Rumours are circulating of retired judges, now incumbent in the House of Lords, raising opposition to the Government's proposed shared parenting legislation. No doubt we shall hear other grumbles of discontent in the coming months.1
The Government is seeking to introduce a presumption of shared parenting in law. Where there are case specific reasons why shared parenting is inappropriate and may expose children to harm, each judge will still be able to decide whether shared parenting is appropriate. So what is the problem?
Laws should reflect societal norm, and be subject to democratic process. Parliament, democratically elected, decides what our laws should be. Once set, one would expect the judiciary to adhere to both the letter and spirit of the law, but on the subject of shared parenting, historically, the judiciary have opposed Parliament's intentions. I raised this matter once with Sir Nicholas Wall, current President of the Family Division of the Courts, who replied that 'the judiciary do not read Hansard.' A fair reply, but one would have thought that once aware of Parliament's intentions, there would be guidance from the President to his judiciary.
So why is a presumption needed in Children Act statute? This is where the discussion gets uncomfortable for the senior members of the judiciary... because the courts are too inconsistent... because outcomes in the courts do not reflect societal norm... because outcomes from the courts likely contribute to mental health, delinquency, low academic attainment and other social and developmental problems for children... because the judiciary believe that they (as experts in law) have a better understanding of child psychology than the experts, and Government. From this, the judiciary have shaped social policy for the past 20 years, in opposition to the intentions of Government.
An outrageous claim? Let's look at some 'real' evidence, but be mindful that if the senior judiciary accept our evidence, they also accept that their defense of judicial discretion has been at the expense of child welfare... but onto some of the evidence:
What is the norm in society? There has been extensive research done by the Equal Opportunities Commission, with studies done in both 2003 and 2007 on the division of parental care time. These studies found that in intact families, the amount of care time parents devoted to children differed by only 16 minutes a day (between mums and dads). Women work now. Parents share care. That's not a desire, to be shaped by Government policy, but a reality which should be reflected in law.2
What outcomes are commonly granted by the courts when parents separate? Arrangements for children are markedly different. We were surprised when the research came out.
On average, staying contact is only granted in 60% of cases, but it is the variation between the courts which on one level is shocking, but on another, is no surprise at all!3
There are some excellent judges. Modern, with an understanding of current parenting trends... but there are also dinosaurs whose ideas of family life remain in the 1970s. What we get from the courts is an inconsistent outcome. A lottery... and a presumption may help iron out some of that inconsistency by reminding judges of what society is today, and of what is known today about securing child well being.
What difference between two courts...In one... staying contact granted in 73% of cases.. in another just 28%. In one... all parents permitted some form of contact. In another, just two thirds.
We help people with many court cases, and a common question asked is 'what are my chances'. There are so many variables outside of the facts of the case... and these are the individual opinions of CAFCASS Officers and members of the judiciary. So much depends upon the judge you get, and frankly, who you get is pot luck.
Child Welfare and Shared Parenting
Is there a link between shared parenting and positive outcomes for children. Yes... and the benefits are seen in their educational, psychological and sociological development. They are 40% less likely to suffer mental health problems. Less likely to experience drug addiction, teenage pregnancy, and delinquency. Their IQ is likely to be several points higher. Wild claims? Not at all... read the research findings
here.
4
Have there been attempts to introduce shared parenting before? Yes... when the Children Act 1989 was introduced. Parliament's view, over 20 years ago was that if shared parenting was practicable, there was no reason to discourage it. Read the words for yourself...
"It is intended that another difference between
residence and custody orders is that the new order should be flexible enough to
accommodate a much wider range of situations.
In some cases, the order will provide that the child shall
live with both parents, even though they do not share the same household. If
such an arrangement is practicable, there is no reason to discourage it.
More commonly, however, the order will provide for the child
to live with both parents, but to spend more time with one than the other...It
is a more realistic description of the responsibilities involved in
arrangements of this sort to make a residence order covering both parents
rather than a residence order for one and a contact order for the other."5
Parliament intended that the new act would see shared
parenting and shared residence become the common outcome for children affected
by parental separation. Parliament’s thinking was ahead of its time, and has
been upheld by a wide body of research in subsequent years, and we detail much
of that research in our
publications.
The more progressive members of the judiciary are well aware of the advantages of shared parenting, and Parliament's intentions. As expressed by Mr Justice Mostyn:
There is very good reason why such orders (shared residence)
should be normative for they avoid the psychological baggage of right, power
and control that attends a sole residence order, which was the one of the
reasons that we were ridden of the notions of custody and care and control by
the Act of 1989.6
Again the problem is, that opinion is not universal, so outcomes are inconsistent. The matter of shared residence could have been settled some 23 years ago, but for the wrongful interpretation by the then President of the Family Division of the Courts, Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss. Following the introduction of the
Children Act 1989, Dame Elizabeth issued guidance which went
counter to the intentions of Parliament. She informed the judiciary that:
‘shared residence orders should only be made in exceptional
circumstances’7
10 years later, this position was reversed to some extent in common law, when the need for exceptional circumstances was removed, but still, shared residence remained uncommon, and now is common in some courts, but rare in others.8
Dame Butler-Sloss is now President of the Grandparents Association, an organisation which we have worked with closely in the past on various legal reform proposals and which has historically supported shared parenting. It will be interesting to see whether Dame Elizabeth represents the wishes of her charity or those of the Law Society, when the debate on shared parenting legislation comes before the House of Lords.
Does the Law Society represent the views of all the legal profession? No. We know many solicitors and barristers who have privately told us of their support for shared parenting. Perhaps the most articulate expression of support was given in the High Court by Sir Nicholas Mostyn, when he discussed the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in relation to relocation cases:
"...If one were to draw up a hierarchy of human rights protected by the Convention
I would have thought that very near to the top would be the right of a child,
while he or she is growing up, to have a meaningful participation by both of
his parents in his upbringing. Although this is (strangely) not explicitly
spelt out in the text it must be implicit in the notion of the right to a
family life. Recognition of the existence of this very obvious and critically
important right is sometimes, so it seems to me, lost in the relocation cases."9
Had Dame Elizabeth read Hansard reports, this matter may have been resolved two decades ago. If the Law Society became experts not just in law, but in child welfare, they might have supported shared parenting many years ago. The research evidence is there, but plainly, they remain unaware as they claim it doesn't exist.
So put simply... why should there be a presumption of shared parenting in law... to help correct the inconsistency of outcome in family court proceedings and better safeguard the interests of children.
We hope the new President of the Family Division of the Court, once appointed, will issue new guidance and be a champion of this reform. Social policy should be set by elected members of Parliament...
End Notes
1. Read the proposed amendments here http://www.thecustodyminefield.com/download/sharedparentingamendment.pdf
2. Working Fathers, Earning and Caring’, Equal Opportunities Commission 2003 & ‘Completing the Revolution: The Leading Indications’, Equal Opportunities Commission 2007, London.
3. Tables are taken from 'Outcomes of applications to court for contact orders after parental separation or divorce.'
Joan Hunt and Alison Macleod. Oxford Centre for Family Law and
Policy. Department of Social Policy and Social Work University of
Oxford. Family Law and Justice Division. September 2008
4. http://www.thecustodyminefield.com/Factsheets/TCM-ResearchSupportingSharedCare.pdf
5. The House of Commons reference sheet 89/5.13 on the Children
Bill (26 June 1989)
7.The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations, Volume 1, Court Orders
