Good Divorce Week 2022 - An alternative to costly stressful delays in the Family Court?
Divorces are on the increase again with the most recent statistics showing 113,000 divorces in 2021 – up nearly 10% on the previous year – and the impact on wait times is stark. On average it now takes 52 weeks to conclude divorce proceedings.
In addition, official figures show that while private children cases were down by 7% during the last year, they are taking on average six weeks longer to reach a conclusion. And estimates suggest it takes nearly two years to resolve financial matters.
That leaves many families in limbo for over a year. That has a knock-on effect on children’s schooling and family finances.
Resolution is a membership association of 6,500 family justice professionals promoting a non-confrontational approach to resolving family issues and campaigning for a fairer family justice system.
Furthermore, members commit to a Code of Practice that promotes a constructive approach to family issues and considers the needs of the whole family, in particular the best interests of children.
Juliet Harvey, national chair of Resolution, said: “Under resourcing the family courts system is a false economy inflicting unnecessary pressure on the public purse and unconscionable stress on families at an already stressful time in their lives. A study of the impact of funding legal advice in Scotland found that, every £1 spent by government on legal aid in family cases saw a return of around £5 elsewhere.
“If the government were to focus more on encouraging early advice for separating couples and including information about all out of court options it could ease the pressure on family courts. Resolution members like Kent and Surrey Family Resolution are doing their best to help families achieve better outcomes and find long-lasting resolutions.”
Kent and Surrey Family Resolution offer a range of affordable, fair, alternatives to going to the family court when divorcing or seperating.
We are accredited Resolution mediators, collaborative practitioners and accredited specialists. You can read more about the services Kent and Surrey Family Resolution can provide at the Resolution website.