KMAN Publication Incorporation Interdisciplinary Studies in Society, Law, and Politics 3060-5687 5 Serial Number 19 2026 07 30 Modernization of Laws Governing Family Law Modernization of Laws Governing Family Law 1 14 EN Journal Article 2026 02 10 <p>The institution of the family in Iran has undergone profound structural transformations; however, the laws governing it have not evolved in parallel with these changes. This study aims to identify comparative patterns of modernization, analyze gaps in Iran’s family law system, and examine the obstacles to legal reform. The study employs a descriptive-analytical and comparative research method, with data collected from library-based sources. The findings indicate that common-law and European legal systems have achieved modernization without a complete rupture from tradition through mechanisms such as no-fault divorce, shared parental responsibility, and the sharing of property acquired during marriage. In Iran, the family financial regime, child custody laws, and the model of the husband’s headship of the family remain substantially disconnected from contemporary social realities. Secondary jurisprudential rules, dynamic ijtihad, and constitutional principles provide significant capacities for legal reform. The principal obstacles can be classified into three areas: resistance arising from conservative interpretations, inefficiency within the judicial system, and the absence of sustained political will. Sustainable modernization can be achieved through constructive engagement with the internal capacities of Islamic jurisprudence and the legal system.</p> https://journalisslp.com/index.php/isslp/article/download/559/1174