Why the Family Court is a war zone

'A death by a thousand cuts' is how one traumatised parent describes his long battle to get access to his daughter through the Family Court. His story of heartbreak, $500,000 in legal fees, a destroyed reputation and damaged relationship with his child is one of many told to the Herald in its investigation into the effects on children when they caught up in custody battles. The Family Court costs taxpayers more than $315 million a year and yet its adversarial system can leave families destroyed. 

Experts warn of the damage to kids

Parents and caregivers fighting in the Family Court should be aware of the damaging effect the ongoing war can have on their children, psychologists warn. Children want their parents to be together and, if not, to at least get on. When hate, vitriol and vengeance enter the arena, the gloves are off. In an investigation into children caught between warring parents, the Herald looks at the long-term effects, including a higher risk of mental health, emotional and behavioural issues, and difficulty in forming healthy relationships, and why parents need to shoulder some of the responsibility.      

The wish list: How to fix the Family Court

The Family Court needs to be "completely dismantled", says one mother who lost regular contact with her children for more than a year during a custody battle. Complaints against the court are on the rise, as are complaints against individual judges. Parents are left feeling angry and powerless by a system they say treats them unfairly, as they fight over the one thing they love most in the world - their children. Few are happy with the Family Court's adversarial system which pits parent against parent, lawyer against lawyer. In this investigation, the Herald looks at plans underway to improve the Family Court,  and what parents think needs to happen to limit the trauma to families.