Judgments

Making of a CAO following notification of relatives as to a child against Parent’s wishes, and comments as to potential future adoption by family members

Case highlighting the importance of determining jurisdiction at the first opportunity

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (SSWP), on behalf of the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), applied to set aside a property transfer from the first respondent LR to the second respondent PT under section 32L of the Child Support Act 1991.

The Court of Appeal, Civil Division, considered the application by the mother to appeal the order made on 22nd April 2025 by Recorder Warshaw KC, sitting as Deputy High Court Judge, on the father’s application for a summary return under the 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention to Ireland.

The case concerned the making of a return order for a 9 month old baby removed to Thailand by her parents. The Court considered to what extent the making of a return order in circumstances where protective measures are likely to be taken upon return cut across the statutory scheme.

Court of Appeal Overturns Care Orders: Children to Return to Grandparents Amid Flawed Risk Assessment and Mishandled Removal

Court of Appeal Challenges ‘Deemed Acceptance of threshold’ provisions in Standard Form Orders

A deprivation of liberty declaration is made in relation to child involved in organised criminal activity and at high risk of child exploitation. 

This case involved public law proceedings concerning six children. The Court was faced with a binary decision: whether the children should remain at home with their parents or be removed and placed in the care of the Local Authority.

HHJ Willans sitting as Deputy High Court Judge, determines that a Father Must Be Notified of the care proceedings Despite Allegations of Domestic Abuse

This case was reported on 13 June 2025 and was before DJ Knifton sitting at the Liverpool Family Court. The case was dealt with by way of submissions only. The parents’ were referred to in the judgment as the mother and the father.

An appeal by a father against refusal of his application for permission to apply for a s8 Children Act order in circumstances where a s91(14) order was in place. Appeal allowed by Trowell J due to a serious procedural irregularity.

The case was before Mr Justice Dexter Dias KC sitting as a Section 9 judge and it dealt solely with the issue of costs in private law proceedings under the Children Act 1989.

This is the Appellant’s application for costs, his appeal against the order of Francis J having been allowed and the matter remitted to the High Court for an assessment of his needs.

The case concerned two children born in Sierra Leone placed for adoption by their respective families.

This is two judgments of Mr Justice MacDonald in the High Court Family Division concerning the welfare of the child, Adam, and the serious litigation misconduct by his mother, including multiple abductions and the concealment of the child from his father and the authorities for a period of 8 months. The judgments have been published without anonymisation of the parties.