Peter,

Thanks for your discourse.   I think that Hegel does well by moving quickly -- almost immediately -- from Morality to the Legal System.   Hegel calls the Legal System, "Ethical Life."     This is Morality in actual living -- i.e. in conflict with other people.

The essence of Family law -- as Srivats rightly said -- is the Children.    The Law plays a Major Role in the life of a Family when it comes to Court -- that is, during Divorce or other forms of Family Dissolution.    Hegel will focus his narrative of Family Law on the problems of Family Dissolution.  

Hegel does not tarry with Divorce or Abandonment, but that is implied, since that is a common reason for any Family to go to Court and allow a Judge to preside.   

The Law will take a special interest in the Children -- that is, in Child Support.   Children have specific Rights to a portion of Family Capital.   This is most glaring in times of the Death of the Parents -- when the Children then inherit the Family Capital -- and often a Judge must preside because there is a dispute about the division of the property among the Children.

In such cases, too, the "legitimacy" of the Children is often a burning issue in the reading of the Last Will and Testament.   The Law, furthermore, has official records of legitimate and illegitimate Children.   This is an important role.

So, Peter, in my reading of Hegel, the institution of the Family has many possible interactions with the Law -- and very important ones.   While most Families do not go to Divorce Court, but remain intact -- then perhaps most Families won't (I will grant you) directly deal with the Law Courts until the Death of the Parents, and the Reading of the Last Will and Testament.

Nevertheless, even if it is only the Last Will and Testament, then the role of the Law in the Family is still substantial.

All best,

--Paul