Development of the Cochem Practice in the Czech Republic, equal parenting

The organization Šance dětem https://sancedetem.cz/cochemska-praxe  mentions that the Cochem Practice began to be applied in the Czech Republic in June 2016, specifically by the District Court in Nový Jičín. However, as practice shows (see "Consequences"), its presence in the Czech Republic occurred much earlier.

Cochem Practice training is provided to Child protection authority workers by judges. https://www.aliaves.cz/informace-o-kurzu/14571-cochemska-praxe-a-dalsi-formy-interdisciplinarni-spoluprace-ve-vecech-pece-soudu-o-nezletile?afc=M5XfGkTs. Additionally, lawyers handling divorce cases, specialists involved in multidisciplinary teams implementing the Cochem model, those interested in family mediation, and professionals working with children and families in divorce situations are also trained — through courses accredited by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. https://www.institutpromediaci.cz/kurzy/cochemska-praxe/ 

In 2024, the Judicial Academy, the Regional Court in Ústí nad Labem, and Cochem.cz organized a professional seminar with retired judge and founder of the Cochem Practice, Jürgen Rudolph, titled "Good Practice in Custody Proceedings", or How to Make Interdisciplinary Cooperation Even More Effective.

According to the Judicial Academy, the founder is described as follows:"In 1992, Jürgen Rudolph was one of the initiators of a groundbreaking change in the course of custody proceedings — he was the first judge who dared to change his approach and working methods, began actively cooperating with representatives of all professions involved in the dispute, and through his actions and attitude truly fulfilled the concept of the child's best interest." https://advokatnidenik.cz/2024/08/08/zakladatel-cochemske-praxe-jurgen-rudolph-o-dobre-praxi-v-opatrovnickem-rizeni/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNE0-VleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETB3WGlBZFMyaVZnV01GcXQ1AR5LH6uvTSS7Br7h8h1gng1C4nFXBazPjKCzCQPCvfategjLJ6X0lfseAv8cLA_aem_G6f_WtpPdhR2QM5JvK5mCw%3C

Minister of Justice Decroix on the amendment incorporating the Cochem practice into law from January 1, 2026: The divorce amendment has sparked debates about what equal care actually means.What does it mean when the Civil Code states that a child has the right to equal care from both parents, just as parents have the right to equal care of their child? Some interpret this as a kind of blank check for expanding alternating custody. That is not the case. Of course, the way parents care for their child should primarily be agreed upon by the parents themselves, because they know the family best, they know the child's needs best. If they reach an agreement, the court will naturally take their arrangement into account in its decision, provided it aligns with the child's best interests. So what does equality mean? Equality does not mean uniformity. It does not mean we are introducing an automatic 50/50 split regardless of how the family functions. What it does mean is that each parent remains equal to the other even after divorce. Because each parent holds parental responsibility, and this does not end or diminish in any way through a custody decision. It is now newly established that the child is also in the care of the other parent. That parent continues to have what is called the right to indirect contact — for example, phone calls, information about how the child is doing. If care is equal, both parents have equal rights. That does not mean care must always be evenly split, because how the parents agree or how the court decides who will care for the child and when depends on the specific family, and it can vary. Every family is different. What's important is that we are aware — and this is reinforced by the civil amendment — that the child comes first and decisions must be made individually. And let's not forget: each parent, both before and after divorce, should refrain from anything that disrupts the child's relationship with the other parent or makes parenting more difficult for the other parent. If one parent unjustifiably and repeatedly prevents the other parent from caring for the child, such behavior should be grounds for the court to decide differently. Because what do children need? Above all, both parents. That is the essence of equality. In what proportion? That depends on your family. https://www.facebook.com/decroix.cz/videos/1848047662427146