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2013 News Archive
- Would-be adopters helped with new online resources
News (29/12/2013)
More funds for councils announced - Mr Justice Charles appointed Vice-President of the Court of Protection
News (29/12/2013)
Appointment to take place from 13th January 2014 - President calls for radical changes in family courts’ approach to transparency
News (20/12/2013)
‘Many more judgments must be published’ - Care cases taking 36 weeks, according to latest court statistics
News (20/12/2013)
Duration of care cases down 25% since September 2012 - BAAF rated ‘outstanding’ in recent Ofsted inspection
News (20/12/2013)
BAAF rated ‘outstanding’ in recent Ofsted inspection - Runaway children at risk because of new police guidance
News (20/12/2013)
New research investigates the consequence of redefinition of ‘absent’ children - Court of Appeal hears case in which husband misled the court about plans for company
News (20/12/2013)
Court had found dishonesty but would not re-examine original order - Alison Russell QC appointed to the High Court bench
News (19/12/2013) - Scottish social workers in contempt of court for defying contact order
News (17/12/2013)
No further punishment imposed - Government should reconsider legal aid proposals, says Human Rights Joint Committee
News (15/12/2013)
Changes needed to ensure ‘effective access to justice’ - No less than 'good' for children's homes demands Ofsted
News (15/12/2013)
New framework released for consultation - Divorcing couples regret the impact on children but don’t tend to seek help, survey finds
News (13/12/2013)
Survey highlights the need for relationship education, says Sir Paul Coleridge - Restrictions on hours and cutting of fees are ‘driving away’ experts from the family courts
News (13/12/2013)
Consortium of Expert Witnesses fears loss of skills and knowledge in family courts - Ofsted publishes new framework for inspecting Cafcass
News (12/12/2013)
Unannounced inspections will treat Cafcass as one organisation - Attainment gap between looked after children and others narrows slightly but remains large
News (12/12/2013) - Almost two children a day abducted abroad by parents
News (12/12/2013)
Foreign Office launches child abduction information film - Marriages can be performed at Scientologists’ churches, decides Supreme Court
News (11/12/2013)
Scientology is a religion, the court concludes - Care applications, year on year, fall by 15% in November
News (11/12/2013)
816 application in November - Number of new private law children cases falling
News (11/12/2013)
Cafcass publishes latest figures - First same-sex marriages from 29th March 2014
News (11/12/2013)
Conversion of civil partnerships to marriages should be possible by the end of 2014 - Caesarean section case: the judgments, statements and comment
News (09/12/2013) - Ten new projects help separated couples resolve parenting conflicts
News (08/12/2013)
Initiatives funded by the Innovation Fund - Children and young people’s mental health neglected by local authorities
News (08/12/2013)
‘Overlooked and Forgotten’ report reveals failure to address mental health needs of under-18s - Non-means tested legal aid restored for patients detained under Mental Capacity Act 2005
News (08/12/2013)
MoJ accepts principle that restoration is needed to satisfy Art 5(4) of ECHR - Italian mother's lawyer in C-section case gives detailed interview
News (04/12/2013) - Supreme Court orders return of son to Texas in KL (A Child)
News (04/12/2013)
Court exercises inherent jurisdiction to return child with UK habitual residence - Children in foster care in England may stay with carers until 21
News (04/12/2013)
Government agrees to amend Children and Families Bill - First national picture of foster carer recruitment published
News (04/12/2013)
Fostering Network survey shows huge range in performance across the country - Women’s Aid declares ‘a state of crisis’ in domestic violence services
News (03/12/2013)
Charity warns of the collapse of domestic violence providers - Essex County Council responds to C-section care case
News (03/12/2013)
Judgment published in care proceedings - Only half of public express confidence in the family courts on children matters
News (03/12/2013)
MoJ releases survey on attitudes to fees and courts - Beneficiaries of offshore trusts ordered to disclose documents
News (01/12/2013)
Moylan J explains order for disclosure by beneficiary parties - Need for procedures which assist litigants in person: Ryder LJ
News (29/11/2013)
Court of Appeal gives important guidance on children 'without notice' applications - Holman J calls for maintenance enforcement rules to be simplified
News (29/11/2013)
Law ‘in dire need of modernisation, simplification and reform’ - Research shows how children’s guardians are fulfilling their role
News (29/11/2013)
Report underlines the ‘front-loading’ of guardians’ work - Family and friends foster carers being treated unfairly, says Ombudsman
News (29/11/2013)
Family Rights Group calls for remedies in Children and Families Bill - Charity for children in care calls for UKIP councillor’s resignation
News (28/11/2013)
Who Cares? Trust condemns councillors’ ‘ignorant’ comments - Numbers on Welsh child protection registers increase slightly
News (28/11/2013)
2,950 children on registers as at 31 March 2013 - Supreme Court to hand down judgment in Hague Convention appeal on 4th December
News (28/11/2013)
Court to consider consequence of return orders erroneously granted - ECtHR rules on duty to carry out ‘in-depth examination’ in Hague Convention child abduction cases
News (26/11/2013)
reunite intervenes to assist the Court in X v Latvia - Family Justice Minister signs the Resolution mediation pledge
News (26/11/2013)
Signing marks the beginning of Family Dispute Resolution Week - New Child Maintenance Service opens to all new applicants
