This Master's degree thesis Maternity and related legal issues consists of three extensive chapters analyzing current issues of maternity from the perspective of different branches of law. Despite the fact that the topic seems to be very simple, it contains many serious legal problems. Chapter One called General aspects of maternity protection in law has been dedicated to the basic terms of the family law, such as family and parenthood. Although it is not possible to find any definition of these terms, they certainly deserve the highest legal protection. The first part explains the basis of family, parenthood and maternity protection from the perspective of the legal order of the Czech Republic and from the perspective of international and European law. The next part deals with the protection of pregnant women in the national, international and European law, which may be regarded as a special expression of family protection. The following sections focus on parenthood, the importance of its determination in respect of law as well as on its far-reaching consequences. It is emphasized that motherhood and fatherhood constitute absolute-status legal relationships, which cannot be unilaterally given up. Such effects may be induced solely by the parental consent to adoption of a child. In light of the...