tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33548522012-02-17T21:26:14.621ZCampaigning for shared parenting after divorce & separation. Children have a right to BOTH parents!Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.comBlogger611100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-62123007678913895222007-11-19T12:13:00.000Z2007-11-19T12:29:12.642Z

Thanks to Robert Whiston for drawing attention to this article which, amongst other things, bolsters our argument that CAFCASS officers are not sufficiently qualified.“A study by senior barrister Penny Cooper of City University in London, has shown that the majority of lawyers and judges do not bother to check the qualifications of experts they approach to bolster an aspect of their case.She also

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-26102456307271175472007-10-23T10:38:00.000Z2007-10-23T10:43:28.521Z

False Domestic Violence Accusations Can Lead To Parental Alienation Syndrome, says David HeleniakDavid Heleniak is a civil litigation attorney in New Jersey and Senior Legal Analyst for the True Equality Network.http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=40678False domestic violence (DV) restraining orders can lead to Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS), a pattern of

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-61492866579888630162007-09-15T11:33:00.000Z2007-09-15T11:34:28.564Z

This video is a few years old, but a must see! The Real Love that Dare Not Speak its Name! When Bob Geldof went to the Royal Courts of so-called Justice he was advised by a well-meaning court clerk not to mention to the judge that he loved his children! The clerk explained that courts regarded such fathers as extreme! Click here to watch the video.

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-22757508878648962722007-08-27T08:52:00.000Z2007-08-27T09:02:00.729Z

From: Robert WhistonSent: 26 August 2007 01:49To: c.foster@bathchron.co.ukSubject: Why are JUDGES TARGETED BY ANGRY DADS ?Dear Mr. Foster,RE: "JUDGES TARGETED BY ANGRY DADS" (Bath Chronicle)An interesting article.It is time the Press stood up on it hind legs and made an issue out of thebenign censorship and manipulation it has had to endure for decades by theauthorities, AKA the institutions.It

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-2178063001637807482007-08-10T14:37:00.000Z2007-08-10T14:44:02.880Z

This successful appeal by the husband (see press report below) follows an absolutely crazy, incompetent and palpably biased decision by a family court judge.Even so, the appeal court judges still find it necessary to make "a modest award" even though there were not the slightest legal grounds for ANY award.It will be interesting to read their judgment. No doubt, as usual, they'll make up the law

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-51120558746019133042007-08-09T14:22:00.000Z2007-08-10T14:37:35.808Z

CSA accused of rewarding mums who deny chld access to fathersFathers are to get more child access under Tory reformsThe Child Support Agency was last night accused of rewarding mothers who deny former partners access to their children.Tory family welfare spokesman Andrew Selous is planning reforms to give fathers fairer settlements.Mr Selous wants to end a rule that cuts mothers' maintenance if

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-71953206466684919652007-02-07T15:59:00.000Z2007-02-07T16:06:44.883Z

Oliver Cyriax writes on the subject of Karen Hamilton Productions:If this is the programme which recently contacted me (where the contact was also Karen - the mobile is 07980 863 769) it is best avoided.The lead researcher for this documentary ('Karen') was at pains to inform me: (i) that she already knew everything (ii) that, in consequence, there was nothing more she needed to find

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1168266978220282232007-01-08T14:32:00.000Z2007-01-08T14:38:04.700Z

Times Online January 05, 2007 Court order effect on child support http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,30589-2533023,00.html Court of Appeal Published January 5, 2007In re B (a Child) (Child support: Reduction of contact) The court was not obliged to have regard to the amount of child support one parent would have to pay the other when changing any access arrangements. The Court of Appeal

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1165494615660327692006-12-07T12:27:00.000Z2006-12-07T12:30:15.676Z

C4 DOCUMENTARY SERIES TO HELP SEPARATING FAMILIESA major three-part television series for Channel 4 is being made about separating parents who cannot agree about the care of their children, focussing on the child’s perspective as much as possible and need your help. Karen Hamilton Productions have contacted EPC with the following message:“We are an award-winning independent television production

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1165065189705398482006-12-02T13:04:00.000Z2006-12-02T13:58:49.116Z

SUMMARY OF WEBSTER RULING (Mr Justice Munby)The birth parents applied to have media attendance at the care proceedings for their fourth child as they claim that serious miscarriages had occurred with the adoption of their previous children and that reporting the issue would help to prevent further injustice. In his judgment, Munby J reviews all the key authorities covering the reporting of family

