News
All the news items published on Family Law Week this year are listed below. You can browse our news archive using the folders on the left.
- Respect Men's Advice Line reports 60 per cent rise in domestic abuse calls during lockdown
News (27/09/2020) - Family legal aid cases and expenditure fell significantly due to Covid-19
News (24/09/2020) - MIAMs between April and June 2020 down 20 per cent on a year ago
News (24/09/2020)
Mediation outcomes decreased by 21 per cent - Latest MoJ statistics set out the impact of Covid-19 on family court activity
News (24/09/2020)
New cases started in family courts down 13 per cent between April and June 2020 - Revised expert witness guidance issued by Legal Aid Agency
News (24/09/2020) - Proposed changes to children in need and children looked after by local authorities outcome statistics
News (24/09/2020) - 167 opposite-sex civil partnerships formed on first day permitted by law
News (22/09/2020) - Retirement of Sir Ernest Ryder, Senior President of Tribunals
News (20/09/2020) - New public law cases received by Cafcass fell by 2 per cent in August
News (18/09/2020) - New private law cases received by Cafcass in August marginally higher than 2019
News (18/09/2020) - International child abduction unit: request for co-operation form updated
News (17/09/2020) - ‘Thousands could be paying over the odds for legal advice’: Legal Services Board
News (17/09/2020)
Consumers urged to shop around nationally for the best deals on divorce and other legal services - Children accommodated in secure children's homes
News (17/09/2020) - Man jailed for fake DNA test to deny parentage of two sons
News (17/09/2020) - Nigel Poole QC appointed High Court judge
News (11/09/2020) - Update: Standard orders issued by Mr Justice Mostyn
News (11/09/2020) - Commons Justice Committee launches future of legal aid inquiry
News (11/09/2020) - Home Affairs Committee continues inquiry into Channel Crossings and unaccompanied children
News (11/09/2020) - Some amendments to Adoption and Children Regulations will be extended to 31 March 2021
News (11/09/2020)
Government publishes responses to consultation - Children’s Commissioner calls for ban on using unregulated accommodation for under 18s in care
News (11/09/2020) - Further consultation on remote and hybrid hearings in the family court announced
Judgments (11/09/2020)
Consultation ends on 30 September 2020 - Financial Remedies Court Pilot extended to South West
News (08/09/2020) - Views sought on revised SWET
News (06/09/2020)
Deadline for feedback: 18 September 2020 - The Law Society launches legal action against the Legal Aid Agency
News (06/09/2020)
LAA failed to consult over moving legal aid cost assessments in-house: Law Society - Charity launches free domestic abuse advice line for businesses
News (04/09/2020) - Family Public Law Reform: National rollout of digital care and supervision applications resumes
News (04/09/2020)
New online service will resume its national roll out from 14 September 2020 - Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2020
News (04/09/2020) - Teenagers at heightened risk of some forms of abuse compared to younger children
News (04/09/2020)
NSPCC publishes report - Give couples more freedom to choose where they marry, Law Commission proposes
News (04/09/2020)
Law Commission launches consultation on marriage law reform - Updated: Practice Direction on Committal for Contempt of Court in Open Court
News (23/08/2020) - 420,000 children in England at risk of eviction unless Government acts: Children’s Commissioner
News (23/08/2020)
Government bans evictions for another four weeks - Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
News (20/08/2020) - More support funded for those representing themselves in court
News (19/08/2020) - Increase in arrival of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children strains Kent CC’s resources
News (19/08/2020) - New public law cases received by Cafcass fell slightly in July
News (17/08/2020) - New private law cases received by Cafcass in July 8 per cent higher than 2019
News (17/08/2020) - ‘Marriage gap’ is a social justice issue, says CSJ report
News (17/08/2020) - Domestic abuse intensified during lockdown: Panorama report
News (17/08/2020) - Challenge to Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 fails
News (16/08/2020) - Can a child be screened and assessed for Coronavirus without reference to a parent?
