Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the efficacy of divorce law in helping divorcing parents put the needs of their children first.

Divorce law enables a court to end a marriage which has irretrievably broken down, where one party to the marriage petitions for a divorce. A number of tools and services, such as the online Parenting Plan, are available to help divorcing parents reach agreements about the needs of their children, for example covering questions about living arrangements and education. If there is a dispute, parents can choose to use mediation which can be quicker, less stressful for families and cheaper than litigation.

Where agreement is not possible, either parent can apply to the court for an order to determine with whom the child is to live or spend time, but is required first to attend a meeting to consider mediation. If the case goes before the court, the court is legally required to make the child’s welfare its paramount concern in any decision regarding the child’s future, while recognising the importance of parental involvement.