Patchwork families, rainbow families and more: How diverse are families today – and what does this mean for family law?

A talk with Prof. Dr Nina Dethloff on modern family structures, legal challenges and necessary reforms

These questions will be explored in the lecture ‘The Diversity of Modern Families – Patchwork, Rainbow and Beyond in the Focus of Family Law’ on Tuesday 24 November 2026 at 18.00 in the Forum of the vhs at Aegidiimarkt. The event invites participants to examine the changing nature of the family from a legal perspective and to explore the opportunities and challenges that arise as a result.

The speaker, Prof. Dr Nina Dethloff, will provide an overview of the various forms of modern families and examine how these are taken into account in German family law. The talk will cover both the current legal situation and the need for reform. A look at the legal provisions in other countries will broaden the perspective and allow for international comparison.

Prof. Dr Nina Dethloff is a legal scholar at the University of Bonn and specialises in research into German and international family law. She is currently a Fellow at the Käte Hamburger Kolleg ‘Legal Unity and Pluralism’ at the University of Münster.

Following the lecture, attendees are warmly invited to ask questions, share their own perspectives and engage in discussion with one another. The event is aimed at anyone interested in social developments, different family models and the future of family law.

The event is organised in collaboration with the vhs, the Käte Hamburger Kolleg ‘Legal Unity and Pluralism’ at the University of Münster and the City of Münster’s Amt für Gleichstellung. Admission is free; no registration is required.

The event will be held in German.

Further information on the event can be found here.