News (16/08/2020)
Children’s Commissioner receives clarification from DfE and DHSC - New online resource launched in Scotland to raise awareness of domestic abuse
News (16/08/2020) - Firm sees enquiries about child arrangements almost double in a month
News (13/08/2020) - Underpaid state pensions: women urged to have their state pension checked
News (09/08/2020) - Women’s refuges turn away victims who speak no English
News (09/08/2020)
The Guardian reports concerns of women’s charities - Grandparents Plus launches State of the Nation Survey 2020
News (09/08/2020) - ‘MoJ must take action to prevent the collapse of legal services providers’
Judgments (09/08/2020)
Select committee highlights risks to high street firms, law centres and newly qualified barristers - Covid-19: Guidance for small marriages and civil partnerships
News (09/08/2020) - Independent panel to examine judicial review
News (09/08/2020) - Privy Council considers family trust in matrimonial property case
News (31/07/2020)
Judgment to be handed down on 3 August 2020 - Family Justice Council to hold its seventh Open Meeting on 19 October 2020
News (31/07/2020) - CPS launches package of measures to improve prosecution of rape and serious sexual offences
News (31/07/2020) - Numbers applying to have No Recourse to Public Funds condition lifted rise by over 500 per cent during pandemic
News (31/07/2020)
The Children’s Society calls for suspension of NRPF - 'Thank you' from the President's Chambers
News (29/07/2020)
Mrs Justice Theis and Lady Justice King offer thanks on behalf of the President - Practice Guidance on Service of Part 4 Family Law Act 1996 applications, orders and notification to the police
News (29/07/2020)
Pilot Practice Direction 36U comes into force on 3 August 2020 and applies until 3 May 2021 - Record rise in demand for National Domestic Abuse Service Helpline during lockdown
News (26/07/2020)
Rise in the number of women seeking emergency accommodation - FGM figures published for April 2019 to March 2020
News (24/07/2020) - Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020: Commons briefing published
Judgments (24/07/2020) - Child Support Agency has written off historical debt on 556,100 cases
News (24/07/2020)
Total value of write-off amounts to £1,850 million - Family Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2020
News (24/07/2020) - Half of all private and voluntary sector fostering placements offered by six companies
News (23/07/2020) - New public law cases received by Cafcass rose 8 per cent in June
News (23/07/2020) - New private law cases received by Cafcass in June 6 per cent higher than 2019
News (23/07/2020) - New tools needed to help prevent sudden unexpected death of infants
News (19/07/2020)
Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel publishes review - Government consults on extending Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
News (19/07/2020) - Article 39’s application for reinstatement of ‘legal protections for children’ to be heard on 27 July
News (19/07/2020) - Commons Education Committee considers effects of Covid-19 outbreak on children in social care
News (19/07/2020) - The Law Society publishes its submission to pre-legislative scrutiny of the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill
News (19/07/2020) - New online service to improve Lasting Power of Attorney
News (19/07/2020) - Marriage and Civil Partnership (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020
News (19/07/2020) - Changes to the Family Proceedings Fees Order 2008
News (19/07/2020)
Order comes into force on 3 August 2020 - Open letter sent to Home Secretary over asylum claim of 11-year-old with FGM protection order
News (12/07/2020) - Court of Appeal finds negligence claim against solicitors in financial relief case to be time-barred
News (12/07/2020) - Record numbers contact the NSPCC with concerns during lockdown
News (12/07/2020)
Children’s charities call for more help from government - Kate Hammond of Miles & Partners named Legal Aid Family Lawyer of the Year
News (12/07/2020) - Domestic Abuse Bill progresses to House of Lords
News (12/07/2020)
Findings of Home Office review of migrant victims of domestic abuse published - Cafcass publishes protocols for seeing children and families and using offices during the Covid-19 pandemic
News (12/07/2020) - Supreme Court dismisses husband’s appeal in Villiers v Villiers by majority of three to two
