Family Court may have more scope

Press, 24 September 1988, Page 9

Family Court may have more scope

The High Court jurisdiction for wardship, family protection and wills might go to the Family Court, the Minister of Justice, Mr Palmer, said in Christchurch last evening. He told the Family Courts Association of the suggestion to extend the jurisdiction of the courts, but emphasised this was still only a possibility. Next month, the court would begin to deal with matters under the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act, 1988, he said.

Next year, the court would take over the care and complaint matters from the Children and Young Persons Court. He told the association of progress on a series of studies on the Family Court system, which has been running for 10 years. The Policy and Research Division of the Justice Department was studying whether the original aims of the system were being met, and the effectiveness in meeting the needs of families. One study was on the effectiveness of counselling, and the other on the custody and access arrangements separated parents made for their

children. Two hundred volunteer families who had been through the Family Court system were being questioned for the study on counselling. Data from the first 123 people interviewed in May and June had been analysed, but firm conclusions could not yet be drawn. The results showed that four main factors determined the psychological health of those separating: ® The number of magnitude of other stressful life events occurring. • The extent of social support from those closest to the person, particularly close friends, family, and new partners. 9 The amount of time since separation and the worst of the crises. • The amount of control over the choice about separation. “The implications of these findings need to be considered by the courts,” Mr Palmer said. “The findings reinforce the view that time is a critical factor. They also suggest that anything that reduces stress, to which people are subject by court processes, will be beneficial.