Dedicated Divorce Courts to be Trialled

16/01/2018

Plans to introduce specialist courts which focus solely on divorcing couples’ finances have been welcomed by family lawyers.

Sir James Munby, the most senior family court judge in England and Wales, made the announcement which aims to reduce the pressure on overstretched family courts. Trials of the new Financial Remedies Courts, which will only deal with the financial aspects of divorce proceedings, are due to start in London, the West Midlands and South Wales this year.

The move is being seen by family lawyers as a step in the right direction for the family justice system as it will allow more time for emergency domestic violence and children cases to be heard in local courts.

That said, the reforms are not being viewed as a platform for wealthy couples’ to settle rows over money; rather the court will hear cases from all separating couples regardless of the value of the assets involved. What it does propose to do, however, is ensure that complex cases will be heard by specialist judges which will have the appropriate support in place at each of the centres so that judicial continuity can be achieved in tandem with other family law matters.