A family charity has urged separated parents to use mediation to sort arrangements for childcare before the holiday period to reduce the chance of conflict over Christmas.
The National Family Mediation (NFM) charity have called on separated parents to work out a simple parenting plan before the holiday season to avoid disputes on child care over Christmas.
The charity, which helps families reach post-separation agreements on parenting, property and finance, has warned of the stress that Christmas can with the holiday season often highlighting issues with court-approved settlements and living arrangements. According to the organisation, arrangements that work throughout the year can be exposed and prove to be ineffective over Christmas.
The charity stated that family mediation could be an effective way to manage the holiday season for separated couples and that a simple family plan could provide clarification in advance for both parents, thus reducing the risk of conflict and distress over Christmas and New Year.
Jane Robey, CEO of National Family Mediation said: “Living arrangements that work well all year can be exposed as inadequate. And there can be turmoil for pick-ups and drop-offs when children need to visit relatives they haven’t seen for the past year.”
“A positive parenting plan, agreed by both parents, is easier to achieve than many people think.
Family Law News
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The Law Society has given its support to proposals made by the Family Justice Review to improve the current family justice system.
New rules on mediation for separating couples that are now in force are broadly welcome, but contain worrying flaws because the Government has acted in indecent haste, said family law association Resolution.
Resolution, the family lawyers' organisation, has warned that a lack of properly accredited mediators may mean that some divorcing couples will be unable to comply with the recently announced requirement to seek mediation.
From April, anyone setting out to contest the terms of their separation in court will first be required to consider mediation, under a new protocol agreed with the Judiciary.