Lets change it for the kids

I've signed both!

The first because I believe there must be another way for parents to make this easier for the kids when the court system and some solicitors seem intent to crank up the acrimony.

I have signed the second as although my kids were under 10 at the time of the split they certainly had (and still have ) very firm views on what they expected of both their parents.
Ten years later and no contact with Dad they tell me that they wish the courts etc had listened to them as it would have prevented the "he said, she said" situation between my x, his new partner and me.

ok.

Signed up to the first

hmmmmmmmmmmmm

bump

D L wrote:
Natasha Phillips, a non practicing barrister and one of our magazine contributors has started 2 petitions regarding necessary changes in family law.

You can read the article, including the links to the petitions here:

http://www.wikivorce.com/divorce/Wikizine-Family-Law/Call-for -Change/Petition-Petition- Petition.html

Please support these petitions - it would seem that the one thing we can all agree on is that change is needed.

Whats the cut off date?

Thank you all very much for your thoughts on the petitions.Perhaps it might help if I clarify a couple of things:In relation to Petition: Child Autonomy, the request being made is nothing more than the observation that children need to be listened to and in so doing making sure that the courts do listen. The accompanying article that I wrote does mention that if the child's view appears to be marred by unsound reasoning, such as the possibility of parental alienation, that should be dealt with after the child has been able to put their views and feelings on record. This petition does not in any way ignore the associated problems with bad parenting; rather it asks the court to make child involvement in matters relating to them a legal right and not just a mere consideration. For older children, this is straightforward but for babies and children who cannot verbalise feelings, this poses a problem, which perhaps can be solved by independent representation for these children and a system that understands that it is not about parent's rights but children's needs. Too often, parents assert their own hurt into the process without really thinking about their motives. This is another petition for another day, but I do feel independent representation for kids of all ages is a must - in a system that is refined enough to really undestand children and how they view the world emotionally and cognitively, which unfortunately we do not have at present.The cut off date for these petitions is one year from their creation. I am very happy to answer any further questions you may have on these petitions and all comments, if civilly made, are welcome. 

Dear nbm1708,

I have just had a chance to read your thoughts on mediation and possible frusration by one parent who refuses to go and how any new procedures might address that.

These two petitions that is I started address just the building blocks of the process with a view to changing our culture in family law - if we did remove the legal process from the family law context it would only be where there was no risk of significant harm to the child. Where that child is being denied contact with a parent, with whom they have a natural and healthy relationship, the legal process would then kick in, perhaps with the use of lawyers initially or a form which we could submit to the courts to alert them of the problem.

Ther are lots of initial problems with the system, such as lack of speed and lack of legal recognition for the most important parties in any divorce (our children), that these petitions are simply designed to address these very basic issues first of all. Once we have a system that is responsive and savvy, we can go all out and glam it up with sound laws on process!

I hope the above helps; thank you for taking the time to think about these petitions and thank you to all those who signed them and who have contributed to this thread.