A Chippenham-based family solicitor has warned that delays in the family court system are reaching crisis point - describing the situation as “a wake-up call” for both government and the legal sector.
Rosie Beaven, Head of Family Law at Batt Broadbent Solicitors LLP and a member of Resolution, says that lack of funding for early legal advice is leaving many separating couples without the help they need to avoid lengthy and stressful court proceedings.
Her comments come as part of Good Divorce Week (10th - 14th November), a national campaign organised by Resolution to promote a more constructive approach to separation and divorce.
According to a recent parliamentary report, the average length of private family law cases has risen by 36% in the past five years - from 26 weeks in 2018 to 41 weeks in 2023. With more than a thousand new cases starting in the family court every working day, the backlog is growing faster than the system can cope.
Rosie said: “Family courts in Wiltshire and beyond are at breaking point. Everyone working in them is doing their best, but without better resources, I fear delays will only increase further. That’s why, this Good Divorce Week, I’m calling on the government, courts, and separating couples to work together to find a better way.”
Since establishing Batt Broadbent’s Family Law department 18 months ago, Rosie and her team have focused on helping families reach agreements outside court wherever possible. However, she says that without proper funding for early advice, many couples only discover these options when it’s too late.
“A lack of funding for early legal advice means not enough couples can take a non-confrontational approach,” she explained. “It also means more people are having to represent themselves in court, which adds to the strain on the system and can lead to poorer outcomes for children.”
Resolution’s national chair, Melanie Bataillard-Samuel, echoed Rosie’s concerns, saying the organisation’s members are being hampered by “an under-resourced court system, a lack of access to advice, and rising numbers of people forced to go it alone.”
Good Divorce Week aims to highlight the benefits of early support, mediation, and collaborative law - giving separating couples a chance to resolve disputes more amicably and reduce the emotional toll on families.
For more information about Good Divorce Week or to contact Batt Broadbent Solicitors’ Family Law team, visit www.battbroadbent.co.uk or email Rosie Beaven at
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