News (05/07/2020)
Court determines the jurisdiction of an English court to make a maintenance order in favour of the wife under section 27 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (as amended) when the parties had mostly lived in Scotland and the divorce proceedings were conducted there. - Domestic Abuse Bill 2020: letter from ministers on the first tranche of amendments
News (03/07/2020)
Draft statutory guidance published - Coronavirus: Separated Families and Contact with Children in Care FAQs
News (03/07/2020) - New video tech to increase remote hearings in family courts
News (03/07/2020) - Toolkit for the HCCH 1980 Child Abduction Convention in times of COVID-19
News (03/07/2020) - COVID-19: Guidance for small marriages and civil partnerships
News (29/06/2020) - Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020
News (28/06/2020) - Children needing foster care during pandemic rises by 44 per cent
News (26/06/2020)
Barnardo’s declares ‘state of emergency’ - 737,600 children are covered by Child Maintenance Service arrangements
News (26/06/2020) - Resolution launches equality and diversity strategy
News (26/06/2020) - Updated version of the Remote Family Access Court released
News (26/06/2020) - Children’s Commissioner fact checks parliamentary exchanges on child poverty
News (26/06/2020) - MIAMs in January to March 2020 up 13 per cent on a year ago
News (26/06/2020) - Family court business fell in three months prior to lockdown
Judgments (25/06/2020) - Supreme Court to hand down judgment in Villiers v Villiers on 1 July 2020
News (25/06/2020) - Forced Marriage Unit reports 10 per cent fall in cases in 2019
News (25/06/2020) - Overhaul of family courts announced to protect domestic abuse victims
News (25/06/2020) - Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill awaits Royal Assent
News (19/06/2020) - HMCTS update on family law during coronavirus
News (19/06/2020)
Elaine Richardson summarises HMCTS Development Directorate presentation to the Law Society Family Law Committee - Family Justice Council: applications invited from Justices’ Clerks/Assistant Justices’ Clerks and Paediatricians
News (19/06/2020) - ALC publishes guide to Cloud Virtual Platform
News (19/06/2020) - Appointment of Family Division Liaison Judges
News (19/06/2020) - Best practice guidance on Special Guardianship Orders published
News (19/06/2020)
Public Law Working Group published report on SGOs - New public law cases received by Cafcass fell almost 11 per cent in May
News (14/06/2020) - New private law cases received by Cafcass in May 11 per cent lower than 2019
News (14/06/2020) - Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020: Commons debate
News (12/06/2020)
Commons rejects attempt to annul legislation - Funding to be increased for councils caring for children seeking asylum
News (12/06/2020) - Government to review workplace support for survivors of domestic abuse
News (12/06/2020)
Ministry of Defence updates domestic abuse strategy document - Domestic Abuse Bill 2020 and other Government initiatives on the issue
News (12/06/2020) - ‘No fault’ divorce bill enters final stages of legislative passage
News (11/06/2020) - The Family Court and COVID-19: The Road Ahead
News (11/06/2020)
President charts the way ahead over the next six months or more - Over 100 frontline domestic abuse charities given government funding
News (07/06/2020) - Parliamentary debate on Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
News (05/06/2020) - Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Statutory Storage Period for Embryos and Gametes) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020
Judgments (05/06/2020) - Legal Aid Agency to assess bills
News (05/06/2020)
Transfer date to be agreed with HM Courts and Tribunals Service - President’s amended Guidance on Allocation and Gatekeeping for Care, Supervision and other Proceedings
News (05/06/2020) - FGM attendances: January - March 2020
News (05/06/2020) - Attending family court protocol published by Cafcass
News (05/06/2020) - Domestic Abuse Bill Committee stage begins 4 June 2020
News (28/05/2020) - New public law cases received by Cafcass fell almost 9 per cent in April
News (28/05/2020) - New private law cases received by Cafcass in April 27 per cent lower than 2019
News (28/05/2020) - General guidance on PDF bundles
News (28/05/2020) - Refuge reports further increase in demand for its Domestic Abuse Helpline services
