Critical changes needed in our family law system
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1536240727559{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 20px !important;background: #ffffff url(https://www.orpenfranks.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/touch-bg.jpg?id=1102) !important;background-position: 0 0 !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;}” el_class=”touch-mobile”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1536239598444{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}” offset=”vc_hidden-lg vc_hidden-md vc_hidden-sm”][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id=”cs-14″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_id=”slider-bottom” css=”.vc_custom_1574431739994{padding-top: 50px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;}” el_class=”content-area brand-middle”][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_single_image image=”2902″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]Like many family lawyers, we see first-hand on a daily basis, the critical changes which we need to make in our Family Law system.Some of the key changes we would encourage to ease the process for families are:
Increased Promotion of ADR in Family Law
Conflict in relationship breakdown benefits no-one, least of all the couple involved, or their children. Our system is by far too adversarial and does not provide enough alternatives to court for families in crisis. Alternative Dispute Resolution methods should be more accessible and available to people to avoid court. These can take the form of Mediation or Collaborative Law. The public should be informed more and educated more about the benefits of using ADR. It usually takes less time, and costs far less than protracted proceedings. In addition, agreements are more likely to last without complication or a need to be enforced.
Resources for the Family Law System
Our court system needs more investment to ensure that court waiting times for families are reduced. This is particularly acute in rural areas, where family District Courts often only sit once per month. Delays in the processing of cases impacts negatively on families and children.
Training
Training of judges and all court staff is essential to fully understand the dynamics of family law, and marital breakdown. Families are presenting to court staff at their most vulnerable. Staff and judges often lack the skills to address this properly. Dedicated Family Law Courts with dedicated Family Law Judges would improve outcomes for families and for children caught in conflict. They would also ensure greater consistency of decision making.
Professional Staff
As part of the review of the overall family law system, we need to make counsellors, mediators, psychotherapists and child specialists available to families in crisis, within the system itself.
To find out more about Alternative Dispute Resolution or any of the issues in this blog, please call Alan Finnerty on 01 637 6200. Or you can email him at alan.finnerty@orpenfranks.ie
In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.
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