- Over 1,000 new cases starting in the family court every working day, with average length of cases up 36% since 2018.
- Public funding for legal advice could reduce delays and improve outcomes for children.
- Call comes during Resolution’s Good Divorce Week – designed to promote a better way for separating couples.
A Newark family law solicitor has called for more funds to help couples facing separation and divorce to reduce delays in the family court.
Andy Stout, Head of Family Law at Tallents Solicitors
Andy Stout of Tallents Solicitors, a member of Resolution, the body representing 6,500 family justice professionals in England and Wales, has made the call as part of the organisation’s Good Divorce Week, an initiative to help raise awareness of ways to minimise conflict for separating couples.
The call comes on the back of a damning parliamentary report (CLICK HERE) which reveals the average duration of private cases in the family court has increased from 26 weeks in 2018 to 41 weeks last year – a 36% increase.
Children and families are being let down by unacceptably long delays in the justice system.
With latest statistics showing that, on average, over a thousand cases are started in the family court each working day, it’s clear that these delays are not going to reduce without better resources.
Andy said: “As a member of Resolution, I follow a Code of Practice which means I’m helping couples find a non-confrontational approach to divorce and separation. This includes avoiding a lengthy and adversarial court process where possible.
“But a lack of funding for early legal advice means not enough couples can take this approach; or find out too late about ways to improve outcomes for them and their children.
Andrew said: “Family courts in the East Midlands are at breaking point. Everyone working in them is doing their best, but without better resources, I fear delays will only increase. That’s why, this Good Divorce Week, I’m calling on government, courts, and separating couples to work together to find a better way.”
Resolution’s Vision for Family Justice called on the Government to invest in early legal information and advice, so that couples have the best chance of reducing conflict and, where possible, avoiding a lengthy court process.
Melanie Bataillard-Samuel, National Chair of Resolution, added: “Our members are committed to helping separating couples minimise conflict. But they’re currently hampered by a perfect storm of an under-resourced court system, a lack of access to information and advice, and rising numbers of people having to represent themselves in court.
“I’m proud of our members’ efforts to raise awareness of these important issues during Good Divorce Week, as well as their commitment to our Code of Practice all year round. We’ll continue to make the case to government that our members cannot do this alone: we need to ensure the public has access to the right advice at the right time.”
For anyone needing Family Law or Children Law advice, Tallents Solicitors has confidential appointments available at their Newark, Southwell and Mansfield offices. They also offer a FREE, confidential family law clinic on Tuesday evenings. Just call 01636 813411 between 5pm-7pm to speak to an experienced Family Law solicitor.
Alternatively, please call 01636 671881 to arrange a confidential appointment with Andy or one of his Family Law team.