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1164886619364415472006-11-30T11:32:00.000Z2007-01-23T03:49:51.866Z

READ THE TELEGRAPH ARTICLE & THEN HAVE YOUR SAY BY POSTING A COMMENT ON THIS BLOG - DO BE SURE TO READ COMMENTS POSTED BY OTHERS!Lifeclass Extra: Save our dadsSo many Telegraph readers are impassioned by the problem of fathers losing touch with their children after divorce that I'd like to invite readers to send their views in online, says Lesley GarnerYour view: Are we guilty of ignoring fathers

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1163694123457671882006-11-16T16:13:00.000Z2007-01-09T03:03:21.473Z

See EPC comment below story.The troubled Child Support Agency is to be axed and replaced, under legislation announced in the Queen's Speech. By July the CSA, which has been dogged with complaints throughout its 13-year history, had a backlog of 300,000 cases and debts of £3bn. The Child Support Bill aims to replace it with a smaller body and a simpler way of collecting child maintenance.

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1162733557431378932006-11-05T13:26:00.000Z2006-11-07T20:51:05.370Z

Maureen's article appears in today's Sunday Times magazine.EXTRACTS FROM ARTICLE:Prime suspectLifelong Labour supporter Maureen Freely has been at the thick of family policy for a decade as an author, academic and political commentator — and as a mother of four. But she can take no more. The government, she argues, has killed family life. And all the evidence points to Tony Blair being the main

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1160136871493575092006-10-06T12:01:00.000Z2006-11-07T20:59:11.320Z

Kim Basinger will go to trial after pleading not guilty Wednesday to disregarding court orders concerning ex-husband Alec Baldwin's visitation rights with their daughter, a court official ordered.It is alleged that Kim Basinger ignored court orders by not letting her ex-husband know she would be out of town working so that he could take care of their 10-year-old daughter until she returned. On

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1159969299201080452006-10-04T13:35:00.000Z2006-10-04T13:42:39.113Z

Equal Parenting Council (EPC) and other parenting organizations have been invited to a discussion tomorrow with Rt Hon Harriet Harman QC MP on "openness and fairness in the family courts".Harriet Harman says she plans to set out her thinking on family law followed by a discussion on the recommendations made in the consultation paper.EPC President, Tony Coe, said that his organization was “

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1158500683753422202006-09-17T13:39:00.000Z2007-01-16T22:51:35.930Z

How Divorce Wars Take A Toll On KidsChildren Are Often Caught In The Middle Between Feuding ParentsQuote"It's easy to teach a child to hate. Courts are now recognizing this is a serious problem."--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Richard Warshak, author (CBS) Children often get caught up in their parents' divorce battles, forced to take sides. As

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1158500135853079402006-09-17T13:33:00.000Z2006-09-17T13:35:35.866Z

Fathers benefit from new family law rules Reporter: Sabra LaneMARK COLVIN: New family law rules came into effect two months ago, designed to give children more time with their non-custodial parents, most often the father. The new regime's known as "shared responsibility". The courts are starting to hand down judgements under the new laws. It's too early to assess overall trends, but there have

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1157086143580444602006-09-01T04:45:00.000Z2006-09-07T12:14:57.560Z

We're splitting up, but need it be expensive?By District Judge Stephen GerlisThe McCartney split throws into focus the search for an alternative to costly family financial disputesStephen Gerlis is a district judge at Barnet County CourtSo the battle lines are drawn. Sir Paul McCartney and Lady McCartney have both instructed high-flying and highly-paid divorce lawyers and if nothing is done to

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1156168913445138312006-08-21T13:47:00.000Z2007-01-18T07:09:49.520Z

EPC COMMENT: do the opposing arguments sound familiar at all? Definitely, but in UK "noncustodial parents" do not even enjoy a presumption of ANY custody or contact!!! As a result, too many UK parents don't even get to see their kids.Cory D. Mackwood: Joint custody bill should receive speedy approvalThe Committee on Family and Children Services of the Michigan House of Representatives soon will

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1154940164595007832006-08-07T08:39:00.000Z2006-12-05T12:51:50.666Z

Alienating a Parent10:00 PM PDT on Saturday, August 5, 2006MITCHELL ROSENThere is no doubt in my mind that parental alienation exists, especially in cases of divorce. The scary thing is, it is not that hard to accomplish. If I were a mother and wanted to alienate my kids from their father, I would be able to do it in a matter of months. All I would have to do is convince my children that their

