1. Indicate the percentage as to which class your clients belong: sub-economic/working/middle/upper class?
Comments if any:
2. Approximately how many consultations do you have with children prior to finalising a report on suitable custody and access arrangements?
3. Do you act as a mediator in assisting parties to reach a settlement agreement on arrangements related to the custody of and access to minor children?
If yes, what positive/negative implications arise from mediation in these sorts of matters?
4. What is your opinion on co-parenting?
5. Do you think attorneys and advocates influence their clients to fight for custody and access without taking the interests of the children into account?
Comments if any:
6. Where there is a dispute regarding custody and access matters:
Attendance of mediation by both parents should be compulsory
Attendance of mediation by both parents should be voluntary
Attendance of mediation should be determined by a court
Comments if any:
7. If mediation does become compulsory, who would be suitable persons to act as mediators to assist the parties to reach an appropriate settlement agreement? (e.g. psychologists, advocates, social workers.)
8. How long should training be and how should its content be constituted for family mediators to become effective mediators?
9. Should there be any pre-requisite criteria that persons must meet in order for them to train as mediators?
If yes, what are they?
10. Do you think the methods used by the family advocate to advice on custody and access matters are effective?
Why?
11. What limitations does the Family Advocate’s Office have in carrying out its assessments and proposing recommendations in custody and access matters?
12. Do you find that the parent who approaches you for a psychological report on the best interests of the child as regard access and custody has an expectation that you will write the report in their favour?
13. In your experience, are matters of custody and access decided according to particular benchmarks and principles, e.g. the tender-years principle, instead of being decided on the merits and circumstances of each case?
14. Should a parent information/education programme be attended by both parents?
In all proceedings where custody and access have to be determined
Only in matters where no settlement agreement is agreed upon
Under no circumstances as it will be too difficult to implement
Comments if any:
15. Should all couples with minor children seeking a divorce attend a compulsory parent education programme, and obtain a certificate that they have attempted mediation, prior to their divorce being granted?
Give reasons for your answer.