News (26/11/2013)
Roll-out of Service now complete - Russian court orders return of children to England
News (25/11/2013)
First case to make use of the 1996 Hague Convention in Russia - 'Clare's Law' to be extended to all of England and Wales
News (25/11/2013)
Legislation to take effect from March 2014 - Only half of people would consider a non-court solution if divorcing
News (25/11/2013)
Public concerns are based on a ‘worrying lack of awareness’, says Resolution - Lack of child protection resources are worrying, says NSPCC
News (24/11/2013)
Community Care survey shows increased thresholds are leaving children at risk - Draft standard family orders distributed for comment
News (24/11/2013)
First batch, including financial remedy orders, released - House of Lords votes for law change for young carers
News (22/11/2013)
160,000 child carers could benefit from the amended legislation - Nine out of ten fathers say they keep in contact with non-resident children
News (22/11/2013)
Contact affected by economic means and second families, says research - Michelle Young awarded £20 million lump sum
News (22/11/2013)
Moor J criticises 'eye watering' costs incurred - Judgment in Young v Young financial remedies case due this week
News (18/11/2013)
Friends of Scot Young cross-examined about payments made to him - Women’s Aid tells Michael Gove: domestic violence is not a ‘life choice’
News (17/11/2013)
BASW denies that social workers are complicit in a victim culture - Divorced husband offered £10,000 incentive in financial remedy proceedings
News (17/11/2013)
Holman J encourages husband to ‘find’ wife’s missing jewellery - Two-thirds of police officers want emotional neglect to be punishable by law
News (17/11/2013)
Action for Children campaign for an extension of the criminal law of child neglect - Mrs Justice Pauffley appointed as the Senior Family Liaison Judge
News (15/11/2013) - Holman J expresses ‘despair’ at ‘family tearing itself apart’
News (15/11/2013)
Dispute over £50m business costs £700,000 before preliminary issue is determined - Private Law Working Group publishes draft Child Arrangements Programme
News (13/11/2013)
Views sought on CAP and supporting documents - Children in care do not get the support to which they are entitled
News (12/11/2013)
All Party Parliamentary Group report published - Scot Young accused of ‘sham bankruptcy’
News (11/11/2013)
Businessman gives evidence in high profile financial remedy hearing - Father committed for contempt for breach of order to file Form E
News (08/11/2013) - New national standards for expert evidence in family courts
News (08/11/2013)
Standards to be implemented for April 2014 - Court refuses declaration of non-recognition of forced marriage of 14 year old girl
News (08/11/2013)
Declaration barred by section 58(5) of Family Law Act 1986 - Guide to Pro Bono published
News (08/11/2013)
National Pro Bono Week highlights opportunities for pro bono engagement - Care applications in October up 2% on last year
News (08/11/2013)
972 applications received by Cafcass in October - New private law cases received by Cafcass in October 8% down on last year
News (08/11/2013)
3,975 new cases received in October - Child Maintenance Service to charge parents with care a 4% collection fee
News (07/11/2013)
DWP publishes response to child maintenance consultation - Ofsted's single inspection of children’s services takes effect
News (07/11/2013)
Outcome of consultation exercise published - Cafcass transfers to the Ministry of Justice
News (07/11/2013)
Transfer follows recommendation in the Family Justice Review - A mandatory reporting duty for professionals will aid child protection, says former DPP
News (04/11/2013)
Failure to comply should carry possible jail sentence - Michelle Young seeks to establish extent of former husband’s wealth
News (04/11/2013)
Final hearing in Young v Young commences - Pre-care proceedings protocol deserves urgent consideration
News (03/11/2013)
President says that the proposal ‘deserves most careful attention’ - Norway’s cure for 40% divorce rate: counselling and date nights
News (03/11/2013) - Separating couples are rejecting mediation
News (03/11/2013)
Publically-funded mediations decline by a third - 6 in 10 domestic violence survivors unable to access legal aid
News (31/10/2013)
Charities say that evidence requirements are too restrictive - Number of cohabiting couples rises by 30% in last decade
News (31/10/2013)
Two-thirds of all UK families are married - Family courts judiciary are ‘secular judges serving a multi-cultural community’
News (31/10/2013)
Sir James Munby chronicles the changing stance of family judges towards religion - Two more Hague Convention appeals to be heard by the Supreme Court
News (31/10/2013)
Appeals from LC (Children) [2013] EWCA Civ 1058 and DL v EL [2013] EWCA Civ 865 to be heard in November - Government launches strategy to support care leavers
News (29/10/2013)
Support offered to help care leavers to live independently - Seventh View from the President’s Chambers published
News (28/10/2013)
President emphasises the need for changes in culture and practice - President warns of consequences of non-compliance with court orders
News (28/10/2013)
Criticism in Re W; Re H reiterated in 7th View from the President’s Chambers - Welfare benefits cap may force domestic violence victims to stay with their abusers
News (27/10/2013)
CIH report assesses the initial impact of benefits cap - New bulletin for children and young people’s advocates published
News (27/10/2013)
Local Government Ombudsman's bulletin describes common issues - Reforms for female prisoners will improve ties with children
News (25/10/2013)
Sentences will be served as close to home as possible - Japan to accede to Hague Convention on Child Abduction on 1st April 2014
