nuclear family
A family including only the parents and their children.
extended family
A wider network including grandparents, cousins etc.
close relatives
parents, children, brothers or sisters
distant relatives
people like second cousins or distant cousins
blood relatives
close/immediate family members
close / close-knit family
A family that is very close, loving, spending a lot of time with each other.
dysfunctional family
An unhappy family that is not working in a healthy way
late husband / wife
someone's wife / husband who has died
estranged husband / wife
a wife / husband who lives in a different place and has a difficult relationship with their husband / wife
trial separation
initial (first) phase after splitting up; may end in divorce
to get a divorce
the decision to split / separate indefinitely
bitter / acrimonious divorce
a process that is full of anger, arguments and bad feelings
broken home
children whose parents have separated or divorced are said to come from a broken home (old fashioned term)
stable home
the opposite of a broken home
deprived home
growing up without having the things necessary for a pleasant life, such as enough money, food or good living conditions
confirmed bachelor
a man who seems to have no intention of ever marrying
to start a family
don't say: To begin a family
to have children
I'd like to have three children (don't say: get children)
to expect a baby
don't say: To wait (for) a baby
the baby is due
The baby is expected to arrive next week.
sngle parent / mother
A married / unmarried parent taking care of the children on their own.
to raise a family
to bring up a family The children grow up. The parents raise them/ bring them up.
to apply for custody
custody: the legal right or duty to care for a child after its parents have separated or died.
to provide for your family
to take care of your family; to earn enough money to support your family
to set up home
to start an independent life in one's own flat or house