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05/10/2010

Collateral damage: A senior judge has accused couples of using their children as weapons in divorce battles. How can parents learn to act reasonably when they split?

When children are used as weapons in divorce battles, how much damage is being done? England's most senior family court judge has accused divorcing couples - and well-educated parents in particular - of using their children to try to score points in their personal disputes. Sir Nicholas Wall said parents who separate "rarely behave reasonably", use their children as both "the battlefield" and "the ammunition" and simply don't realise how much damage they're inflicting on them. He believes things would improve if the family justice system was less adversarial and discouraged parents to fight. What's your experience of divorce? Were your children used to get back at the other parent? If your parents divorced, what was it like for you? Did one parent bad-mouth the other? Or were they able to hold it together - for the sake of the children? You can share your views with Julian Worricker by emailing youandyours@bbc.co.uk or call 08700 100 444. (Lines open at 10am on the day).

Available now

57 minutes

Last on

Tue 5 Oct 2010 12:00

Chapters

  • Damaging Divorce

    England's top family judge has accused couples of using their children as "ammunition" in divorce battles without realising the harm they're causing. How can separating parents act reasonably?

    Duration: 52:45

Broadcasts

  • Tue 5 Oct 2010 12:00
  • Tue 5 Oct 2010 12:04

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