News (25/10/2013) - Professionals risk failing to spot abuse if they rely on children talking about it
News (24/10/2013)
Practitioners' need to build trusting relationships with children emphasised by research project - NSPCC helpline receives 50 calls about neglect each day
News (24/10/2013)
Child neglect is the main reason for calls to the helpline - Court of Appeal upholds English courts’ discretion to stay divorce proceedings under forum conveniens
News (21/10/2013)
Osuwu does not apply to divorce jurisdiction under Brussels II Revised - New adoption scheme launched to help ‘overlooked’ children
News (21/10/2013)
Initially 100 children per year might be placed under the scheme - Children’s Services Directors respond to Ofsted’s criticisms of children’s services
News (21/10/2013)
‘Ofsted’s approach is not conducive to strong, stable leadership’ - Litigant in person convicted for assault on wife during family court proceedings
News (20/10/2013)
Court staff and judge forced to restrain father - President considers refusals of permission to oppose adoption prior to Re B-S
News (20/10/2013)
Final adoption orders should be deferred to allow time for parents’ appeal - Babies born in marriage or civil partnership under 53 per cent
News (18/10/2013)
Births within marriage fall almost 7 per cent over decade - Protocol for sharing information about vulnerable children published
News (18/10/2013)
CPS, family courts, social services and schools will cooperate in new initiative - Lady Justice Macur appointed Vice Chairman of the Judicial Appointments Commission
News (18/10/2013) - Nine opportunities to sit in the High Court's Family or Queen's Bench Divisions available
News (16/10/2013)
Appointments expected from spring 2014 - Children ordered to receive MMR vaccination
News (13/10/2013)
Court orders that children must receive vaccination against their and their mother’s wishes - Matrimonial Causes Act should be ‘killed off’ says Sir Paul Coleridge
News (13/10/2013)
Mr Justice Coleridge to retire from full-time judicial duties next Spring - Court approves Sch 1 compromise agreement despite mother’s breach of terms
News (13/10/2013)
Father not permitted to renege on agreement - Young carers to receive more support under changes to Children and Families Bill
News (11/10/2013)
Children’s Society hails ‘new era’ for young carers - Father to serve more than 2 years imprisonment for contempt
News (11/10/2013)
Six months term follows 21 months already served arising from non-return of child from Egypt - Charities call on Lords to ensure homes for care leavers
News (09/10/2013)
Support sought for amendment to Children and Families Bill - Civil partnership dissolutions rise by 20% in 2012
News (08/10/2013)
Registrations increase by 3.6% over the year - Care applications received by Cafcass in September 6% down on 2012 figures
News (08/10/2013)
Recent reduction in care application numbers continues - 3,834 new private law cases received by Cafcass in September
News (08/10/2013)
Cases received are 6% up on last September - Michelle Young set to cross-examine business leaders in final hearing of financial remedy proceedings
News (06/10/2013)
Final hearing set for later this month - Keanu Williams serious case review published
News (06/10/2013)
Agencies missed opportunities to intervene and take action - Call for more support for child witnesses in criminal proceedings
News (06/10/2013)
Cases collapsing because of lack of support, claims NSPCC - Local authority tried to move vulnerable teen from residential school without her consent
News (04/10/2013)
Ombudsman finds ‘undue distress’ caused to 13-year old - Father jailed again for non-return of daughter to UK
News (03/10/2013)
Sentence of six months imprisonment follows 21 months term - Support for education of children in care enhanced
News (03/10/2013)
Funding to support children in care at school will increase by £1,000 per pupil - Holman J judgment starkly illustrates troubling effect of legal aid cuts
News (30/09/2013)
Lack of representation impacts on court time - Married couples tax allowance announced
News (29/09/2013)
‘Shocking waste of money,’ says Gingerbread - Government backs Doncaster’s trust proposal for children's services
News (29/09/2013)
Doncaster MBC will commission an independent Children’s Trust with partners - Children’s services expenditure by local authorities planned to fall by £234m
News (26/09/2013)
Budgets for looked after children and safeguarding due to rise - Adoptions rise by 33 per cent in Wales
News (26/09/2013)
Number of looked after children in Wales increases slightly - Government approach to homes for care leavers is failing, says Fostering Network
News (26/09/2013)
Call for government to consider amendment of the Children Bill - More children in England adopted than ever before
News (26/09/2013)
Official statistics show almost 4,000 adoptions in 2012 - Ofsted publishes single framework for inspecting children’s services
News (26/09/2013)
Frameworks published for voluntary adoption agencies and independent fostering services - Invest in more support care for families in crisis, local authorities urged
News (26/09/2013)
Research suggests that short-term care is a cost-effective solution - MEPs call for equal property rights for registered partners and married couples
News (22/09/2013)
Rules will not apply to United Kingdom - President’s Guidance due on publication of Court of Protection judgments
News (22/09/2013)
Mr Justice Charles addresses Court of Protection Practitioners Association - Court of Appeal gives important guidance on adoption applications
News (22/09/2013)
‘Sloppy practice’ must stop, warns Court - Daniel Pelka: serious case review and responses to it
News (22/09/2013)
Lessons of SCRs are not being effectively disseminated, say social workers - Domestic violence increases during England World Cup football matches
