In Ireland, the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 gives legal recognition to the diverse relationships that exist in the country. It is the most comprehensive amendment to Irish law on children and family relationships in many decades. This book examines, analyzes, and explains the new legal regime by addressing a wide range of new issues, including: parental rights in diverse family arrangements * parentage in cases of assisted reproduction * the establishment of a national donor-conceived person register * the "best interests" principle with regard to children * joint adoption for civil partners/cohabiting partners * access entitlements for a wider range of people * defined maintenance provisions for civil partners and cohabiting partners living with a child for a certain amount of time * provisions to help "make parenting work" * the formalization of the relationship between a child and their de facto parent. The book also examines the new yet different pathways to guardianship, expanding the duties, obligations, and rights of guardians and thereby further bolstering the rights of children. For the first time, non-marital fathers cohabiting for a specified period with the child's mother will be entitled to automatic guardianship. [Subject: Irish Law, Children's Law, Family Law]