Law Society welcomes government commitment to
children's welfare - but accuses ministers of being
disingenuous
Commenting on the issue of shared parenting ahead of the
Government's formal response to the Family Justice Review next
week, Law Society Chief Executive Des Hudson said:
“In its announcements today, the Government is rightly
upholding the welfare of children as the paramount concern of the
courts in dealing with their care after separation or divorce.
“Everyone accepts that when parents separate, children are
more likely to thrive if they have are able to maintain a good
quality relationship with both parents - but when the quality of
that relationship is itself an issue, the best interests of the
child must remain the primary consideration in disputes about
contact. The fact that a case has reached the courts is an
indication of underlying conflict and acrimony between parents.
“It is disingenuous of ministers to claim that they want
to help ensure that children can continue to have an ongoing
relationship with both their parents after separation while
simultaneously removing legal aid from a non-resident parent
when the other parent is blocking arrangements for that
relationship to happen.”
Ends
Notes to Editors:
The Family Justice Review addressed three main areas - public
law (taking children into care), private law (separation, divorce,
contact and residence) and the creation of a Family Justice
Service.
The Law Society is the independent professional body,
established for solicitors in 1825, that works globally to support
and represent its members, promoting the highest professional
standards and the rule of law.
Contact: Catherine Reed, The Law Society
+44 (0)20 7320 5902