News (20/09/2013)
Incidents increase following an England defeat - Lib Dem Conference calls for enforceable rights for cohabitants
News (17/09/2013)
Conference seeks legislation based on Law Commission’s proposals - Mother who feared her son’s father might feed him meat loses appeal
News (16/09/2013)
Court of Appeal upholds order granting contact - ‘Common Law Marriage’ myth needs addressing, say MPs
News (16/09/2013)
Liberal Democrat Conference debates cohabitants’ rights - 6th View from the President’s Chambers published
News (16/09/2013)
President updates the profession on latest developments in reform of family justice system - BAAF appoints new chief executive
News (16/09/2013)
Srabani Sen will join the association on 2nd December - London pilot project reduces duration of care proceedings from 49 to 26 weeks
News (15/09/2013)
‘Triborough’ research published - Minister says that child support arrangements have ‘turned a corner’
News (15/09/2013)
Steve Webb acclaims acceptance by separated parents of financial responsibility for their children - Michael Gove lambasts protection provided by children’s homes
News (15/09/2013)
Information Commissioner responds to data protection concerns - Government announces new funding to support adoptive families
News (11/09/2013)
Adoption Support Fund will be rolled out in 2015 - Independent social workers’ skills are ‘vital’ to resolving complex and intractable cases, say family court judges
News (11/09/2013)
Ministers called on to recognise ISWs’ unique and positive contribution - Supreme Court decides that High Court has inherent jurisdiction concerning child who has never lived in England and Wales
News (09/09/2013)
Case remitted for urgent consideration as to whether the jurisdiction should be exercised - Care applications in August 2013 fall year-on-year by 17%
News (09/09/2013)
August 2013 statistics published by Cafcass - Private law children applications still running at over 4,000 per month
News (09/09/2013)
Cafcass publish latest figures - Father denied contact by ‘systemic failure’ of the family courts
News (09/09/2013)
Rehearing ordered by Court of Appeal after 12 years litigation and 82 court orders - ‘Unrepentant’ judge grants permission to appeal despite contrary view as to test
News (08/09/2013)
Mostyn J applies ‘illogical’ Court of Appeal test - Government proceeds with civil legal aid cuts
News (08/09/2013)
Impact assessment does not anticipate any shortfall in family law barristers arising from changes - Judge refuses application to remove restraining order
News (08/09/2013)
Couple permitted to communicate by phone and text - President considers transparency and privacy in the family courts in the internet age
News (08/09/2013)
Injunction granted to local authority - Married population over 65 increases by a million over the last decade
News (08/09/2013)
Number of pensioners cohabiting outside marriage doubles - Home Secretary orders review of police response to domestic violence
News (06/09/2013)
HMIC will consider changes to the police approach - Supreme Court to decide on wardship of child who has never been in the jurisdiction
News (06/09/2013)
Judgment published - More than 4,000 child protection plans initiated for unborn
News (02/09/2013)
Mail on Sunday reports 13% increase over two years - Lord Chief Justice concerned at the decrease in solicitors becoming judges
News (02/09/2013)
Final annual report calls for solicitor appointments - Latest Child Support Agency performance figures published
News (30/08/2013)
Gingerbread fears that many single parents will fall out of the child maintenance system - Co-op Legal Services reports half-year loss of £3.4 million
News (30/08/2013)
Revenue tops £18 million for the period - Four new appointments to the Family Justice Council
News (30/08/2013)
Christina Blacklaws, John Daly, District Judge Gordon-Saker and Dominic Raeside appointed - £1.8 million divorce settlement set aside because of husband’s non-disclosure of assets
News (29/08/2013)
Wife had made agreed without legal advice - Court of Protection sanctions sterilisation of man with learning disabilities
News (27/08/2013)
First permitted authorisation of sterilisation for non-therapeutic purposes - Childhood Lost campaign calls for ASBO-style restrictions to protect children
News (27/08/2013)
Proposed amendment to Anti-social Behaviour Bill will be considered by Home Office - Rotherham Council to be sued by grooming victims
News (26/08/2013)
Proceedings may also be issued against the police - Judicial appointment is becoming more appealing to practitioners
News (26/08/2013)
Nearly half have considered applying, according to JAC survey - Child maintenance advice sought over higher education costs
News (26/08/2013)
Pannone reports surge in clients’ enquiries - President castigates need for pro bono representation of committal defendant
News (23/08/2013)
Counsel and instructing solicitors praised for their efforts - Adoptions in 2012 rise by nearly 10%
News (20/08/2013)
Adoptions exceed 5,000 for the first time since 2005 - Cost of raising a child is almost £150,000, calculates CPAG
News (19/08/2013)
Costs rise by 4% while ‘safety net' benefits increase by 1% - Doncaster criticises ‘limitations and legal complications’ in DfE’s direction for children’s services
News (18/08/2013)
Response proposes independent children’s trust - New mark recognises organisations supporting separated families
News (17/08/2013)
Relate and Family Lives are among first recipients of mark - International workshop calls on governments to promote shared parenting
News (17/08/2013)
New organisation seeks to bring together the best evidence-based research on share parenting - Local authority considers charging children for care costs
News (17/08/2013)
