Government’s Response to the Family Justice Review
The government has now published its response to the Family Justice Review
The government, as part of its recommendations, is seeking to improve the enforcement options available where one parent fails to comply with decisions made either through mediation or by a judge in relation to contact. The government states that through its recommendations it is seeking to “reinforce the principle through law that it is in the best interests of the child to have a full and continuing relationship with both parents”.
In respect of shared parenting the government has recommended the following:
1. Changes in education and the introduction of parenting agreements will help to ensure more recognition for the joint role of parents.
2. The need for the Courts to consider the joint nature of parenting. It therefore intends to issue a legislative statement emphasising the importance of children having an ongoing relationship with both parents after they have separated where it is safe and in the child’s best interests to do so.
3. Consideration will be given as to how legislation can be framed to ensure a meaningful relationship between a child and its parents is not about an equal division of time but the quality of parenting received by the child.
4. The government will be looking to help separating couples reach lasting agreements quickly if possible without the need for Court proceedings. It intends to make it compulsory for separating parents who are considering resorting to Court proceedings relating to their children to have an initial assessment to see if mediation would be possible instead.
5. Further consideration is to be given as to how the Courts can be given more robust enforcement tools to combat failure to comply with judgements.
