We at RJT Solicitors are supporting Resolution’s Good Divorce Week taking place from 28th November – 2nd December 2022, which is an annual campaign to promote a child focused and amicable approach to divorce and separation.
Who are Resolution?
Resolution is a membership association of 6,500 family justice professionals promoting a non- confrontational, proactive and constructive approach to family matters.
Good Divorce Week highlights the crisis in the family courts and raises awareness of all the different ways families can resolve their disputes away from court where it is safe and appropriate to do so.
Family courts are facing huge backlogs both in terms of dealing with listings and administrative tasks. Despite the best efforts of court staff, families are frequently left waiting long periods of time to sort out finances and children arrangements.
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 6 weeks longer to reach a conclusion. Estimates suggest it takes nearly 2 years to resolve financial matters.
That leaves many families in limbo for over a year. This inevitably has a knock-on effect on children’s schooling and family finances.
Resolution surveyed its members on the current court backlogs and found: –
- 20% said court delays caused clients to rely on benefits
- 34% said they have referred a client to a counsellor or therapist to help them cope with the stress of ongoing court delays
- 90% said court backlogs were causing additional unnecessary stress and pressure for clients
Backlogs are wreaking havoc across families. Even couples who want to separate amicably are having their patience and their continued relationship tested to breaking point by long delays. When it comes to sorting out child arrangements and finances after divorce, the situation is even bleaker.
Children are waiting nearly a year for the courts to determine which parent they live with, which school they go to, how much time they spend with the other parent – putting the whole family’s life on hold. This is simply unacceptable and another reason why getting other professional advice is so important for families.
We are proud to be offering 30-minute free advice sessions not only during Good Divorce Week, but throughout the year. This enables families to benefit from early professional advice.
Juliette Harvey, national chair of Resolution said
“..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 Rachel and Donna at RJT Solicitors are doing their best to help families achieve better outcomes and find long lasting resolutions.”
If you require advice and assistance on divorce, separation, finances or children matters please do not hesitate to contact us for a free 30 minute no obligation consultation on 01257 228027 or email rachel@rjtsolicitors.co.uk
