18th January 2011 11:10
Tayntons LLP Family Law specialist, Helen Duthie points out that mediation has been the focus of recent government overhauls with the new coalition government recommending the introduction of Compulsory Mediation before family disputes are taken to court. Parents may soon, under the new policy, be ordered to take parenting classes and attend mediation and only enter in to court proceedings when matters can still not be solved.
According to the Daily Mail on 13th January, one in five children from divorced or separated families lose touch with the parent they do not live with and rarely sees them again. Further statistics show that 3.8 million children in this country live with only one parent. 2.7 million with just their mother, 200,000 with their father and the remaining 900,000 with step families. More than half of these children never stay with their non-resident parent overnight. This paints a rather bleak picture of modern day family life in the UK.
So, is the collapse of the family on the increase and what can be done?
Separated Parenting information programmes are being used more and more to assist separating parents in the separation process, teaching them how it can affect their children, how to support their children and helping them work together to improve communication.
Mediation has many benefits but will sadly not be able to help all couples. Some will still need the intervention of a third party such as a judge when an agreement simply cannot be reached between them. In such cases, applications for Residence and Contact Orders can still be made to court. So, whilst mediation should of course be encouraged, it must also be accepted that it will not be suitable for all cases and litigation may be necessary. If the end result is that a child benefits from and enjoys contact with a previously absent parent then surely this should not be over looked?
For advice on all children matters including mediation, parenting courses and residence and contact orders contact Helen Duthie, Associate Solicitor, Resolution Accredited Specialist in Children in Law on 01452 509865 or Helen.duthie@tayntons.co.uk
Alternative methods of dispute resolution rather than going to Court could soon be compulsory but this may not work for all families.
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