Women and children experiencing the family courts over a long period must cope with traumatic circumstances. The family courts hand down ill-judged contact orders to victims of abuse that can trap them in extremely unfair and unsafe situations; victims can feel helpless and scared, often with no end in sight.
Read moreScotland Leads The Way: Parental Alienation Plot Foiled
Scotland is currently in the process of ground-breaking family justice modernisation. Yesterday, Minister Ash Denham passed the Children (Scotland) Bill with a unanimous vote. The government listened to charities, and survivors of domestic abuse and their children, and they are making radical reforms to help protect the vulnerable and to make the family justice system a fairer, kinder and safer world to enter. Ministers from all parties worked together with their focus firmly set on the best interests and welfare of the child; something survivors have desperately sought from those working in the family court system.
Read more#TheCourtSaid, "The Welfare Of The Child Is The Paramount Consideration."
I recently joined forces with The Court Said, the campaign for survivor family justice. I joined because Scotland's system faces similar problems to the justice systems in England & Wales, Ireland, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other particular countries. The courts in these countries harm vulnerable victims of abuse. I will strive to continue the excellent work of my Scottish #thecoursaid campaigners and hope that together we can make a positive impact; not just for the victims of abuse currently in the system, but for those who enter the system in the future.
Read moreThe Narcissistic Abuser and the Parental Alienation Counterclaim
To be accused of Parental Alienation in a Family Court action is frightening, particularly if the accuser is also the abuser. Extremely narcissistic individuals will accuse their ex-partner of the behaviour which they are guilty. It's a form of manipulation which the narcissist is well versed. In a courtroom, with their charming façade, the narcissist will always win a battle of words. They are convincing, and they can deceive judges confidently. One must look deep into the evidence to find the truth.
Read moreIntractable Contact Disputes and Domestic Abuse: What Judges Need to Understand
In Intractable contact disputes (high conflict), the judge has a difficult decision to make, and one in which they shall seek expert advice to assist them. The Family Court and professionals involved can benefit from a deeper understanding of the changing behaviours in our society and how to recognise them in difficult cases; what appears to be an intractable contact dispute may in fact be a domestic abuse (risk) case; a good understanding of coercive control is required to make a contact decision which keeps the child safe from harm.
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