*/
Baroness Deech has called for a change in public attitude towards divorce.
In the first of six Gresham College lectures on family law, Divorce Law: A Disaster?, Baroness Deech of Cumnor DBE outlined the cost of divorce in financial and emotional terms, and called for a “new debate on marriage and the family under the umbrella of moral and civic renewal”, although she accepted that it was “unlikely to provide any consensus.” “Divorce is not a private matter, it is of real public concern and cost, with a ripple effect on the family, the community and the whole country,” she said. “So public attitudes have to be changed, just as they have been in relation to environmental issues and smoking, with greater or lesser success.” She recommended that divorcing couples should be made to endure a 12 month waiting period in order to hold or reverse the rise in divorce.“My own remedy would be an introduction of a waiting period to stop divorce being so quickly granted, even where the ground is one of the speedy ones,” she said. “I would add to the present grounds of divorce a provision that no decree shall be granted until at least 12 months have elapsed from the service of the petition (the start of the formalities). This would ensure that no petitioner would be free to remarry for at least one year after the beginning of the process, regardless of the reasons for the divorce.”
Baroness Ruth Deech, who is professor of law at Gresham College and Chair of the Bar Standards Board, said that divorce often has a lasting impact on children, yet this is not taken seriously by politicians. “It is astonishing that no government seriously considers divorce as an issue while expressing anxiety about single parents, their children and society’s health.” Mediation had “not worked as well as might be hoped” and was unlikely to hold down the rate of divorce, she added. “Women are reported to feel disadvantaged by mediation. “This is because mediation seeks a compromise or agreement, and favours the articulate and determined over the cowed and quiet, apparently, and it is said female mediators are more persuaded by husbands’ arguments than wives’”. She also said that women should “be educated to face [divorce], and it is no solution to the material and psychological problems to expect them all to rely on ex-husbands”.
Baroness Deech’s next speech will take place on 13 October.
Baroness Ruth Deech, who is professor of law at Gresham College and Chair of the Bar Standards Board, said that divorce often has a lasting impact on children, yet this is not taken seriously by politicians. “It is astonishing that no government seriously considers divorce as an issue while expressing anxiety about single parents, their children and society’s health.” Mediation had “not worked as well as might be hoped” and was unlikely to hold down the rate of divorce, she added. “Women are reported to feel disadvantaged by mediation. “This is because mediation seeks a compromise or agreement, and favours the articulate and determined over the cowed and quiet, apparently, and it is said female mediators are more persuaded by husbands’ arguments than wives’”. She also said that women should “be educated to face [divorce], and it is no solution to the material and psychological problems to expect them all to rely on ex-husbands”.
Baroness Deech’s next speech will take place on 13 October.
Baroness Deech has called for a change in public attitude towards divorce.
In the first of six Gresham College lectures on family law, Divorce Law: A Disaster?, Baroness Deech of Cumnor DBE outlined the cost of divorce in financial and emotional terms, and called for a “new debate on marriage and the family under the umbrella of moral and civic renewal”, although she accepted that it was “unlikely to provide any consensus.” “Divorce is not a private matter, it is of real public concern and cost, with a ripple effect on the family, the community and the whole country,” she said. “So public attitudes have to be changed, just as they have been in relation to environmental issues and smoking, with greater or lesser success.” She recommended that divorcing couples should be made to endure a 12 month waiting period in order to hold or reverse the rise in divorce.“My own remedy would be an introduction of a waiting period to stop divorce being so quickly granted, even where the ground is one of the speedy ones,” she said. “I would add to the present grounds of divorce a provision that no decree shall be granted until at least 12 months have elapsed from the service of the petition (the start of the formalities). This would ensure that no petitioner would be free to remarry for at least one year after the beginning of the process, regardless of the reasons for the divorce.”
Sam Townend KC explains the Bar Council’s efforts towards ensuring a bright future for the profession
Giovanni D’Avola explores the issue of over-citation of unreported cases and the ‘added value’ elements of a law report
Louise Crush explores the key points and opportunities for tax efficiency
Westgate Wealth Management Ltd is a Partner Practice of FTSE 100 company St. James’s Place – one of the top UK Wealth Management firms. We offer a holistic service of distinct quality, integrity, and excellence with the aim to build a professional and valuable relationship with our clients, helping to provide them with security now, prosperity in the future and the highest standard of service in all of our dealings.
Is now the time to review your financial position, having reached a career milestone? asks Louise Crush
If you were to host a dinner party with 10 guests, and you asked them to explain what financial planning is and how it differs to financial advice, you’d receive 10 different answers. The variety of answers highlights the ongoing need to clarify and promote the value of financial planning.
On the 50th anniversary of the pub bombings, even now it is still unresolved. Chris Mullin, the journalist and former MP who led the campaign leading to the release of the Birmingham Six, looks back at events
Adele Akers’ reflections on health and wellbeing support at the very junior end of the Bar
Not one to say, ‘I told you so,’ Sam Thomas continues his cyber series with the key learnings from the major supply chain attack affecting 80 law firms and at least one set of chambers at the end of 2023
One year on and the Court of Appeal fails to quash convictions after receiving evidence of racism in the jury room, and there are still no revisions to the Equal Treatment Bench Book , says Keir Monteith KC
Increasing sophistication and frequency of attacks have led many chambers to ask ‘when’ not ‘if’ they will suffer a cyber incident. Simon Davis sets out the factors to consider when renewing your cyber cover
