Judgments

Fact-finding within application by father for order for child’s return to Dubai, considering allegations by both parties, in particular that mother was obstructing child’s relationship with father.

Final hearing in financial remedy proceedings before HHJ Hess concerning add-backs and the treatment of a substantial pension, including accrual during the marriage and matrimonialisation.

This was a judgment of Mrs Justice Arbuthnot in the High Court. The court was concerned with ‘an application brought by the Disclosure and Barring Service (“DBS”).

This was a reported decision of a Circuit Judge, who was concerned with one child, who was 8 months old. The child was referred to as ‘EL’ during the course of the judgment.

HHJ Roberson made findings of sexual abuse against the father of a 6-year-old, S.

This case concerns a mother’s application for summary return of the children to Romania under the Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985 incorporating the 1980 Hague Convention. The Father raised “various purported defences” [3] of no habitual residence in Romania, consent, and child’s objections which were not accepted by the court. The judge ordered that the children should be returned to Romania by the mother, and the father should not accompany them.

Application by Wife to amend statement of case / particulars of claim within intervener financial remedy proceedings where a beneficial interest was in dispute. 

Unusual features to the appeal.  DJ recusing himself without giving reasons or inviting representation.  Leading to an appeal where the issue of recusal became centre stage despite not being the grounds of the initial appeal.  Appeals x 3 allowed.

The mother appealed against a DJ case management decision that a fact-finding hearing was not necessary; the father opposed the appeal. HHJ Arthur allowed the appeal and set aside the previous decision.

Care proceedings concerning baby of Romanian mother. Judgment finding that child was habitually resident in England

This case concerned an application by the Local Authority for the High Court to exercise its inherent jurisdiction to declare it lawful for the subject child, VW, to undergo cranio-facial surgery.

HHJ Robertson had to determine whether to resume the supervised contact arrangements in a contact centre or whether the father should have indirect contact only. The key concerns were the father’s inconsistency with contact and his impending criminal trial for harassment and an assault against the mother in 2019/2020. The criminal trial is due to be heard in April 2026.

This ex-tempore judgment was published by His Honour Judge Parker, sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge, in October 2025. HHJ Parker made a final care order for a 15 year old female to remain in a residential placement with deprivation of liberty safeguards in place for six months.

HHJ Reardon made an order, pursuant to s51A of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (ACA 2002), for contact between two pairs of adopted siblings in circumstances where the local authority had failed to comply with an earlier s26 order.

In these financial remedy proceedings, it is fair to say, the past came back to haunt the husband (H), who was the subject of divorce proceedings with his then wife (W). The decree absolute was pronounced 6th February 2002, nearly 24 years ago. The financial remedies case came the court in 2022, for the second time.

Application by a local authority for permission to disclose findings from concluded care proceedings to the Nursing and Midwifery Council in the context of an ongoing fitness to practise investigation.