More rights planned for divorced fathers

Divorced fathers are likely to be granted more rights to see their children if the arrangement benefits the child under a Bill outlined in the Queen’s Speech.

A consultation is to be launched to discuss reforms for England and Wales under the Children and Families Bill to make sure that after a break-up both parents can go on to see their children, provided it “is safe and in the child’s best interests”. The call comes after a family justice review which said last year that introducing a legal presumption of shared parenting could create an “unacceptable risk of damage to children”.

Improvements to services for children with disabilities were also included in the Bill, as well as a shake-up in the adoption system to accelerate the process for people seeking to adopt. The Bill will also reduce the amount of time family courts in England and Wales have to decide whether to place a child in care to six months. The courts will also be required to consider how the child would be affected by any delays.

Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the Bill would “put families front and centre of our national life, with unprecedented support for parents and the biggest reform for 30 years of support for children with special needs or disabilities.”

Our Family and Matrimonial team helps families across West London and Bucks. For advice, contact a member of the team, call us on 01494 790058 or email familylaw@ibblaw.co.uk.