'A warzone': What it's like to be part of a Family Court custody battle

Nobody expects their relationship to spill into a long Family Court dispute, but thousands in Aotearoa resort to this measure every year. 

The experience can be brutal for those involved, with the proceedings often being compared to warfare between people who once loved each other. 

The impact is particularly harsh on children, who could face years of watching their parents embroiled in bitter disputes with antagonism just growing stronger over time. 

NZ Herald senior writer Jane Phare has spent months investigating Family Court cases, talking to families, psychologists, lawyers and judges who have all experienced this system firsthand. 

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