Government strengthens law on separation

Posted 15/06/2012

The government has strengthened the law on the separation of parents to make it easier for a child to see both their mother and father.It was announced by the coalition that there is a need to make legislation clearer so youngsters benefit from having both parents actively involved in their lives and responsible for sharing the decisions on their future.Children’s minister Tim Loughton stated the aim is for most parents to resolve their disputes out of court, adding: “That’s why we are investing in and promoting family mediation services and other support to help parents reach agreements in their child’s best interests.”But he noted the court system needs to be improved in separation cases for when it is not possible to avoid this.Responding to the government’s announcement, Law Society president John Wotton highlighted the fact it “could lead to unrealistic expectations from fathers”.Posted by Stephen Williams