The Principal Family Court Judge says a programme to be introduced in April will help reduce bitter disputes over children and stop "self-indulgent" parents delaying the court process.
Judge Peter Boshier says the National Early Intervention Programme will involve family courts intervening sooner in urgent cases and placing more emphasis on mediation for routine ones.
It will mean family court applications will get before judges more quickly. Judges will then determine whether the case should be dealt with by way of mediation or whether it requires a more substantial defended hearing.
Judge Boshier says some of the more troublesome cases the Family Court deals with can result in one parent alienating their child against the other and dragging out the court process.
"I think those are the people who should have less resource available, should find it more difficult to get legal aid," he says.
"We should be putting more incentive on them to get things resolved at the outset rather than reward them through lengthy litigation."
