El presente trabajo es el resultado de un proceso de investigacion teorico descriptiva de tipo documental, en el cual se rastrearon y analizaron diferentes estudios publicados durante los anos 2002 a 2015 en relacion con el tema ciclo vital familiar (CVF). Se analizaron 45 articulos y textos teoricos. A partir del proceso de codificacion y analisis se derivan tres nucleos tematicos: Definicion de CVF; Etapas del CVF y Nuevas apuestas conceptuales en torno a este. Se presenta al ciclo vital familiar desde dos perspectivas, como teorizacion que permite discernir el desarrollo de la familia a lo largo de su existencia, a traves de etapas, y otra que implica cuestionar la validez contemporanea de esta teoria en la sociedad dados sus cambios sociales, culturales, economicos, entre otros. Palabras clave: Familia, Ciclo Vital familiar, Relaciones Familiares. Abstract This study is the result of a process of theoretical descriptive documentary research, in which different researches published during the years 2002-2015 in relation to the subject family life cycle (FLC) were tracked and analyzed. 45 articles and theoretical texts were analyzed. From the process of coding and analysis three contents have been derived: Definition of FLC, FLC stages and new conceptual challenges on this. The family life cycle is presented from two perspectives, as theorizing that can discern the development of the family throughout its existence, through stages, and another that involves questioning the contemporary validity of this theory in society, taken into account social, cultural, and economic changes, among others. Keywords: Family, Family Life Cycle, Family Relations.