ACSD emphasise the rarity of charging for accommodating looked after children - Full judgment published in multi-million financial provision case
News (16/08/2013)
King J delivers withering criticism of Husband’s litigation misconduct and orders award worth £54 million to wife - Law Society issues updated Practice Note on complaint handling
News (16/08/2013)
Handling complaints from clients and via the Legal Ombudsman - IAML European Chapter 2014 Award for Young Family Lawyers
News (14/08/2013)
Essay competition opens - Children of Mafia families removed in new initiative to break cycle of violence
News (12/08/2013)
Italian judge trail blazes interventionist programme with a “cultural detox.” - £54 million record divorce award
News (12/08/2013)
Mrs Justice King orders biggest UK divorce settlement - Latest Cafcass figures for private law and care applications published
News (09/08/2013)
Applications for July 2013 released - Judges to be specially selected for trials involving vulnerable child witnesses
News (07/08/2013)
Lord Judge responds to Home Affairs Committee - Research indicates women become much happier after divorce
News (06/08/2013)
Men feel ‘slightly happier’ after divorce, according to Kingston University project - Court declines to annul arranged marriage to man lacking mental capacity
News (06/08/2013)
Sikh wife asks Court of Protection not to annul marriage - Somerset child protection judged inadequate by Ofsted
News (06/08/2013)
Council pledges to meet all of Ofsted’s recommendations - ‘Silver’ divorces show marked increase since the 1990s
News (06/08/2013)
As the general divorce rate declines, it increases for over-60s - Court endorses guidance for local authorities where one parent murders the other
News (05/08/2013)
Theis J stresses the need for urgency and judicial continuity - Legal advice inaccessible for people with a learning disability
News (04/08/2013)
Lawyers need guidance on communicating with and supporting clients with a learning disability - Health and social care staff must look out for signs of domestic violence
News (02/08/2013)
New draft guidance published by NICE - Celebrity divorces are unrealistic for the rest of us, warns Law Society
News (02/08/2013)
Warnings given against couples resorting to ‘cut-price’ options - Domestic violence offenders may be barred from gun ownership
News (02/08/2013)
Home Office issues new guidance on firearm licensing - Child Maintenance Service extended to all applicants with two or more children
News (01/08/2013)
Gradual roll-out of service continues - Privy Council hears appeal in financial relief case which has been running for sixteen years
News (01/08/2013)
Judge took four years to deliver judgment - Inheritance and Trustees’ Powers Bill introduced into the House of Lords
News (01/08/2013)
Bill published and will receive second reading in October 2013 - Council agrees to backdate compensation for underpayments to 340 foster carers
News (01/08/2013)
Ombudsman urges local authorities to check that their procedures are in order - Lord Justice Thorpe retires
News (29/07/2013) - Contempt proceedings by police dismissed over alleged forced marriage
News (28/07/2013)
Police forces do not have the power to bring contempt proceedings in the civil court - Holman J warns divorcing couple against ‘financial suicide’
News (28/07/2013)
One quarter of couple’s wealth committed to litigation - Local authorities’ financial support of foster carers must not discriminate against family and friends
News (28/07/2013)
Fostering Network welcomes Court of Appeal judgment - Council takes two years to respond to complaint about children’s services
News (28/07/2013)
Authority to pay complainant £500 compensation - Young children who witness domestic violence show later aggression
News (25/07/2013)
Social workers need to consider the longer term effects of exposure to violence, research suggests - BAAF urges government for post-adoption support
News (25/07/2013)
Lack of adoption support is contributing to the breakdown of placements, charity says - IFS and Marriage Foundation disagree as to whether 'marriage is good for children'
News (25/07/2013)
Institute for Fiscal Studies concludes that policies encouraging marriage would have little impact - Supreme Court hears appeal concerning habitual residence in child abduction case today
News (22/07/2013)
Reunite, CFAB and The Centre for Family Law and Practice join in as interveners. - High Court revisits ‘real prospect of success’ test when considering appeals
News (21/07/2013)
Peter Jackson J says that gloss on those words is not ‘necessary or helpful’ - Children over 5 take more than a year longer to be adopted than younger children
News (21/07/2013)
Adoption survey shows reduction in new decisions but increase in matches and placements - Sir John Thomas appointed Lord Chief Justice
News (21/07/2013) - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill receives Royal Assent
News (17/07/2013) - Fourth View from the President’s Chambers updates the reform process
News (15/07/2013)
Initiatives undertaken on family orders and transparency of proceedings - Court of Appeal to consider the test for challenge by parents who have not consented to adoption
News (15/07/2013)
Supreme Court judgment in Re B casts doubt on the test in Re W - Bill to reform criminal law of child neglect fails to receive second reading in Commons
News (12/07/2013)
Rescheduled second reading set for November - Research paper explores family courts’ response to applications for enforcement of contact orders
News (12/07/2013)
Implacably hostile mothers constitute a small minority of enforcement cases - CPS reports record convictions in cases involving violence against women
News (12/07/2013)
Three out of four cases of Violence against Women and Girls resulted in convictions - Proportion of children born outside marriage continues to rise
News (12/07/2013)
