UnitedFuture pushing to reform family law

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United Future
Since: 2007-08-08 10:30:45.829588
Posts: 220

UnitedFuture pushing to reform family law

Posted at 2008-08-20 17:41:59.005. Permalink.

UnitedFuture has announced plans to reform New Zealand family law, in a three-pronged approach designed to keep both parents closely involved in the day-to-day lives of their children following family breakdown.

“UnitedFuture will introduce ‘shared parenting’ as a default position for child custody arrangements in the family court,” announced family spokesperson Judy Turner.

“Shared parenting is currently granted in only one in nine judgements by the Family Court, with sole custody given to only one parent in eight out of ten cases, which is an extremely unsatisfactory situation.

“Shared parenting would mean that when both parents want custody, there will be a presumption that day-to-day care will be shared unless there are good reasons why it should not be.

“Academic studies as well as common-sense tell us that children are better off when they continue to have significant relationships with both parents after parental separation,” says Mrs Turner.

UnitedFuture today announced a new Member’s Bill, that will amend the Care of Children Act, to legislate for shared parenting.
... Read the full text of this article.

mcinnes
Since: 2008-04-02 17:40:05.946
Posts: 49

Posted at 2008-08-20 17:41:59.065. Permalink.

For those of us who were or have been 'forced' into raising children by ourselves it is refreshing to see someone in Wellington looking closely at the myriad of issues associated to really help the kids get a better deal when so often 1 of the 2 parents is just "delinquent!" This is one of those experiences - that can go for years as children grow up, its a bit like jumping out of an aeroplane for the first time hoping the parachute was packed well that until one experiences the gamete of emotions & situations associated you really can't describe what the more responsible parents have to go through!

mcinnes
Since: 2008-04-02 17:40:05.946
Posts: 49

Posted at 2008-08-20 17:42:16.094. Permalink.

Quentin Todd
Since: 2007-11-03 07:27:50.433
Posts: 68

Posted at 2008-08-23 08:11:48.233. Permalink.

I am not married. But I have seen the good side and dark side of the custody battles and scars on children. One couple I know, mutually agreed when they seperated to share the responsibilities of raising their two daughters- it worked well even if the truama of the divorce badly hurt one of the daughters. Then I have seen another couple: the father of a 14 year boy not being very responsible as a parent and in the end chose not to spend time for his son. The mother in that case had to deal with breast cancer as well as a messy divorce- but the boy remained calm and grew up a well balanced man who still lives with his mother- the father has had no contact now for 5 years.

The courts would be an excellent way of saying- " keep the divorce dirt out of the children's faces-you are parents first before you are individual."

Robin Gunston
Since: 2007-08-15 21:24:50.252
Posts: 14

Posted at 2008-08-30 21:31:27.531. Permalink.

We have seen a case recently where a father was forced out of his home on a day by day basis and relating to his children for what seems a whim from his partner .

We have to force more balance into decision making and create situations that will allow as normal a family life as possible with counselling of all parties

The cost of supporting the one parent model is something we cannot afford as a nation in the long term.

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