News (27/05/2020)
950 per cent increase in visits to website during lockdown - The Remote Family Access Family Court – what have we learnt so far
News (27/05/2020)
Speech by Mr Justice MacDonald - Revised standard orders announced by Mr Justice Mostyn
News (27/05/2020)
Orders Nos 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, and 2.2 revised - Hague Convention Permanent Bureau develops COVID-19 Toolkit
News (17/05/2020) - Bristol family lawyers stage mock remote FDR
News (17/05/2020)
Event watched by almost 200 judges and practitioners - Outcomes for children looked after by local authorities
News (17/05/2020) - Separated families and contact with children in care during coronavirus lockdown: FAQs
News (17/05/2020) - CPS clarifies approach to stalking offences under coronavirus lockdown
News (17/05/2020) - London Mayor joins forces with survivors and campaigners in campaign against FGM
News (17/05/2020)
£1.3m invested in services for women affected by FGM in London - Funding for safe accommodation of domestic abuse victims during coronavirus lockdown
News (17/05/2020) - Tackling domestic abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic: Local Government Association
News (17/05/2020) - Draft guidance on transparency should be published this summer, says President
News (17/05/2020) - Lord Wilson of Culworth retires as a Supreme Court Justice
News (10/05/2020)
Lord Reed pays tribute to his work - Family Court determines case involving pre-nup and bankrupt spouse
News (10/05/2020) - Guidance updated for submitting a new divorce case online
News (10/05/2020) - Article 39 threatens legal action over loss of legal protections for children in care
News (10/05/2020)
'Adoption and Children (Coronavirus)(Amendment) Regulations 2020 remove or weaken 65 children’s safeguards' - Family Justice Council: applications invited from Justices’ Clerks/Assistant Justices’ Clerks and Paediatricians
News (10/05/2020) - Cases reported to Forced Marriage Unit rose by 13 per cent in 2018
News (07/05/2020)
1,507 cases reported - President of the Family Division welcomes Nuffield report into effectiveness of remote hearings during COVID-19
News (07/05/2020) - Children’s Commissioner creates local area profiles of child vulnerability during Covid-19
News (26/04/2020)
‘Much of child vulnerability is hidden from sight under lockdown’ - Domestic Abuse Bill second reading scheduled for 28 April 2020
News (24/04/2020) - Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
News (24/04/2020)
Amendments made to assist the children’s social care sector during the coronavirus pandemic - Legal aid evidence requirements for domestic abuse victims relaxed
News (24/04/2020) - President of the Family Division considers the appropriateness of a remote hearing
News (24/04/2020) - Victims’ Commissioner and Domestic Abuse Commissioner call for Government to bring empty hotel rooms into use
News (19/04/2020) - Guidance as to the replacement of affidavits with statements of truth in non-contentious probate processes
News (19/04/2020)
President of the Family Division’s Guidance - Remote Access Family Court - version 4
News (19/04/2020) - New public law cases received by Cafcass fell 9 per cent in March
News (17/04/2020) - New private law cases received by Cafcass in March 15 per cent lower than 2019
News (17/04/2020) - Legal Aid Agency: Updated coronavirus (COVID-19) information
News (17/04/2020) - Marriage rate for opposite-sex couples in 2017 lowest on record
News (17/04/2020)
Only 22 per cent of all marriages were religious ceremonies - Trial by Skype
News (17/04/2020) - Conducting international casework during the COVID-19 pandemic
News (17/04/2020)
Interim guidance from Children and Families Across Borders - Coronavirus: Domestic abuse
News (04/04/2020) - Select Committee examines impact of COVID-19 on education and children’s services
News (04/04/2020) - Victims’ Commissioner publishes new report on domestic abuse
News (04/04/2020)
Report explores overlap between children’s experience of domestic abuse and their offending behaviour - Version 3 of ‘The Remote Access Family Court’ published
News (04/04/2020) - Second report of Private Law Working Group published
News (04/04/2020) - How to submit an appeal during the COVID-19 crisis
News (02/04/2020)
Message from the President of the Family Division - Domestic abuse victims may leave home to seek refuge
News (29/03/2020)