47.5% of children born in 2012 to unmarried parents - Online Family Court Guide to public law proceedings published
News (11/07/2013)
Private law guide to follow - Wasted costs order made against non-party local authority
News (10/07/2013)
LA directed to prepare section 37 report is ‘closely connected’ to private law proceedings - Pre-proceedings involvement of family court advisers helps the avoidance of care proceedings, finds pilot study
News (10/07/2013)
Family court adviser involvement may also shorten proceedings - Cafcass reports private law applications up 29% on June 2012
News (08/07/2013)
Applications for the quarter up 27% on a year ago - Care applications for June up 5% on a year ago
News (08/07/2013)
Applications for the first quarter up 8% - Malaysian wife claims that ‘£500 million’ divorce should be heard in England
News (08/07/2013)
Coleridge J adjourns application for a fuller hearing - Adverse childhood experiences have life-long health and social consequences
News (08/07/2013)
Research suggests a cyclic effect which affects the next generation - Court grants opposed post-adoption contact order
News (08/07/2013)
Child's 'welfare .... requires the maintenance of a relationship with his maternal grandmother and sister' - Judicial Working Group publishes recommendations to assist with expected surge in litigants in person
News (07/07/2013)
Information for LiPs, judicial training, rule changes and McKenzie Friends considered by group - Joint Committee on Human Rights publishes scrutiny report on Children and Families Bill
News (04/07/2013)
Committee expresses concern as to effect on kinship care - Legal aid rules change where several counsel attend on different days
News (04/07/2013)
Counsel can now submit claims on an individual basis - Kevin Skinner awarded ALC Outstanding Newcomer in the Field of Children Law
News (04/07/2013) - Colin Mackey named Family Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year
News (03/07/2013)
Three family lawyers win individual awards at LALYs - Key features of the single family court explained in Joint Statement
News (03/07/2013)
Possible models of allocation of London care cases set out - Anthony Hayden QC appointed to the High Court bench
News (02/07/2013)
Appointment follows elevation of Macur J to the Court of Appeal - Divorcing parents increasingly raid their pension pots
News (30/06/2013)
Families struggle to find funds to meet immediate needs - Scottish Government publishes same sex marriage bill
News (30/06/2013)
Bill requires religious bodies to opt into the legislation - Lady Hale is the new Deputy President of Supreme Court
News (29/06/2013) - Third View from the President’s Chambers focuses on expert evidence in care cases
News (29/06/2013)
President determined to end excessive and unnecessary use of experts - Half a million more children forced into poverty by 2015, warns Children’s Commissioner
News (28/06/2013)
Government is breaching its ‘obligations on children’s rights’, concludes report - Marriage rate continues its revival
News (27/06/2013)
Number of unmarried couples cohabiting in the UK has doubled since 1996 - Government should set and enforce child maintenance, believes the British public
News (27/06/2013)
Public attitude is not reflected by Government policy - Appeal to be heard of court’s termination of father’s parental responsibility
News (27/06/2013)
Court of Appeal will determine whether Section 4(2A) of Children Act is compatible with ECHR - Children’s residential care to be reformed
News (26/06/2013)
DfE promises greater transparency and more rigorous inspection - Revised statutory guidance on children missing from care published
News (26/06/2013)
Children’s Society calls for ‘return interviews’ for all children who go missing - Mostyn J gives guidance on freezing and search orders in financial remedy cases
News (26/06/2013)
Judgment provides examples, principles, safeguards and a warning on ex parte applications - PLO roll-out will not affect court bundle claims under Family Advocacy Scheme
News (23/06/2013)
Legal Aid Agency guidance released - House of Commons to consider legal aid proposals
News (23/06/2013)
Backbench debate scheduled for 27th June - Children in separating families seek funding to launch new website
News (23/06/2013)
First service for children entirely funded by teenagers launches campaign - Court determines witness list for final hearing in Young case
News (23/06/2013)
Moor J seeks to establish extent of Scot Young’s wealth - Coleridge J offers guidance on approach to ‘lesser issues and assets’ in financial remedy cases
News (23/06/2013)
Judge's comments have been expressly approved by the President - Further legal aid cuts ‘risk injustice and miscarriages of justice’, says the Family Justice Council
News (20/06/2013)
FJC publishes its response to Transforming Legal Aid consultation - Divorce ‘costs £2,600 per year in expected retirement income’, according to Prudential survey
News (20/06/2013)
Divorced retirees expect a £13,800 annual retirement income, compared with £16,400 for those who have not - President provides further guidance on the ‘necessity’ of expert evidence
News (17/06/2013)
Sir James Munby also considers issues of case management and disclosure - Ofsted consults on single inspection regime for local authority services for vulnerable children
News (14/06/2013)
Consultations launched on voluntary adoption and independent fostering agencies - Parliamentary Committee welcomes Government review of extension of civil partnerships to opposite sex couples
News (14/06/2013)
Joint Committee on Human Rights publishes report scrutinising Same Sex Marriage Bill - New ‘Fostering for Adoption’ guidance for social workers published by Coram and BAAF
News (14/06/2013)
Guidance aims to minimise children’s placement movements - Immigration control takes priority over children’s best interests, concludes Joint Committee on Human Rights
