News
Family justice system is at risk, warns new chief judge
The first woman Attorney-General was enthusing in Law last week about government moves to combat domestic violence. A starkly different message comes this week from the first woman to lead the 455-judge strong Association of District Judges. Edwina Millward believes that recent reforms to curb domestic violence are having the reverse effect — and that cases coming to trial are in decline. “Fewer victims appear to be applying to the courts for non-molestation injunction orders — and more people who breach orders are escaping punishment,” she says
Posted on 31 Mar 2008 by admin
Alone and desperate, Sarah faced a terrible choice: give up her son.. or her daughter
When Sarah Hart's marriage broke down she had to make the toughest decision of her life - which of her children to send away.
As I held on tight to my daughter Rosie I never wanted to let her go. "I'll see you again as soon as I can," I promised. Rosie was too young to understand but the truth was I had no idea when we would meet again.
She was just four years old and about to go and live with her dad in South Africa while I stayed in England and raised her 18-month-old brother Brett.
It was a heart-wrenching decision, to send my daughter away, and after Rosie was gone it felt like she'd died. I was left grieving but there was no turning back.
As I held on tight to my daughter Rosie I never wanted to let her go. "I'll see you again as soon as I can," I promised. Rosie was too young to understand but the truth was I had no idea when we would meet again.
She was just four years old and about to go and live with her dad in South Africa while I stayed in England and raised her 18-month-old brother Brett.
It was a heart-wrenching decision, to send my daughter away, and after Rosie was gone it felt like she'd died. I was left grieving but there was no turning back.
Posted on 31 Mar 2008 by admin
Voice of the child is often key to resolving family disputes, says President
Judges handling private children law cases should be encouraged to listen directly to the children involved, in the opinion of the President of the Family Division, Sir Mark Potter. He made his views clear on this topic at the inaugural Resolution Annual Family Law Lecture where he was speaking on the theme of "Does the family justice system serve the needs of children?". Speaking from his own experience, and that of the approach on the Continent where judges often speak directly to the children, he made it clear that such actions should be encouraged provided that both parties were made aware of the views expressed.
http://www.familylawweek.co.uk/library.asp?i=3457
http://www.familylawweek.co.uk/library.asp?i=3457
Posted on 31 Mar 2008 by admin
Teen tries to help others cope with divorce
Bill Sears endured a childhood trauma that has been, and will be, faced by millions. He survived the death of his parents' marriage. He had to pick sides, counsel his parents and learn how to interpret his feelings. Pretty heavy stuff for a little kid.
Now, nine years later, Bill is as close to an expert on these kinds of things as a 16-year-old can be. And he's willing to help anyone -- parent or kid -- he can.
Now, nine years later, Bill is as close to an expert on these kinds of things as a 16-year-old can be. And he's willing to help anyone -- parent or kid -- he can.
Posted on 31 Mar 2008 by admin
A blow to equality
While we await the judge's decision on the division of Paul McCartney's fortune between himself and the estranged Heather Mills, it's worth wondering what the feminist line is on divorce settlements - this one in particular, those of the super-rich generally, and finally those of everyone else.
Posted on 23 Feb 2008 by admin
CAFCASS and reporting failures
A recent investigation and report into the East Midlands Cafcass Service highlights matters which a CAFCASS Officer should or shouldn't consider when writing a report for the Court in private family law proceedings.
The Ofsted Report into East Midlands Cafcass points out the following failures by the service. Ensure that the report into your own family circumstances does not also disregard best practice and use the information below as a guide (and information to refer either your solicitor of a judge to).
http://www.thecustodyminefield.com/8.html
The Ofsted Report into East Midlands Cafcass points out the following failures by the service. Ensure that the report into your own family circumstances does not also disregard best practice and use the information below as a guide (and information to refer either your solicitor of a judge to).
http://www.thecustodyminefield.com/8.html
Posted on 23 Feb 2008 by admin
How bungling and bureaucratic social workers are putting children's lives at risk
Some social workers are so bad at their jobs that they are putting children's lives in danger, a Whitehall watchdog found yesterday.
