I would not get rid of NFD however I would make increase the separation period needed to obtain it. In some states six months separation or less is required for a unilateral NFD, and I do believe that people should have more time to consider what they really want.
I think that parents who seek a divorce should be required to take a class on the impact of divorce both on their finances and their children.
Mediation, where the spouses (no lawyers) sit with a mediator and try to work out a suitable parenting agreement, should be required. I think that joint custody should be strongly encouraged, if not a presumption.
I think that parties that seek to use the children as pawns by denying visitation or making false accusations should be punished by losing custody.
Above all, we have to realise that divorce is as much a moral question as a legal one and that the legal system is not a fairy godmother who can make everything right again. If people, both men and women, remembered that every people you have sex with could be the mother or father of your child, I think 90% of these problems would go away.
I think we should stop trying to parent adults, myself.
I think that parents who seek a divorce should be required to take a class on the impact of divorce both on their finances and their children. Mediation, where the spouses (no lawyers) sit with a mediator and try to work out a suitable parenting agreement, should be required. I think that joint custody should be strongly encouraged, if not a presumption.
You've just proposed two more suggestions that would only get in the way of mature people making their own decisions and inject some other person who has no business being there. My parents are probably the model of divorce. They worked it out without any court-mandated arrangement. The minute you start mandating these counselors and mediators, you're injecting people with likely degrees from liberal arts colleges whose motives may not best serve your situation.
Do I think people act selfishly, vindictively and sometimes just stupid in divorce? Absolutely. Do I think a more controlling court system will change that? No. I think people being stupid is one of those side effects of being free. Free people do have the freedom to really make a mess of things. Makes it all the more admirable when we make a success of it.
I think that parties that seek to use the children as pawns by denying visitation or making false accusations should be punished by losing custody.
I think they should be publicly flogged. Are you OK with that?
Above all, we have to realise that divorce is as much a moral question as a legal one and that the legal system is not a fairy godmother who can make everything right again.
Best part of your post. This is the sentence I most wanted to respond and agree with!