News (12/06/2013)
Lack of specialist legal advice likely to be exacerbated by legal aid cuts - Supreme Court considers future psychological harm and threshold criteria
News (12/06/2013)
Full analysis of the Justices' speeches published on Family Law Week - Supreme Court unanimously allows the appeal of Yasmin Prest
News (12/06/2013)
Detailed consideration of landmark judgment and its implications for practitioners published - Amendment to Children Bill tabled to retain children’s foster homes after 18
News (11/06/2013)
Fostering Network pursue Don’t Move Me campaign in Parliament - Cafcass records a record-breaking month for private law applications
News (11/06/2013)
May 2013 statistics show 5,061 new private law cases - Cafcass reports year-on-year reduction in care applications in May
News (10/06/2013)
Year-to-date figures are still rising. - One million children grow up with no contact with their father, reports Centre for Social Justice
News (10/06/2013)
Report paints a melodramatic picture, says Gingerbread - Guidance issued on committals in the Family Division and Court of Protection supplemented by President
News (07/06/2013) - Independent reviewing officers must make more difference to the lives of looked after children, says Ofsted
News (07/06/2013)
IROs have been slow to assume enhanced responsibilities - Adoptive parents’ details mistakenly sent to birth family
News (06/06/2013)
Council’s data breach incurs £70,000 penalty - Independent Serious Case Review Panel established
News (06/06/2013)
Panel will advise and challenge local safeguarding children boards - Use of expert witnesses decreases in family courts, according to Cafcass
News (06/06/2013)
New research shows significant reduction in instruction of independent social workers - Supreme Court to deliver judgment on ‘significant harm’ and proportionality of response
News (06/06/2013)
Judgment in B (A Child) to be given on 12th June - Supreme Court to deliver judgment in Petrodel v Prest next week
News (06/06/2013)
Much anticipated judgment to be delivered on 12th June. - Supreme Court to consider habitual residence issues in ZA v NA appeal
News (05/06/2013)
Hearing fixed for 22nd and 23rd July - Local authority failed to support abandoned child, Ombudsman finds
News (05/06/2013)
Kent CC did not properly assess whether complainant should be a looked after child - House of Lords gives second reading to Same Sex Marriage Bill
News (04/06/2013)
Wrecking amendment rejected by two-thirds of House - Deborah Eaton QC and Philip Marshall QC elected joint Heads of Chambers at 1 King's Bench Walk
News (04/06/2013)
One of the country’s leading family law sets to be led by two silks - Revised Public Law Outline published
News (03/06/2013)
Pilot to run until April 2014 - Further Imerman judgments determine issues relating to representation of trust beneficiaries and privilege of communications
News (03/06/2013)
Settled case provides important guidance for practitioners - Same-sex marriage sets precedent for sibling marriage and polygamy, says Lord Carey
News (02/06/2013)
House of Lords due to debate second reading of Bill on 3rd June - People married or in civil partnerships are ‘happier’ than singles or cohabitants, says ONS publication
News (02/06/2013)
Anxiety ratings of singles, divorced and widowed are ‘significantly higher’ - Generation of children put at risk by legal aid cuts, warn family lawyers
News (02/06/2013)
Some courts are increasingly making children parties to private proceedings, it is claimed - Moylan J calls for caution when courts make financial orders based on future income
News (28/05/2013)
Permission to appeal granted to Husband in financial remedies case - Japanese Parliament paves way for ratification of Hague Convention on Child Abduction
News (23/05/2013)
Convention should be ratified by March 2014 - EU-wide protection for victims of domestic violence to become law
News (23/05/2013)
Draft regulation should be adopted by Council of Ministers in June - Cohabitation fails to offer stable home for children, claims Marriage Foundation report
News (23/05/2013)
'Of parents who remain together, over 90 per cent are married’ - Improved support for care leavers announced by Children Minister
News (23/05/2013)
Over one hundred councils have signed the Care Leavers Charter - Age assessment of young people in the immigration system is ‘too long and adversarial’
News (22/05/2013)
New report from Coram Children’s Legal Centre calls for changes in practice - Ministers write to local authorities about housing benefit changes and foster carers
News (22/05/2013)
Impact of changes reduced where one spare room is used for foster child - MPs reject extension of civil partnerships to heterosexual couples
News (21/05/2013)
Review of civil partnerships will be launched ‘shortly’ - Bed sharing with parents increases the risk of SIDS fivefold, according to new research
News (21/05/2013)
Risk is increased even where parents are non-smokers and use neither alcohol nor drugs - Revised Public Law Outline comes into effect on 1 July 2013
News (20/05/2013)
Latest ‘View from the President’s Chambers’ sets out local authority’s obligations - Chief Social Worker for Children and Families appointed
News (17/05/2013)
Isabelle Trowler is charged with improving child social work performance - Divorcee keeps overpayment of pension made as part of divorce settlement
News (17/05/2013)
Scottish Widows bound by incorrect transfer value provided to parties - Government proposes review of civil partnership after 5 years of Same Sex Marriage legislation
News (17/05/2013)
Minister describes extension of civil partnerships to heterosexuals as 'complicated distraction' - DWP’s child maintenance data ‘misleading’, says Gingerbread
News (16/05/2013)
