Raising Questions About the Importance of Father Contact Within Current Family Law Practises

Abstract

Experiences of New Zealand mothers in relation to the priority which New Zealand family law professionals place on frequent face-to-face contact with fathers post separation - comparison with research on parenting arrangements most appropriate for children after separation - perception of women that there is a prioritisation of certain forms of father contact over competing considerations which may be of more importance to the wellbeing of children - some professionals work on the incorrect assumption that contact with the father is always good for children - this is not supported by research findings.