Separating couples will receive early legal advice as part of the Government’s family court reforms, but mandatory mediation has been scrapped to protect domestic abuse victims. 

Legal Advice and Mediation 

A pilot scheme will offer early legal advice to help families agree on child arrangements quickly, addressing barriers to early resolution. Mediators will receive improved training, including domestic abuse screening and advanced DBS checks. This aims to prevent court cases by resolving issues through mediation. 

Reforms to Reduce Conflict 

Successful pilots in North Wales and Dorset will be expanded to Birmingham and southeast Wales. These pilots improve information sharing between agencies to avoid retelling traumatic experiences, allow judges to review more documents before court, and give children extra opportunities to express their feelings. 

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk emphasized the importance of early resolution to spare children from the long-term harm of courtroom conflict. “Greater use of mediation allows family courts to prioritize and protect serious cases with safeguarding concerns.”