Home Secretary clarifies rules during coronavirus emergency - 2.4 million separated families in Great Britain in 2017/18
News (29/03/2020) - New domestic violence cases rose by 21 per cent last quarter
News (27/03/2020)
Total new family cases fell by 1 per cent in quarter - Family legal aid bill rises to £148 million for the last quarter
News (27/03/2020) - Coronavirus (COVID-19): Legal Aid Agency response
News (27/03/2020) - Outcomes for children looked after by local authorities in England
News (27/03/2020)
Statistics as at 31 March 2019 published - The number of children in need decreases slightly
News (27/03/2020)
399,500 children in need at 31 March 2019 - Children’s Commissioner requests safeguards to protect children’s rights during coronavirus crisis
News (27/03/2020) - Covid-19: Practice Guidance on Case Management and Mediation of International Child Abduction Proceedings
News (27/03/2020) - Coronavirus Crisis: Guidance on Compliance with Family Court Child Arrangement Orders
News (27/03/2020)
President’s Guidance - The Remote Access Family Court: COVID-19 (coronavirus)
News (27/03/2020)
Message from Mr Justice MacDonald - Updates for time limits for filing documents in the Supreme Court and JCPC
News (17/03/2020)
Lord Reed issues update - Durham Constabulary "not as effective at child protection as it could be"
News (17/03/2020)
Inspectorate discovers several problems in child protection services - Law Society cancels all face-to-face events
Articles (17/03/2020)
All events off until the end of July - Family Law Week minor disruption
News (16/03/2020)
Remote working due to Coronavirus - Coronavirus guidance for courts and tribunals
News (16/03/2020)
COVID-19 current court guidelines - Court of Appeal to live-stream family cases
News (16/03/2020)
Joint initiative by the judiciary and government to boost transparency in the justice system - LGA warns that private organisations in massive debt puts children's care at risk
News (02/03/2020)
Large numbers of children's homes potentially at risk - House of Commons Library publishes Child protection: Duties to report concerns Briefing Paper
News (02/03/2020)
Sets out current requirements regarding reporting known or suspected child abuse or neglect - Sally Cheshire appointed Interim Chair of CAFCASS board
News (01/03/2020)
Cheshire will be in office until 30 June 2020 - Domestic abuser jailed due to extended unduly lenient sentence scheme
News (01/03/2020)
24 month community order deemed too lenient - Mother awarded £400,000 in divorce for stepping back from her career
News (01/03/2020)
Solicitor awarded compensation for “relationship-generated disadvantage” - Met Police call for London schools to sign protection charter
News (24/02/2020)
Charter to protect pupils from FGM and other abuse. - Local Government Authority highlights children social care underfunding
News (24/02/2020)
Councils had to overspend by £3 billion over 5 years - House of Commons Library publishes summary of adult social care under Conservative government
News (24/02/2020)
Briefing paper provides a summary of the social care measures taken under the three Prime Ministers since the Conservative Government was first returned in 2015 - Child Abduction Accredited Solicitors List Updated
News (24/02/2020)
Official Solicitor updates accredited list - Joint call for Judge Tolson's continuing cases to be reviewed
News (23/02/2020)
130 lawyers and women's rights groups sign joint letter - Family Justice Young People’s Board Recruiting New Members
News (22/02/2020)
7-24 year olds sought to join 50 member board - New public law cases received by Cafcass rose 6 per cent in January
News (14/02/2020) - ‘Domestic Abuse Bill must guarantee anyone fleeing domestic abuse a safe home’
News (14/02/2020)
Crisis respond to domestic homicide figures for 2019 - New private law cases received by Cafcass in January 16 per cent higher than 2019
News (14/02/2020) - Increase recorded in both approved fostering households and children in foster care
News (14/02/2020)
Figures released for 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 - Family Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2020
News (13/02/2020) - Child Arrangements Orders: HoC Library briefings
News (13/02/2020) - Reciprocal enforcement of maintenance orders
News (13/02/2020) - Ban on under-16s being placed in unregulated accommodation proposed
News (13/02/2020)