It accused those operating in the family courts of overlooking abusive behaviour by parents and ignoring the views of children.
The report by Government inspectors added that they are obsessed with bureaucracy but rely on files which are incompetently written and missing vital information.
It accused those operating in the family courts of overlooking abusive behaviour by parents and ignoring the views of children.
The report by Government inspectors added that they are obsessed with bureaucracy but rely on files which are incompetently written and missing vital information.
Posted on 23 Feb 2008 by admin
British justice: a family ruined
Last autumn a small English congregation was rocked by the news that two of its parishioners had fled abroad. A 56-year-old man had helped his pregnant wife to flee from social workers, who had already taken her son into care and were threatening to seize their baby.
Posted on 23 Feb 2008 by admin
Guardian Online 08Jan08 - Making a clean break: Divorce should not be treated as a purely legal matter, especially when children are involved
In the UK, the business of divorce and post-separation is too often desperately badly handled, especially once children are involved.
Posted on 21 Jan 2008 by admin
BBC Radio 4 Saturday Live 05Jan08 - Interview highlihgting a Grandparent fighting for access to her grandchildren
Diane & her husband have 10 grandchildren. But for years she has had to fight to see many of them – having been excluded from their lives by their parents.
Diane and her husband has not seen her grandchildren for 8 years. She applied for direct contact which was refused by the Court but they did permit indirect access. The interviewer suggests that the parents should decide what is best for their children but this feisty and determined grandmother challenges this unacceptable perception.
This interview is worth listening to, particularly for grandparents trying to come to terms with the living bereavement of being excluded from their grandchildren's lives following their own children's divorce.
This radio interview can be accessed via: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/mainframe.shtml?http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/radio4_aod.shtml?radio4/saturdaylive
starts 31 minutes into the programme and runs for about 15 minutes.
Diane and her husband has not seen her grandchildren for 8 years. She applied for direct contact which was refused by the Court but they did permit indirect access. The interviewer suggests that the parents should decide what is best for their children but this feisty and determined grandmother challenges this unacceptable perception.
This interview is worth listening to, particularly for grandparents trying to come to terms with the living bereavement of being excluded from their grandchildren's lives following their own children's divorce.
This radio interview can be accessed via: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/mainframe.shtml?http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/radio4_aod.shtml?radio4/saturdaylive
starts 31 minutes into the programme and runs for about 15 minutes.
Posted on 21 Jan 2008 by admin
New UK Government e-Petition to stop Parental Alienation
I have been alerted to this latest UK Government e-petition asking the Prime Minister to stop Parental Alienation (http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/alienation/#detail). To date there are 120 signatures on this petition with the signup deadline being 23 April 2008.
The petition states:
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to stop parental alienation if an ex partner refuses the absent parent access to the children then monetry payments should cease.
Ex partners are damaging our future generations.Children need their fathers/mothers and grandparents after divorce or separation.Therefore if the government were to pass a law stating that if access is denied then the residing parent should have their maintenance payments stopped until access is resumed.Thus freeing up courts dealing with access rights."
I appreciate that these petitions do have limited impact on the Government but it is another opportunity to raise awareness of Parental Alienation through official channels
The petition states:
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to stop parental alienation if an ex partner refuses the absent parent access to the children then monetry payments should cease.
Ex partners are damaging our future generations.Children need their fathers/mothers and grandparents after divorce or separation.Therefore if the government were to pass a law stating that if access is denied then the residing parent should have their maintenance payments stopped until access is resumed.Thus freeing up courts dealing with access rights."
I appreciate that these petitions do have limited impact on the Government but it is another opportunity to raise awareness of Parental Alienation through official channels
Posted on 21 Jan 2008 by admin
Child support expert claims ministers have had a ‘nervous breakdown’
The architect of Australia’s acclaimed child maintenance system is so alarmed at Britain’s plans to overhaul the Child Support Agency that he has flown to London to voice his concern.