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1154760545795709882006-08-05T06:34:00.000Z2006-09-08T12:08:35.013Z

EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS 439 20.7.2006Press release issued by the Registrar[emphasis added by EPC - see EPC's comment at bottom]Chamber judgments concerningthe Czech Republic, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Romania and the UkraineKoudelka v. Czech Republic (no. 1633/05) Violation of Article 8The applicant, Ji?í Koudelka, is a Czech national who was born in 1957 and lives in Prague. In 1990 a

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1154596584510315072006-08-03T09:12:00.000Z2006-09-08T12:14:06.006Z

Of course, Equal Parenters well know that this phenomenon is not peculiar to Wales!!!Up to a third of Welsh divorce kids lose touch with a parentAug 2 2006Darren Devine, Western MailUP to a third of children from broken families in Wales lose touch with one of their parents, a new report has revealed.The findings suggest children are, in some cases, falling victim to the politics of the extended

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1154425040069630392006-08-01T09:33:00.000Z2006-08-26T17:27:47.330Z

Dr M J Pelling - Litigant in PersonMs Veronica N. Bruce-Williams – Respondent (did not appear and was not represented)Hearing date : 14th July 2006- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -JudgmentLord Justice Wall :1. This unusual application reaches me as a consequence of a direction by Brooke LJ sitting alone on 9 May 2006. Brooke LJ directed that an application by Dr Michael Pelling to

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1153289371964496462006-07-19T05:52:00.000Z2006-09-08T12:24:53.376Z

Yvonne Roberts, award winning journalist, has written this excellent article for the Guardian online. Emphasis added by EPC. It's all commonsense really, but unfortunately our government doesn't appear to have any commonsense at all! They continue to stumble from one failed policy to another. We have an idea! Why not try approaches that are actually working elsewhere?Rules of disengagementYvonne

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1152012507822239992006-07-04T10:51:00.000Z2006-12-21T19:06:10.753Z

INTRO - Beware Judicial Spin!EPC's blog item on June 29th [CLICK HERE] reported the Clayton Landmark Judgment. At the end of that item there's a link so that you can download the Judgment from the main EPC site.Non-resident parents who have fought through the courts to see their children will be very familiar with just how adept Judges can be at spinning Judgments to make the non-resident parent

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1151562302059592732006-06-29T06:22:00.000Z2007-01-15T18:45:25.370Z

Clayton v Clayton [2006] EWCA Civ 878 - LANDMARK CASEA successful appeal against injunctions preventing a parent from publishing matters concerning his daughter.This landmark case clarifies the issues surrounding privacy in Court Proceedings under the Children Act, Administration of Justice Act 1960 and the Human Rights Act. The President of the Family Division, Sir Mark Potter, reiterates the

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1151413434481144042006-06-27T12:51:00.000Z2006-06-29T10:36:59.666Z

The Children and Adoption Bill has now been turned into an Act.Download the new Act Unfortunately it fails to introduce anything that will solve the problem of children losing contact with their parents for no good reason after divorce and separation. It is therefore doomed to failure!

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1150957224148881152006-06-22T06:12:00.000Z2006-06-22T06:21:59.346Z

EQUAL PARENTING COUNCIL (EPC) notes from the news today that Bank of England Governor, Mervyn King, has criticized the court system - this is in the wake of the Bank's 13-year legal battle to fight off a negligence claim after lender, BCCI, collapsed in 1991 owing more than nine billion pounds.He called the claim against the Bank, the "most expensive fishing expedition in history" and he said the

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1150116082963644822006-06-12T12:26:00.000Z2006-08-07T08:43:33.776Z

Much harm comes to all when one parent brain washes a child against the other parent. These represent some of the toughest cases in child custody disputes.View this video about Parent Alienation Syndrome:http://www.yoursocialworker.com/videos/PAS.wmv

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1149005903237348422006-05-30T16:09:00.000Z2006-07-11T06:26:42.510Z

PROTEST FATHERS STILL HAVE LOTTO TO LEARNEqual Parenting Council agrees wholeheartedly with Eamonn Holmes's views about the destructive comeback stunt by F4J that disrupted the National Lottery - read Eamonn's column at:http://www.people.co.uk/news/eammonholmes/It's a great pity that F4J have raised their ugly heads again. Eamonn is right – their Cause is a just one; but they don’t go about their

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1144070699350051772006-04-03T13:09:00.000Z2006-04-03T15:59:16.236Z

