Press Release

Courts expensive, painful and destructive for families

*             According to the National Audit Office, family courts do not work 

*             Mediation should be better advertised as an alternative to court 

*             A presumption of Shared Parenting would reduce the need for court 
 

Evidence that family courts do not work has today been produced by the National Audit Office, in a report entitled "Legal Aid and Mediation for people involved in family breakdown." The report is available on line at: http://www.nao.org.uk/pn/06-07/0607256.htm. It states that too many cases are going to court rather than being settled through mediation, resulting in a far lengthier and more expensive process which is also likely to be acrimonious for all involved. Where a mediated case will take 110 days to resolve and cost £752, going though the courts can take up to 435 days at a cost of £1, 682.  

Families Need Father CEO Jon Davies said: "The NAO report is a powerful piece of evidence on the costs of family courts, and the impact they have on families, both children and parents. The waste of money on a system that is often secretive is a scandal. FNF strongly believes that we need a shared parenting culture where Government encourages couples to take on their full responsibilities towards their children after divorce. A court system that increases acrimony is clearly not meeting that test. We support an increased emphasis on mediation, but we also need to address the failings in the family courts and the laws that they are applying."

-  ENDS  -

Families Need Fathers (FNF) is a registered charity providing information and support on shared parenting issues arising from family breakdown, and support to divorced and separated parents, irrespective of gender or marital status. Our primary concern is the maintenance of the child’s relationship with both parents. Founded in 1975, FNF helps thousands of parents every year.

 

 

Please see Families Need Fathers paper  ‘The Case for Shared Parenting Legislation’

 

Please see Families Need Fathers Manifesto