The government consultation on the future of Child Maintenance runs until 7th April 2011.
The consultation document can be seen on this link
The Equal parenting Alliance will be making a response to the document. If you have any views on it, post them below as a comment, before 18th March 2011, and they will be used to formulate our response.

MP John Hemming recently put down a written question in Parliament, asking
a) Have any of the FJR panel been involved, either as parents or children, in Family Court proceedings, and
b) Do the panel members have interests in the Family Law Industry?
The written answers from the Minister were (a) No and (b) Yes. This question was a very effective way, I thought, to highlight that this panel has vested interests; they represent those who earn their living from Family Law, rather than representing parents and children.
Against this background it is interesting …

I have been trying for the last 2 years to establish the principle in law that one parent unreasonably denying contact to the other is a form of criminal harassment.
Link to original article
Link to earlier update
These attempts suffered a major set-back at a Judicial Review hearing on 11/2/11.
The case in question involved a mother who left the family home, taking their children, and prevented the father having any contact with his children for 4 months. When the Family Court came to consider his contact application, …

Sometimes the question is better than the answer. Here is a Parliamentary Question put by John Hemming MP on 18/1/11 concerning the interests of the members of the Family Justice Review Panel.
John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether any of the members of the Family Justice Review panel have (a) been the subject as children of proceedings under the Children Act 1989, (b) been party as a parent to proceedings under the Children Act 1989 and (c) undertaken remunerated employment for (i) social services, (ii) CAFCASS, …

The Bar Council warns that new Legal Aid rules will “create a perverse incentive for unjustified claims (of domestic violence)”
“Just imagine the unscrupulous lawyer, or adviser, telling a woman that the only way that she’s going to get legal aid is if she says that she’s been knocked about or that there is a problem with the children.” said Peter Lodder, chairman of the Bar Council.
This article is courtesy of London Evening Standard
Hundreds of men will face false allegations of domestic violence and child abuse because of legal aid reforms, …

Her Honour Judge Beatrice Bolton was convicted by Carlisle Magistrates after her German Shepherd bit a neighbour. As the bench found her guilty of an offence under the Dangerous Dogs Act, she shouted “It’s a ****** travesty,” and ran from the courtroom crying. Anyone who has been on the receiving end of Family Justice will know just how she feels.

In July 2010, Brian Binley MP for Northampton South tabled a Private Member’s Bill which calls for the making of shared parenting orders to enhance the welfare of a child. The Bill is due it’s second reading next year. We urge you to ask your MP to support it.
The purpose of the Bill is to provide for the making of shared parenting orders and to create a legal presumption that such orders enhance the welfare of the child unless certain exceptions apply and for connected purposes.
Brian said: “Shared parenting …

Barbara Kay – National Post, Canada 17/11/2010
He just couldn’t leave well enough alone. Judge Alfred Stong, I mean, who presided over the Elaine Campione murder trial. Two days ago the jury brought in a decision of first-degree murder and a 25-year sentence against Elaine Campione, who freely confessed to drowning her two little girls in a bathtub, and who freely stated in a videotape that her motivation was hatred for, and revenge against her husband Leo.
The trial was over, But Judge Stong added comments after the verdict announcement suggesting that …

New baby – renewed love life, new friends, closer family ties?
Most couples grow closer after having a baby, the results of a new poll reveal . Despite many (68%) finding motherhood much harder work than they imagined, eight out of ten mums agreed that their relationship with their partner had been strengthened by the experience. Family ties also strengthen yet friendships evolve and move on, the survey shows.
The Aptamil 21st Century Mum survey polled over 4,200 mums and mums-to-be, and its findings suggest that motherhood could …

Fuller details can be seen on the Ministry of Justice web-site. Here is a brief extract of how the proposals are likely to affect Family Law:
Proposals include:
•Legal aid will still routinely be available in civil and family cases where people’s life or liberty is at stake, or where they are at risk of serious physical harm, or immediate loss of their home. For example, legal aid will be retained for asylum cases, for debt and housing matters where someone’s home is at immediate risk, and for mental …