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Mr Justice Ryders’s proposals to reform the family law system come at a key time, says Frances Gibb.  The family courts are facing what Mr Justice Ryder last week called “the biggest change to the family justice system since the Children Act 1989”.

There is another significant difference that makes reform compelling now:  the withdrawal of legal aid for divorce-related disputes from next April is expected to lead to a big rise in people heading to court without the benefit of lawyers.  inisters hope that many such disputes will be diverted to  mediation and resolved out of court.  But some will not.  The whole article from the Times is available here

Kingston now has a child contact centre which is based at the United Reform Church, Eden Street, Kingston-upon-Thames, KT1 1HZ.  Tel contact: 07508186162 and email is info.kccc@yahoo.co.uk

Lord Justice Thorpe has written to family law solicitors and barristers, requesting their assistance with a research project into relocation disputes in England and Wales. Family Law Week has been asked to reproduce the letter, which can be seen here.

The Times recently highlighted that it is now estimated that 24,000 of the annual 150,000 divorces in England and Wales involve a non-British citizen.  Relocation disputes are said to have risen from 27  in 2007  to 180 in 2011.  More children and being born in England and Wales  to foreign parents, with 65% of children born in London in 2010 having at least one foreign parent.  Other statistics have been referred to.  More

How new technology, mediation and a new attitude in the legal profession made divorce a lot less costly and rancorous than feared.  Full article by Linda Kelsey

Court chaos as hard-up couples try DIY divorce – the biggest shake-up of divorce in a generation is in danger of creating a two-tier system – with wealthier couples benefitting far more than less well-off couples.  Full article available….

Thousands of vulnerable people facing family breakdown could end up without legal representation because of planned changes to legal aid, according to a legal group.

The family Law Bar association says proposed changes to legal aid in England and Wales could slow and cause difficulties in divorce hearings.

The government wants to cut £350m a year from the £2.2bn legal aid bill.

Plans would see areas such as family advice cut from this public funding.

The government believes the proposed changes will encourage more people into mediation and out of the courtroom. For more info see the link to BBC

Ministers are drawing up new rules to put courts under a legal duty to ensure divorced parents are guaranteed access to their children. Parents who refuse to accept the orders will be in contempt of court and risk serious penalties or even jail.  The move will delight fathers’ rights campaigners who believe dads are penalised under the present system which usually grants mothers custody.

The Coalition is hoping to succeed where Labour failed.  In early 2005, it tried to force mothers to let partners see their children by threatening to impose penalties such as night curfews and electronic tagging.  Click for full article….