Family courts often prioritize closing cases quickly rather than finding meaningful resolutions for families, leaving children caught in the middle of ongoing conflict. Attorney Fran Fontana has dedicated her career to improving family law and advocating for a court system that serves the needs of parents and children. As a respected leader in Colorado’s legal community, she has played a key role in shaping policy, including serving on the Colorado Supreme Court Standing Committee on Family Issues. Through her work with organizations like the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) and the Colorado Bar Association, she continues to push for reforms that emphasize problem-solving and long-term family stability.
In this episode of Children First Family Law, Krista sits down with Fran to discuss the current system’s shortcomings and her vision for a dedicated family court. They explore the importance of attorneys working together to resolve cases efficiently, the impact of divorce on children, and how conflict manifests in kids when parents and lawyers fail to cooperate. Fran shares how her Peer Professionalism Assistance Group is helping attorneys manage disputes more effectively and highlights how better collaboration can ease the stress of divorce for families.
During her conversation with Krista, Fran shares more about the following:
- Fran’s Peer Professionalism Assistance Group helps attorneys manage conflict more effectively, encouraging professionalism in an often high-stress field.
- She advocates for active case management and early assessment to identify families that need intervention sooner, reducing prolonged litigation and improving outcomes for children.
- Fran pushes for a more adaptable approach where courts assess each family’s unique needs early on, allowing for tailored solutions rather than a one-size-fits-all process.
- While problem-solving approaches were once more common in Family Law, she notes that changes in judicial procedures and increased bureaucracy have made conflict resolution more difficult.
- Fran envisions a dedicated family court with specially trained judges, mental health professionals, and case managers who work collaboratively. This model would emphasize problem-solving over litigation, ensuring families receive the right resources and interventions from the start.
- Children caught in high-conflict divorces suffer emotionally, often struggling with divided loyalties and anxiety. When attorneys and parents prioritize problem-solving over fighting, children experience less stress and have a better chance of maintaining healthy relationships with both parents.
Fran Fontana’s law career has focused on keeping kids and families a top priority, and she continues to advocate for their best interests as she works for change in Colorado family courts.
If you want to learn more about The Children First Family Law Podcast, check out www.childrenfirstfamilylaw.com/the-family-court-fix-improving-family-court-justice-with-fran-fontana.