New York (which lags behind the rest of USA in terms of shared parenting) is soon to consider a family law bill to bring it up to date with other USA jurisdictions.It takes the common-sense approach that fit parents would have joint custody (shared residence in UK parlence) of their children. The Bill hopes to "reduce post-divorce conflict" and make joint custody the norm rather than the

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1143479500216722672006-03-27T17:10:00.000Z2006-03-27T19:09:56.610Z

The Family First amendment put forward to strengthen the Family Law Amendment Bill in the Australian Senate in support of a presumption of Equal Parenting Time looks like it may have the numbers to pass!Click here to learn more

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1141234313676638932006-03-01T17:30:00.000Z2006-04-06T10:41:36.060Z

USA - Divorce put David List and his 2-year-old daughter on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean, and he worried that she would soon forget him.She hasn't, though. List secured an order allowing him "virtual contact" -- the chance to talk with his daughter via a webcam over the internet– they now usually connect at least twice a week.However, it is feared that USA judges might use the option of

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1137691479928950292006-01-19T17:20:00.000Z2006-04-06T10:55:56.293Z

It comes as a huge relief to me that Fathers4Justice (F4J) have folded their tent. I don’t agree that they advanced the campaign for reform of our appalling family justice system. Quite the reverse! Their antics alienated the very people whose hearts and minds we needed to win over; their conduct made people say, “No wonder they’re not being allowed to see their kids!”Mainstream organizations

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1136826398562497922006-01-09T17:04:00.000Z2006-12-16T14:51:04.873Z

Spanish forensic psychologist Jose Manuel Aguilar Cuenca believes that parents who are guilty of alienating their children from the other parent during the separation process are committing a very harmful act.In a recent article in the Magazine Lex Nova, Cuenca argues that this type of emotional abuse by the alienating parents “passes almost unrecognized at a technical level by legal

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1136225055515533812006-01-02T17:09:00.000Z2006-04-06T10:57:39.386Z

A NEW YEAR MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF EQUAL PARENTING COUNCIL (EPC)There is one Family Law Reform in 2006 that could end misery for so many children, parents & grandparents! It would also save the country a fortune and lead to children being better supported financially, as well as emotionally by their parents!As for the CSA, we need sensible reform based on tried & tested measures that work

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1134750878101605272005-12-16T16:33:00.000Z2005-12-16T18:18:09.690Z

Veteran Equal Parenting campaigner, Robert Whiston, has written to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) in an effort to correct misfacts broadcasted on several NSPCC television ads.Whiston argues that the NSPCC has played a destructive role in preventing greater contact between children and their fathers.CLICK HERE TO READ WHISTON'S LETTER & TO EXPRESS YOUR

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1134127352078715192005-12-09T11:13:00.000Z2005-12-09T12:29:21.006Z

Media coverage of Australian Family Law Reforms that promote EQUAL PARENTING.These reforms are similar to those that we've been asking the UK Government to implement for years!CLICK HERE TO READ ITCLICK HERE TO GO TO THIS TOPIC ON EPC DISCUSSION FORUMS

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1134051662868190342005-12-08T14:19:00.000Z2005-12-08T19:19:39.556Z

The new Australian Family Law Amendment (Shared Parental Responsibility) Bill 2005 was introduced into the Australian Parliament this morning, 8 December 2005. Edward Dabrowski, Federal Director of Shared Parenting Council of Australia when commenting on the bill said: "Today is a really big turning point in Family law in this country. Though the reforms are not perfect in all ways and the Bill

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1133963654946277032005-12-07T13:52:00.000Z2005-12-08T16:37:54.896Z

EVERY DAY MATTERS - CAFCASS new approach?Anthony Douglas, Chief Executive of CAFCASS, has outlined new directions for the organization. The major objectives are:*to guarantee an intensive early intervention service; *to extend dispute resolution work;*to minimize reporting and maximise direct work with children and families.The new plan highlights the need to triage every case, with an emphasis

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1133868771083058562005-12-06T11:32:00.000Z2005-12-06T13:36:53.900Z

The Guardian Newspaper's Legal Editor, Clare Dyer, has reported that the “curtain of secrecy hiding what goes on in the family courts of England and Wales is to be lifted”. In order to quell 'festering' doubts over the justice system Judges may let public and media into hearings.Mr Justice Munby, a leading advocate of greater openness in the family courts, in a recent lecture made a strong plea

