Looking to the future : mediation and the ground for divorce, the Government's proposals

In December 1993 the Government published a Consultation Paper entitled "Looking to the Future - Mediation and the Ground for Divorce".

In this White Paper the Government presents its detailed proposals for mediation and reform of the law and procedures surrounding divorce in England and Wales, which have arisen out of the Government's careful consideration of all the responses.

These proposals aim to: ensure that couples whose marriages are in difficulty will be better informed about the options available to them; identify saveable marriages and facilitate referrals to marriage guidance, making available every opportunity to explore reconciliation even after the divorce process has started; ensure that there is an adequate period of time to test whether the marriage has genuinely broken down; remove acrimony and hostility and minimize conflict; and reduce the worst effects of separation and divorce on children, protecting them by encouraging parents to focus of their joint responsibility to support and care for their children.