Legal Affairs Committee begins debate on four Family Law reform bills

Nicosia, Cyprus. Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee began clause-by-clause debate on four of eight bills aimed at substantially amending Family Law, with a focus on family relationships and child protection.

The four bills have been pending since 2023 following objections from lawyers, single parents and the Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of the Child.

Outstanding legislation

The reform process began in 2018. Parliament has already approved four bills, as well as separate legislation on mediation, leaving four bills still under consideration.

The bills now being discussed are the Parent-Child Relations (Amendment) Law of 2018, the Wills and Succession (Amendment) Law of 2018, the Regulation of Matrimonial Property Relations (Amendment) Law of 2018, and the Children (Kinship and Legal Status) Law 2018.

Committee chair Fotini Tsiridou told philenews that the discussion marked the start of efforts to complete the reform. She said the bills would be examined at further committee meetings, with the aim of submitting them to the full House for a vote by the end of October.

Children’s surnames and protection measures

Justice Ministry official Fedra Grigoriou, who worked on the bills, said the legislation would amend provisions covering cases in which a child’s surname is not declared.

Under the proposed change, intended to ensure equal treatment between parents, a child would be given a double surname comprising the surnames of both parents.

Administrative and other competent authorities would also be required to consider the child’s views, best interests and any incidents of violence in proceedings concerning the child.

Parental responsibility and intervention plans

A parent would be able to seek professional assessment, treatment, support or monitoring for a child without the other parent’s consent where the child is a victim of domestic violence or sexual abuse by the other parent or a third party, after a criminal case has been filed.

The legislation provides for the appointment of a Social Welfare Services officer, or, where necessary, a Mental Health Services officer, to investigate circumstances relating to parental responsibility and submit a report to the court.

A District Multidisciplinary Team, coordinated by the Social Welfare Services, could also be convened to prepare an intervention plan, including recommendations on possible interim measures. The court would be able to issue directions and orders for the plan’s implementation and monitoring.

Contact with children

The proposed provisions would also make a parent’s right to personal contact with a child an obligation after that parent applies for and is granted a contact order.