According to statistics compiled by the Ministry of Justice, the average length of cases completed between October and December 2014 was 28.7 weeks.
A breakdown of the figures shows that while 56 per cent were completed within 26 weeks, the remaining 44 per cent ran over.
Plans to introduce a 26-week limit were first announced by government in February 2012 after the move was recommended in the Family Justice Review carried out by David Norgrove, former chair of the Family Justice Board.
Although the limit was not a legal requirement for cases initiated prior to 22 April last year, a number of other steps were taken to cut down on unnecessary delays while the legislation was passed.
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