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1130885635070663292005-11-01T22:39:00.000Z2005-11-01T22:53:55.113Z

Baldwin: Basinger turning kid against me Kim Basinger and ex-husband Alec Baldwin are involved in a custody battle. Alec Baldwin and ex-wife Kim Basinger traded personal jabs through their lawyers Monday, with each claiming that the other has serious emotional problems. In court papers, Baldwin claimed Basinger "has a pathological need" to turn their daughter against him, and he is asking for a

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1127328733684244722005-09-21T18:24:00.000Z2005-12-06T18:50:18.766Z

In a just-released memo, F4J admit that they decided to suspend hostilities against CAFCASS in the expectation of receiving a document confirming assurances made by Douglas to F4J founder Matt O'Connor. Douglas and O'Connor have been having talks for some months. No such document ever materialized - surprise, surprise!The F4J memo goes on to state:"Matt has invested a huge amount of time and

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1126510070300331042005-09-12T07:10:00.000Z2005-09-12T07:29:10.863Z

Former CAFCASS Chair, Anthony Hewson OBE said that, in his opinion, CAFCASS's complaints procedure was designed to protect its staff from accountability, rather than to protect the consumer. Anthony resigned when his attempts to reform it were sabotaged.The FAMILY X CASE, which EPC has been complaining to CAFCASS's Board about for years, demonstrates just how badly CAFCASS fails children and

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1122966683775667172005-08-02T07:08:00.000Z2005-08-02T07:12:42.606Z

STATEMENT FROM ANTHONY DOUGLAS FOLLOWING TIMES ARTICLE:The views I expressed in the Times article were distorted by the headline, 'let 7 year olds choose.................'. But I did say that children had a right to be consulted, and that it is impossible to arrive at a view about what is best for them without finding out how they're thinking or feeling.That basic human right to be consulted will

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1122637440321420942005-07-29T11:31:00.000Z2005-07-29T18:36:35.550Z

STATEMENT FROM LEADING EQUAL PARENTING RESEARCHER, ROBERT WHISTONFamily Justice and Family Courts - discounting NAPOCommenting on Harry Fletcher's response to the report published by the Constitutional Affairs Committee, we should bear in mind the accuracy of his figures (see NAPO press release below this statement).Observers will recall that, during the course of the Inquiry, Keith Vaz MP asked

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1122193648469948012005-07-23T16:35:00.000Z2005-07-25T15:37:01.573Z

If anyone needed final confirmation that CAFCASS should be abolished, they would find it in today's Times – see below for the The Times articles. CAFCASS’s Chief Executive, Anthony Douglas, told The Times that the children of divorce – even those as young as 7 - should decide which parent they want to be with. So, there we have it - the organization that has the paramount, statutory duty to

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1121688741823312132005-07-18T12:02:00.000Z2005-07-18T12:12:21.830Z

Following the second reading debate in the HOUSE OF LORDS on the 29th June we now have provisional dates for the Grand Committee stages when the House returns in October. They are:Tuesday 11th October - day 1 Wednesday 12th October - day 2 Monday 17th October - day 3 Wednesday 19th October - day 4 CLICK HERE to access the second reading debateAfter consulting EPC and other parenting organizations

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1120755185094267782005-07-07T16:38:00.000Z2005-07-07T16:53:05.106Z

It is worth taking a look at the Court of Appeal's latest Judgment on costs orders in a contact dispute.The Court of Appeal (Lord Justices Wall & Potter) upheld Judge Kushner QC's costs order against the respondent mother. The Judge had done a very thorough job of managing the case. She had ensured judicial continuity and took a firm grip over it.However, when one reads the Judgment transcript,

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1120129167327020722005-06-30T10:28:00.000Z2005-07-01T07:19:34.456Z

Clare Dyer, Legal Editor of The Guardian, writes in today's edition about the confused state of our laws regarding the finances of divorce.On money issues also, it is left to the Judge to decide how the spoils are to be divided. Clear laws don't govern the outcome. The individual prejudices of judges decide the division of capital and assets. If the judge has a particular bias, that can have a

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1119863645718600972005-06-27T09:09:00.000Z2005-07-01T07:26:05.073Z

GOVERNMENT'S FAMILY RESOLUTION PILOT FLOPSThe inevitable failure of this doomed project is reported today in The Guardian by its Legal Editor, Clare Dyer.The project was supposed to remedy the problem of children losing contact with good, loving parents in cases where the custodial parent is determined to block the other parent’s access for no good reason.EQUAL PARENTING COUNCIL (EPC)has been