Minimum standards to be introduced for unregulated accommodation - Two arrested for suspected FGM offences
News (09/02/2020) - ‘The public overwhelmingly supports legal aid’: Law Society survey
News (07/02/2020) - 30,700 child maintenance arrangements set up after contacting Options in last reported quarter
News (06/02/2020) - Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill receives second reading
News (06/02/2020)
Committee stage begins on 3 March 2020 - Quarter of adults think it very or fairly easy to identify whether a ten-year-old is being abused or neglected
News (06/02/2020) - Sex abuse in families going under the radar, say inspectorates
News (06/02/2020)
Report into ‘the multi-agency response to child sexual abuse in the family environment’ published - The Transparency Review: The President of the Family Division’s Call for Evidence
News (05/02/2020) - Closure of regional divorce centres announced
News (02/02/2020) - Birmingham man jailed for trying to force niece into marriage
News (02/02/2020) - Child Support Agency caseload continues to reduce
News (31/01/2020)
CSA live cases fell from 261,100 in June 2019 to 176,400 in September 2019 - Domestic abuse referrals to CPS and prosecutions have fallen
News (31/01/2020)
Crown Prosecution Service publish quarterly bulletin - ‘Chasm’ exists between current levels of mental health services and what children need
News (30/01/2020)
Children’s Commissioner published third annual children’s mental health briefing - Law Society publishes parliamentary briefing on Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill
News (29/01/2020)
Second reading scheduled for 5 February 2020 - Wales votes to end the physical punishment of children
News (29/01/2020)
New law is expected to come into force in 2022 - Family judges hearing cases involving alleged serious sexual assault should receive training
News (26/01/2020) - Building successful domestic abuse prosecutions without the victim’s support
News (26/01/2020) - 80 per cent of children in care need special educational support
News (23/01/2020) - Online divorce service for legal professionals
News (23/01/2020) - Domestic abuse perpetrator strategy would cut violent crime and protect victims
News (21/01/2020)
Organisations, police commissioners and academics call on Government to invest in perpetrator strategy - Ombudsman reminds councils of their foster carer school transport duties
News (21/01/2020) - New care applications received by Cafcass fell 3 per cent in December
News (21/01/2020) - New private law cases received by Cafcass in December 7 per cent higher than a year ago
News (21/01/2020) - High Court endorses joint drafting of family court consent orders
News (20/01/2020) - New Queen’s Counsel announced
News (19/01/2020) - Professor Judith Masson made honorary Queen’s Counsel
News (19/01/2020) - Stalking Protection Orders come into force
News (19/01/2020) - Spouses and civil partners to inherit more from intestate estates
News (17/01/2020) - Number of children looked after in England is up 4 per cent to 78,150
News (17/01/2020)
Children ceasing to be looked after due to adoption has fallen by 7 per cent - Councils urged to prioritise adoption
News (17/01/2020)
DfE issues updated advice to local authorities - Revised version of Order No 3.2 – the Search Order – issued
News (17/01/2020) - Urgent action needed to ensure children and young people can access mental health services
News (17/01/2020)
Education Policy Institute publishes Annual Report on access to CAMHS - First female justice Lady Hale retires
News (13/01/2020)
First female justice retires, Lord Reed new Supreme Court president - British Somalis Claim Racial Profiling Over FGM
News (13/01/2020)
UK Somalis say FGM figures are inaccurate - London Mayor calls for action to secure the future of undocumented young Londoners
News (10/01/2020)
107,000 children living in London without secure immigration status - £1m invested to improve London’s doctors’ skills in helping domestic violence victims
News (10/01/2020)
Funding will expand the programme across 17 London boroughs - 72 per cent of Refuge service users have experienced tech abuse
News (10/01/2020) - Vacancy with the Family Justice Council: applications invited from junior barristers
News (10/01/2020) - Government confirms extra support for Troubled Families programme
News (10/01/2020) - Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill receives first reading
News (09/01/2020)