The child caught in a power struggle between parents and the state

The welfare of children is always the top priority for most parents. However divorce or separation can quickly become an ordeal for children and their parents which is why legal provisions are needed to ensure that children receive care and protection even in difficult times. The following paper provides an insight into the structures of child and family law in a comparative analysis between Austria and Germany. The focus is on the development of the best interests of the child in the context of social and legal change.