Family meltdown

Speaking at the Resolution annual conference, Mr Justice Coleridge warned: ‘We are experiencing a period of family meltdown whose effects will be as catastrophic as the meltdown of the ice caps’. He said that family law was a much lower priority in the allocation of government resources than criminal justice or prisons. He continued: ‘I am afraid that the time has come for family judges to speak out publicly in protest at the way in which the family justice system in this country has been and is being mismanaged and neglected by government. Delays are rife in every part of the system through lack of resources. And delay, as we all know, exacerbates all the problems and compounds the stress. Add to this outdated divorce laws, outdated law relating to unmarried couples and a legal aid system that is withering away and you will have a family legal system that is increasing the strain on separating couples and their children rather than helping them.’ He called on the Government to face up to the need to reform the laws on divorce, ancillary relief and cohabitants.