Case Summaries

Application for costs by a “psychological parent” against a father in private law proceedings.

Application for permission to appeal by mother against the following orders made in relation to B, the parties’ son: (i) the judge’s refusal to re-open findings of fact; (ii) the judge’s refusal to direct the disclosure to the mother of records of B’s therapeutic contact with an adolescent resource centre; and (iii) providing for B to live with his father, with limited supervised contact with the mother.

Application by local authority to the High Court to exercise its inherent jurisdiction to authorise the deprivation of liberty of a child aged 13 in circumstances where a secure accommodation placement was not available.

MacDonald J examines the principles relevant to the court in considering an application for an adjournment in committal proceedings.

Judgment in proceedings for committal of a father for breach of orders in relation to his retention of the parties’ children in Nigeria. David Williams QC, sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge, considers the principles and procedural issues involved in committal applications.

Re-hearing of care proceedings concerning three boys of mother whose presentation and history suggested a diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome. Consideration of capacity under the Mental Health Act of the eldest boy.

Application by father to remove his two sons to live with him in Switzerland. Application was granted but, due to the highly exceptional nature of these proceedings, a costs order was also made against the father.

Successful appeal against a lump sum order in favour of the wife under Part III of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 (“MFPA 1984”) following a Russian divorce.

Judgment in care proceedings in which Jackon J considers the accuracy of hair strand testing for cocaine use and offers guidance in relation to report writing.

Teaching on domestic violence should be mandatory, says report

Judgment in appeal in child support proceedings as to whether an anonymity order (and so a reporting restrictions order) should have been made.

Appeal by the non-resident parent against a decision of the First-tier Tribunal that trust assets were relevant for variation purposes.

Application for the variation of a child arrangements order by the “psychological” parents of a child.

Judgment of Mostyn J (approved by the President) confirming that the court has the power to order one party to make mortgage or other household payments and to indemnify the other in respect of the same.

Application to the Court of Protection in respect of a sufferer of Huntingdon’s Disease by which the court was, in effect, requested ‘if required’ to determine that it would be in the patient’s best interests not to continue to receive clinically assisted nutrition and hydration, with the consequence that she would die.

First instance decision of HHJ Wildblood QC making care and placement orders in public law proceedings. The judge expresses the importance of obtaining necessary therapy for a parent at an early stage, in order to try to avoid a situation where an expert at a final hearing recommends therapy that cannot then take place within the timescales for the relevant child.