Family courts must be prepared to competently serve multicultural clientele. California's ethnic diversity is mirrored in clients using the family courts. Courts will be forging new directions, working with unprecedented numbers of clients who do not fit the stereotype commonly envisioned in child custody research and policy deliberations. Increasing numbers of custody disputes involved parents who have never been married. Forty-three percent of all mediations concern custody and visitation for a preschool child.
Safety is a critical issue in many custody decisions.
Over half of all cases mediating child custody and visitation involve parties who are now or have once been protected by a domestic violence restraining order. Court security must also be adequate to insure the safety of clients and court staff Courts must be geared for the pro per client. Today's family court client has limited personal resources. Many clients, particularly mothers, lack basic financial resources. The fastest growing sector of clients has no formal education beyond high school.