Case Summaries

Application by a mother for permission to appeal against a refusal of permission to appeal against
care and placement orders. Application dismissed.The President of the Family Division makes trenchant comments abouts the delays in obtaining transcripts.

Judgment identifying a number of failings in care proceedings and providing important guidance as to how this could be avoided

Fact-finding hearing in proceedings in which each parent of a young boy sought a residence order and the mother also sought permission to relocate with him from England to Poland.

Judgment in divorce proceedings where the wife had issued a petition in England and the husband had adduced evidence of a divorce certificate issued in Pakistan. Wife’s divorce petition stayed but no declaration made as to the validity of the divorce certificate.

Finding of contempt of court for father in breach of orders to return children to Ireland. Sentenced to 6 months imprisonment.

Appeal against order refusing father’s contact with his three sons, aged 7, 5 and 3. Appeal allowed, order set aside and case remitted for rehearing.

Mr Justice Peter Jackson sets out principles as to how evidence from non-English speakers should be obtained

Jurisdiction dispute as to whether a Schedule 1 to the Children Act 1989 claim issued in England by the wife should be stayed because the Husband had already issued proceedings in Italy

Applicant for permission to appeal an order for capitalised maintenance in the context of an application to vary a maintenance order of £12,000 pa made in June 2011.

Jurisdiction and habitual residence. Florida court found England did not have jurisdiction. High Court found child habitually resident in England and Wales and that it did have jurisdiction. Re A (Children) [2013] UKSC 60 applied.

Judgment explaining the circumstances in which Skype and related technologies might be usefully employed in family proceedings involving witnesses in remote locations.

Appeal by mother against the refusal to grant her leave to oppose the adoption of two of her children. Appeal dismissed.

Appeal against direction for paternity testing made within Hague Convention proceedings.

Appeal from a sentence for contempt of court in the context of care proceedings

Sentencing of a mother for contempt of court arising from a breach of a collection order in respect of her son.

Application by a local authority for committal of a mother for contempt of court arising from the breach of a collection order in respect of her son. Contempt proved.