Back to square one? Ten family law priorities for the new Lord Chancellor when Parliament returns

The suspension of Parliament this week leaves a significant body of unfinished business yet to make it through the halls of Westminster including the Divorce Dissolution and Separation Bill which many of us hope to see reintroduced as soon as normal service is resumed. With some time on his hands to contemplate his in-tray during the party conference season here are some suggested reforms for the recently appointed Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Robert Buckland QC on how he could help improve access to justice and equality of arms in the family law courts and the wider legal family.

No fault divorce

When the government introduced the Divorce Dissolution and Separation Bill it promised to reform the divorce process to remove the concept of fault. With the prorogation of Parliament on Monday night this unfortunately means the Bill will not proceed any further. Considering the existing support for this Bill across the House the judiciary and the public this must be reintroduced quickly in a new Parliament to improve the approach towards reducing conflict ...