Lawyers, courts and litigants encounter various levels of criticism and complaints about how courts handle divorce, custody cases and support matters. Criticisms often include the time it takes to litigate, the costs of litigation, the multitiered levels of decision-making that impede a speedy decision (such as forensic reports) and the fact that obtaining resolution of a dispute has a structure that is foreign or unexplained to litigants.
The problem is compounded by the misinformation that is often provided by friends or associates of the litigants who are not themselves trained in the legal process and is fueled by the horror stories that people read and see in the media. Courts throughout the country are struggling with high caseloads because family law matters often constitute the highest percentage of cases on the civil calendars. Nonetheless, our clients are entitled to be treated with dignity. They need their day in court, and courts must have sufficient time and resources to give litigants comprehensive and thorough consideration for the issues they bring before them.
