diff --git a/jcommons/org.eclipse.statet.jcommons.util/src/org/eclipse/statet/jcommons/io/FileUtils.java b/jcommons/org.eclipse.statet.jcommons.util/src/org/eclipse/statet/jcommons/io/FileUtils.java
index 922bcee..76d2d78 100644
--- a/jcommons/org.eclipse.statet.jcommons.util/src/org/eclipse/statet/jcommons/io/FileUtils.java
+++ b/jcommons/org.eclipse.statet.jcommons.util/src/org/eclipse/statet/jcommons/io/FileUtils.java
@@ -48,6 +48,21 @@
 	
 	
 	/**
+	 * Checks if the specified path has a {@link Path#getParent() parent} and returns it.
+	 * 
+	 * @param path the path
+	 * @return the parent of the path
+	 * @throws IllegalArgumentException if the path does not have a parent
+	 */
+	public static final Path requireParent(final Path path) {
+		final Path parent= path.getParent();
+		if (parent == null) {
+			throw new IllegalArgumentException("path does not have a parent"); //$NON-NLS-1$
+		}
+		return parent;
+	}
+	
+	/**
 	 * Checks if the specified path is not empty (= has a {@link Path#getFileName() file name}) and
 	 * returns its file name.
 	 *