In establishing a unified and comprehensive family court system, experiences of existing family courts and problems and solutions encountered by newly developing family court systems should be studied. The history of family disputes in court and the family court movement are briefly reviewed, followed by a discussion of what constitutes a family court and court jurisdiction, functions, service delivery mechanisms, case processing and management procedures, organization, and administration. Family courts are justified with respect to improved services, damage control and empowerment, costs, and centralization versus multiple locations. Principles of family court operation are detailed, and guidance on how to establish a family court is offered. References, footnotes, and figures