 | the IV Lateran Council establishes rules for marriage, including mutual consent, witnesses, and a minimum age |
| 1792 |
the law of September 20 establishes civil marriage and authorizes divorce in France |
| 1816 | the law giving the right to divorce is abrogated in France |
| 1871 | in Brazil, a law emancipates the children whose mother is a slave |
| 1871 | in France, the equality of legitimate and natural children, wives and concubines is decreed with regard to the collection of pensions |
| 1880 | Arcanum Dvinae is published, encyclical of the pope Léon XIII on the marriage |
| 1882 | the Edmunds Act prohibits polygamy in the United States |
| 1884 | a law on divorce in France makes it possible in cases of adultery, violence, or conviction |
| 1889 | law in France on the protection of abandoned children, now placed under the authority of the prefect |
| 1892 | in Canada, a law punishes polygamy with five years in prison |
| 1901 | in France, the law condemns the kidnapping of minors by parents who have not obtained the right of custody |
| 1904 | the age of criminal responsibility is set at 18 years in France |
| 1939 | a decree-law institutes the Family and Birth Code in France, aiming at promoting births |
| 1942 | the Vichy government tried to set up a “Family Charter” |
| 1946 | the finance law in France favors couples with children |
| 1949 | in South Africa, a law prohibits marriage between whites and non-whites |
| 1965 | the law now allows a married woman to have a bank account without her husband’s consent in France |
| 1967 | the Neuwirth law authorizes contraception in France |
| 1970 | the expression “head of the family” is replaced by “joint parental authority” in French law |
| 1970 | the orphaning allowance is created in France following the single-parent model |
| 1974 | introduction in France of a means-tested back-to-school allowance for children aged 6 to 16 |
| 1975 | the Veil law legalizes abortion in France under certain conditions |
| 1977 | creation in France of the APL personalized housing assistance |
| 1980 | rape is recognized as a crime by French law |
| 1981 | substantial revaluation of family benefits and widening of the field of beneficiaries |
| 1984 | restriction of women’s rights in Algeria by the personal status and family code |
| 1985 | equality of spouses in matrimonial regimes and of parents in the management of the property of minor children is ensured by a French law |
| 1989 | Adoption of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child within the framework of the United Nations |
| 1990 | the Cossey vs. British case is the occasion for the European Court of Human Rights to confirm its refusal to recognize the right to homosexual marriage |
| 1993 | a law establishes co-parenthood in France, with both parents exercising their authority by right if they have recognized the child |
| 1995 | in Ireland, a referendum abolishes the constitutional ban on divorce |
| 1999 | promulgation of the law on the PACS, Civil Solidarity Pact |
| 2001 | introduction of paternity leave |
| 2004 | a French law makes divorce possible despite the opposition of the spouse |
| 2004 | Noël Mamère, mayor of Bègles, celebrates a homosexual marriage, which is then annulled by the judicial institutions |
| 2005 | a child can receive the name of the father, the mother, or both, in France |
| 2009 | same-sex marriage is made legal in Norway |
| 2009 | in Mali, a new Code of Persons and Family is adopted |
| 2013 | introduction of same-sex marriage in France |
| 2014–2015 | a Vatican synod on marriage and family opens under the papacy of Francis I |
This history of the family is, of course, bound to evolve, as the 21st century is marked by important changes in family policies, and new dates on the family may be added as they occur.
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Thank you so much for all your posts! : )