Family Law
Divorced parents to get more rights
Ministers to look at changing rules to include 'a presumption of shared parenting', in biggest family law reform in 20 years
A ministerial working group will decide how to amend the Children's Act 1989 and might include in it a "presumption of shared parenting". The changes are part of an overhaul in family law that is described by the Law Society as "the most important" in more than 20 years.
Currently, family courts decide to leave children with their mothers in the vast majority of divorce cases, meaning that one in three children – around 3.8 million – is living with their father absent from their lives. Just 8% of single parents in Britain are fathers living with their children, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The plan, to be published on Monday, will overturn the main finding of an independent official review into family justice conducted by economist David Norgrove, which reported in November. He concluded that it would be too onerous for judges to ensure greater equality of access.
COMMENTS
Add a comment...
03/03/2012 01:35:20
Dear Sheema,I hope you are doing much better now. Your story ncghaed my life. To witness the cruelty of love's bad side' has really opened my eyes. However, I am so proud of you for all the courage you have. For all you sacrificed, you are a hero in my eyes and if you were my lady, I would love you with every fiber within my body and every atom of air that I breathe. You are a beautiful lady, and dont forget that this man in this small Louisiana town loves you so keep your head up.