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A recent study, which analysed the results of approximately 200 family court hearings from 2011, has found no evidence which would suggest that fathers are the victims of discrimination in the UK’s family courts. Case files were analysed by the University Warwick's Dr Maebh Harding, who found that the vast majority of contact order applications made by fathers had been ‘overwhelmingly successful’. The report, which was co-authored by Dr Annika Newnham of the University of Reading and funded by the Nuffield Foundation, concluded that the family courts generally played a positive role in resolving family disputes. Dr Harding noted that whilst it is true that mothers were listed as childrens’ primary carers in the bulk of applications, this was simply a reflection of the fact that children are mokre likely to reside with their mothers following a relationship having ended. She also observed that, contrary to popular opinion, both fathers and mothers enjoyed a similar success rate when applying for Residence Orders (an application to become a child’s primary carer). The study also discovered that a disproportionate number of Residence Orders are granted to mothers, but that this could be attributed to the fact that such orders were made when mothers were acting as the Respondent following applications for contact having been made by fathers. Whilst it was rare for the courts to approve applications to change a child’s main place of residence, applications that did succeed were most likely to see the child’s father become their primary carer and also to involve concerns for the welfare of any children involved. The study’s authors concluded that parents only used the family courts as a last resort and that disputes were generally resolved without the need for the matter to proceed to a final hearing. Both Dr Harding and Dr Newham raised concerns that the removal of legal aid for private family matters will make legal advice relating to such disputes inaccessible to many and that more parents will agree to arrangements that are not in their childrens’ best interests as a result.