Timeframes in the Family Court
It is very difficult to say how long it might take the court to resolve a private children dispute. This is because there are various hearings and reports that may or may not be needed. For example, you might want an Interim Hearing to discuss what contact should look like right now, before a final decision is made. You might need a Fact Finding Hearing so that the court can determine issues of fact before it decides on what the next steps should be. You might need Cafcass to prepare a report, or an addendum report if one of you considers that things have changed – this will usually take at least 12 weeks, and can take twice as long.
There are many places across the country experiencing significant court backlogs, which means that the wait for substantial periods of free court time (if you need 2 or 3 or more days for a court hearing), can be lengthy. I recently had a 2 day final hearing scheduled for 12 months’ time.
Given this, fairly standard cases can now take 18 months – 2 years to resolve. If your issues are more complex and the court orders professional involvement, multiple evidential reports, or a lengthy Fact Finding Hearing, you may well be looking at substantially longer. If you are able to reach an agreement with your ex-partner, things can be resolved much more quickly.
Many of the people I work with contact me before they have made any firm decisions about their future. Whether you are considering separation, have recently separated, or simply want to understand your options, I offer a free initial conversation to discuss your circumstances and how I may be able to help. You can contact me by telephone - 0777 589 4910, email - polly@pollyjackman.com or by using the contact form on this website.
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