This new volume of the distinguished Staudinger-commentary covers the fundamental provisions on parental authority (Articles 1626 - 1633): Custody rights of married and unmarried parents, still a highly disputed area (Articles 1626 - 1626 e, 1628); the content of parental responsibility towards the child and the rights of parents, including the complicated provision on the representation of the child (Article 1629); the restrictions and limits of parental powers, e.g. the absolute prohibition of violent behaviour; the protection of the child from parental mismanagement of his assets (Article 1629 a), and - last but not least - the notorious custody fights between natural parents and foster parents (Articles 1630, 1632). The book includes also the rules on the religious education of children. This new Staudinger volume provides a thorough and thoughtful analysis of all questions with regard to parental authority in the ongoing family, taking account of the actual case law and discussions up to Spring 2007. This book is simply indispensable for everybody working in the field of German child law.
Michael Coester, Universitat Munchen; Lore Maria Peschel-Gutzeit, Justizsenatorin a. D., Rechtsanwaltin, Berlin; Ludwig Salgo, Universitat Frankfurt am Main; Helmut Engler, Universitat Freiburg/Br.