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1118853172695302992005-06-15T16:04:00.000Z2005-07-18T11:44:08.566Z

Fathers4Justice (Matt O'Connor) and Families Need Fathers (John Baker)have both issued statements welcoming CAFCASS's STATEMENT when it amounts to no more than platitudes that we've heard before.Did Matt decide to shut down his F4J operation? But did he first want to find a way of going out with the benefit of something that looked like an achievement?No other explanation makes sense to EPC.This

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1118658196467571052005-06-13T10:12:00.000Z2005-06-15T05:03:55.406Z

No wonder F4J members are furious with Matt O'Connor. I'm not surprised that a breakaway group is forming what they are calling The Real FATHERS 4 JUSTICE! BBC TV BREAKFAST NEWS this morning ran a Pollyanna piece labelled "Peace in our Time". It trumpeted the "breakthrough deal" struck between Matt and CAFCASS's smooth-talking Chief Executive, Anthony Douglas. This was said to be as a result

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1118382865917041922005-06-10T05:49:00.000Z2005-06-10T08:45:24.603Z

According to press reports, Fathers4Justice (the organization that lobs condoms in Parliament) is going through serious turmoil. A break-away group of members is forming "The Real Fathers4Justice". They say that F4J founder, Matt O'Connor, has gone soft because he suspended direct action against CAFCASS in favour of talks with its Chief Executive, Anthony Douglas.According to an article in

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1118250558613912742005-06-08T16:44:00.000Z2005-06-08T17:09:18.656Z

EPC has long argued that CAFCASS must be scrapped. The bias in the organization goes from top to bottom.Well meaning people have tried to reform it. Former Chairman, Anthony Hewson OBE, tried hard. He told us frankly that many CAFCASS officers considered themselves to be child welfare experts and they refused to be budged in their thinking. Anthony quit when he realized that CAFCASS staff

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1117725612846518082005-06-02T12:00:00.000Z2005-06-02T18:40:36.003Z

Mabon v Mabon and Others CA 26 May 2005 Daily Law Notes Report Summary R 9.2A of the Family Proceedings Rules 1991, as amended, was sufficiently widely framed to meet the United Kingdom's obligations to comply with art 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and art 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Given the growing acknowledgment of the autonomy and consequential rights

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1117618947251160842005-06-01T09:40:00.000Z2005-06-01T09:43:20.256Z

Lisa Cohen of JUMP and the COALITION FOR EQUAL PARENTING asked that we draw parents’ attention to a recent article by Rabbi Shochet in the Jewish Chronicle. It supports the position of non-resident parents and it shows that religious and spiritual members of our community are beginning to wake up to the issue.Lisa says, “We know this is not a gender, religious or ethnic problem - we are parents

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1107200739324463372005-01-31T19:26:00.000Z2005-01-31T19:47:07.673Z

January 05 has been an extremely busy month at EPC! Apart from numerous routine projects, we had the major task of completing our supplementary submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the family courts. CLICK HERE TO READ IT I was extremely pleased with the assitance that we got from key players in our North American network - especially (to name only a few of our closest friends) David

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1106325130493776372005-01-21T13:25:00.000Z2005-01-21T16:32:10.493Z

Margaret Hodge and Theresa May were interviewed today by Jeremy Vine. This was followed by a discussion with Philippa Pearson a lawyer with Family Law in Partnership. Margaret still doesn't get it. She is still harping on about parents not being able to agree. She fails to grasp the fact that it takes only one parent being unreasonable to prevent reasonable contact. In effect, the de facto

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1106236360568847332005-01-20T15:16:00.000Z2005-06-13T13:58:38.006Z

EPC has received a great deal of praise this week for our stand over the Government's toothless proposals for improving the family court system. Our media team put out a press release which can be found in EPC site's NEWS section at: http://www.equalparenting.org/news.htmIt has been wonderful receiving words of support from MPs (including Labour MPs) for our common-sense position and clear

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354852.post-1105984363927179282005-01-17T17:52:00.000Z2005-01-20T09:13:50.056Z

Phones have been ringing off the hooks at EPC headquarters today. Government has leaked to the media their intention to announce the reforms they intend to introduce following the infamous Green Paper. The media have commented to EPC that it is odd the way the Government have approached this announcement in such a cloak and dagger way! It is also strange that they chose to make this announcement

Saunders 1865 BLOGnoreply@blogger.com0