Family Law

Chris Bevan

KCH Chambers:

In his article 'The modernisation and improvement of family justice' published in July [2012] Fam Law 1832, Roger McCarthy QC set out likely future reforms to the family court service in England and Wales. Family practitioners, with intrigue, also had to digest Mr Justice Ryder's Judicial Proposals for the Modernisation of Family Justice published in the same month. In light of suggested reforms, this article, while conceding that wide-ranging reform is necessary, expresses grave concern as to the unintended consequences of the proposals. In particular, this article explores the implications for the ever-growing number of litigants in person and queries whether the drive towards a streamlined ‘modern' family court, comes at too high a price.