The new system, which encourages separating couples to reach their own arrangements voluntarily, leaving a pared-down agency to deal with “hard cases”, means that many children will get far less than they deserve from their absent father, he has said.
The new system, which encourages separating couples to reach their own arrangements voluntarily, leaving a pared-down agency to deal with “hard cases”, means that many children will get far less than they deserve from their absent father, he has said.
Posted on 21 Jan 2008 by admin
Child support Bill
The Government should take an opportunity to pilot specialist services for families splitting up
Posted on 21 Dec 2007 by admin
Paying for children: never never?
Former Law Society Chief Executive, Janet Paraskeva, has been appointed as the Chair Designate of the Child Maintenance & Enforcement Commission to be established by a Bill which is up for its Third Reading this week. See the announcement by the CSA .
Posted on 21 Dec 2007 by admin
Family justice policy does not work for children, report says
This report explores the longer-term outcomes of in-court conciliation (or alternative dispute resolution) in child contact cases. The study examines the impact on re-litigation, contact patterns, co-parenting, contact problems and adult and child wellbeing two years after the original intervention. The study is based on telephone interviews with 117 parents. This report follows an earlier study by the same authors, published in 2006, reporting on the short-term outcomes of in-court conciliation.
Posted on 21 Dec 2007 by admin
BBC Newsround Survey finds 1 in 4 children do not consider their fathers immediate family
A recent survey by CBBC of 1000 children aged 6-12 from the UK and a follow-up article by the Mail on Sunday on the results, the most disturbing of which is that "1 in 4 children do not consider their fathers immediate family."
Posted on 21 Dec 2007 by admin
Third time lucky?
The government is having another go at reform of the Child Support Agency. The new system must address parents' concerns
Posted on 21 Dec 2007 by admin
New guidance published on justices' reasons in the Family Proceedings Court
The Magistrates Association and the Justices' Clerks' Society has published new Good Practice guidance for justices' giving reasons in Children Act cases. The purpose of the guidance is to:
"remind justices and their legal advisers of the content of that guidance, of statutory requirements, of guidance given in case law and to suggest Good Practice in relation to the detail to be contained within justices' facts and reasons."
"remind justices and their legal advisers of the content of that guidance, of statutory requirements, of guidance given in case law and to suggest Good Practice in relation to the detail to be contained within justices' facts and reasons."
Posted on 21 Dec 2007 by admin
Reversing Alienation
It is almost impossible to know if a child has truly been victimised by parental alienation syndrome (PAS). There is no test for it, no X-ray can be examined and lengthy psychological evaluations have a certain amount of subjectivity regardless of the clinician's efforts to be impartial.
Posted on 21 Dec 2007 by admin
I had to choose - my grandchildren or my son'
With new figures revealing that 20 million Britons live in the shadow of divorce, Judith Woods hears how grandparents can be caught up in the pain of separation
Posted on 30 Oct 2007 by admin
Thoughts at four days old
Kate Hilpern's tears after giving birth were not just for her newborn baby, but for her mother, Susan, who had her - and gave her away - all before she was 18
Posted on 30 Oct 2007 by admin
Hidden heartache of the weekend mothers
As Britney Spears has found, courts are increasingly giving fathers custody of their children after divorce. Mothers tell of the shame they feel over their empty nests
Posted on 26 Oct 2007 by admin
Email to The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families
Date:
7 September 2007
To:
The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families
The Rt. Hon. Ed Balls, MP
Sanctuary Buildings
Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT
From:
Penny Cross
Chair, Mothers Apart from Their Children
Dear Secretary of State
7 September 2007
To:
The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families
The Rt. Hon. Ed Balls, MP
Sanctuary Buildings
Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT
From:
Penny Cross
Chair, Mothers Apart from Their Children
Dear Secretary of State
Posted on 10 Sep 2007 by admin
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Publications
Lost Children: A Guide for Separating Parents, Penny Cross.