Delicious/CentreforSeparatedFamilies

Cafcass reports private law demand up 28% on a year ago (Thu, 09 May 2013)
In April 2013, Cafcass received a total of 4,400 new private law cases, a 28% increase on April 2012 levels. This is the highest ever recorded by Cafcass for the month of April and also the joint highest month (with October 2012) on record. [Family Law Week]
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UK residents living in married households have declined by 6% (Wed, 30 Jan 2013)
The latest statistical bulletin, published by the Office for National Statistics and derived from the 2011 census, shows that the number of UK residents under the age of 65 living in a one family married couple household has declined by 6% since 2001. The relative numbers of such residents cohabiting has risen by 2% and as lone parents by 1%. [Family Law Week]
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UK in family breakdown 'epidemic' (Sat, 29 Dec 2012)
The UK has one of the highest rates of family breakdown in the Western world with just two thirds of children living with both parents, according to research by a global development organisation. [The Independent]
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Gross income child maintenance calculations come into force (Mon, 10 Dec 2012)
Changes to the way child maintenance is assessed, collected and paid to recipients come into force today (10 December 2012) under the powers of the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008. It is the start of a process that seeks to replace the existing 1993 and 2003 schemes. [Family Law Hub]
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Get a grip on family policy, says ex-minister as report claims half of all children will see parents separate (Mon, 08 Oct 2012)
Former Conservative children’s minister Tim Loughton said the findings demonstrated the urgent need for David Cameron to get the Government’s family policy ‘back on track’. ‘All the research shows that the presence of mum and dad throughout childhood gives children the best chance of good health, successful education and freedom from dependency,’ he told the Mail. [Daily Mail]
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Family courts need radical change of culture (Wed, 01 Aug 2012)
Family courts need radical change of culture, says lord chief justice. Adversarial system must give way to a more inquisitorial approach, and culture of delay must be reduced. [Guardian]
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Government sets out ‘radical vision’ for child maintenance system (Sun, 15 Jul 2012)
The Government has unveiled detailed plans for the reshaped child maintenance system in Great Britain. The regulations that underpin the details set out in the Command Paper, along with the Impact Assessment and Equality Impact Assessment, will be published on Thursday 19 July 2012 and the consultation period will run from that date until the 26 October 2012. [Family Law Week]
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Children’s Minister clarifies nature of proposals for shared parenting after divorce (Mon, 18 Jun 2012)
In a letter to The Times, the Children's Minister Tim Loughton has confirmed that the Government's proposals in respect of shared parenting after divorce do not seek to create a 'right of artificial equality of time' with children. [Family Law Week]
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Grandparents threatened with arrest for sending birthday cards to grandchildren (Mon, 11 Jun 2012)
Grandparents are being threatened with arrest for sending their grandchildren birthday cards after a family break-up, campaigners warned yesterday. [Telegraph]
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Government 'failing to tackle family breakdown' (Wed, 30 May 2012)
The Coalition Government is failing to tackle the “tragic breakdown of family life”, breaking pledges to support marriage, Iain Duncan Smith’s think-tank has said. [Telegraph]
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Bringing child maintenance under direct Ministerial control (Wed, 25 Apr 2012)
Following a public consultation last year, an order has been laid in Parliament today to bring the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (CMEC) back under direct Ministerial control as a business unit of the Department for Work and Pensions. [DWP]
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Mediation Assessment Meetings 'not working' claim (Tue, 10 Apr 2012)
6th April marks the first anniversary of rules coming into force requiring divorcing couples to attend a mediation information and assessment meeting (MIAM), to find out about alternatives to court (such as collaborative law and arbitration), before being able to issue a court application. To gauge the effect of the new rules, Resolution commissioned a member survey last month. [Resolution]
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£20 million to help separating families (Wed, 25 Jan 2012)
An extra £20 million will be made available to support separated and separating families as part of the radical overhaul of the Child Maintenance system, Ministers announced today. [DWP]
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Separated parents are happier with their own, family-based, child maintenance arrangements says major survey (Tue, 10 Jan 2012)
New research shows separated parents who work out their own child maintenance arrangements are more satisfied with their set-up than those using the Child Support Agency. [Child Maintenance Commission]
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Divorced mums and dads could get legal right to see their children (Fri, 06 Jan 2012)
Courts will be put under a legal duty to ensure that both fathers and mothers are given access to children in divorce settlements. Parents who refuse to accept the orders will be in contempt of court and risk serious penalties or even jail. [Telegraph]
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