Dispute Resolution in England and Wales – the MOJ wants to hear from you!

Anyone who has ever had any dealings with the Family Court in England and Wales will know of the stress, time and cost involved with such proceedings. Any family practitioner involved with Resolution will always try to promote an alternative to their clients and seek an alternative form of dispute resolution as Court should always been seen as a last resort.

Now the Ministry of Justice is keen to hear from anyone who has experience in using the family court service and in particular seeking evidence on Dispute Resolution. The MoJ is particularly interested in collecting evidence from individuals or organisations with data to share or those who have had experience of dispute resolution within and outside of the courts system. This is with the aim of supporting the development of more effective dispute resolution mechanisms. The MoJ would welcome frontline insights with tangible examples.

Responses will shape future reforms to civil, family and administrative justice, with Ministers determined to help more people resolve their issues without the stress and cost of a court case. The consultation will examine whether new technologies, as well as services such as mediation and conciliation, could provide smarter and less adversarial routes for finding resolutions.

The closing date for submissions is 30 September 2021 and the consultation document can be found here.

Amanda Erskine is a solicitor in the Family department at Barker Gotelee Solicitors in Suffolk.

Ipswich Family Solicitors – for more information on our range of legal services, please call the team on 01473 611211 or email [email protected]