Proposed reporting standards will also be inaccurate, claims charity - New standards for expert evidence in family courts announced
News (16/05/2013)
Consultation launched on exclusion of ‘so-called experts who are not up to scratch’ - Children and Families Bill is ‘unworkable’ say TCSW and FRG
News (15/05/2013)
26 weeks time limit risks wrong decisions, claims report - Councils to be allowed to delegate looked-after children work
News (15/05/2013)
External social work providers to take over some care tasks - Child maintenance now being paid in four out of five cases, says DWP
News (15/05/2013)
Maintenance collected or arranged for 921,000 children - Call for more foster carers to improve stability as Foster Care Fortnight begins
News (13/05/2013)
Fostered siblings are being split and children being moved too many times, says Fostering Network - Pre-proceedings process does not shorten care proceedings, research shows
News (10/05/2013)
But the process does succeed in diverting cases from court - Court of Appeal applies Russian law in dispute over beneficial ownership of London property
News (10/05/2013)
Russian businessman fails in claim for half-share in family home - Japan announces abduction pilot scheme
News (10/05/2013)
English-speaking lawyer will advise on the Japanese legal system - Outcome of tender process for face-to-face legal aid contracts published
News (09/05/2013)
Family and mediation contracts outcomes - G4S will run Child Maintenance Options service
News (09/05/2013)
Company granted five year contract to run advice and help service - Breakdown of care applications by local authority shows wide variations across the country
News (09/05/2013)
Next step is to find the causes of variations, says ADCS - Care leavers need government support until 25, say child care charities
News (09/05/2013)
Care Leavers Coalition calls for help into adulthood - Care applications in April 2013 show continued rise
News (09/05/2013)
908 applications in April 2013 is a 20% rise on a year ago - Cafcass reports private law demand up 28% on a year ago
News (09/05/2013)
April 2013 saw the highest demand for a single month - Criminalisation of forced marriage included in Queen’s Speech
News (08/05/2013)
Provisions to be included in Crime and Policing Bill - Home Office policy on discretionary leave for children to remain is unlawful
News (08/05/2013)
New High Court judgment upholds the rights of children affected by immigration decisions - Court of Appeal strikes out claim brought against wealthy ex-husband 18 years after divorce
News (08/05/2013)
Court finds that A v A funding order should not have been made - Legal Aid Agency must pay full costs of parenting assessment in care proceedings
News (07/05/2013)
Successful judicial review quashes LAA’s refusal to pay full costs of assessment - Court refuses to vary unsealed consent order in “big money” case
News (07/05/2013)
Court confirms settlement providing £10.3 million for wife - Guidance issued on committals in the Family Division and Court of Protection
News (07/05/2013)
Guidance follows the committal of Wanda Maddocks by Court of Protection - Base decisions on need not legal status, the Care Inquiry urges
News (02/05/2013)
Eight-month inquiry publishes its report - Divorcing wives find city courts more generous, according to Pannone’s research
News (02/05/2013)
Provincial courts less likely to order ongoing spousal maintenance - Council failed to safeguard children, finds Ombudsman
News (02/05/2013)
Compensation of £10,000 recommended for failings in handling complex neglect case - Law Society issues practice note for family lawyers who offer ‘partial retainer’ services
News (02/05/2013)
Society foresees increase in demand for ‘unbundled’ services in the wake of legal aid cuts - International interventions in family law disputes grow tenfold in a decade
News (01/05/2013)
Annual Report of the Office of the Head of International Family Justice published - Local authority pays five-figure sum to abuse victim
News (30/04/2013)
Council moved child back to abusive mother - President gives guidance on urgent appeals in adoption cases
News (30/04/2013)
Father 'cruelly deceived' by his child’s mother as to paternity loses appeal against adoption order - Second marriages less likely to end in divorce than first marriages, Marriage Foundation reports
News (30/04/2013)
‘Age is the most reliable predictor of marriage success,’ suggests report - Mr Justice Baker comments on exceptions to 26 weeks time limit in care cases
News (26/04/2013)
Importance of specialist family practitioners emphasised - Pakistan minister indicates intention to ratify Hague Child Abduction Convention
News (26/04/2013)
Meeting hears of 40 Pakistan / UK abductions in 2012 - Crime and Courts Bill receives Royal Assent
News (26/04/2013)
Legislation paving way for the single family court enacted - Family justice reforms mean that ‘solicitors need to do less work per case’, says Justice Minister
News (26/04/2013)
‘Small claims courts work well on premise that legal representation is the exception, not the norm’ - Short term planning is damaging child protection services, says Action for Children
News (26/04/2013)
Report calls for a ten year national plan for early intervention - Law Society launches surveys on the impact of LASPO
News (26/04/2013)
Surveys for ‘complex’ family law cases and domestic violence matters - 17 year olds in police custody to be treated as children, says the High Court
News (26/04/2013)
Police practice ‘inconsistent with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child’ - 30 April deadline for use of old legal aid forms
News (26/04/2013)
Only new LAA versions of civil forms accepted from 1st May - Communicating with the Home Office in Family Proceedings
News (26/04/2013)
President’s guidance re-issued April 2013 - Number of children placed with adoptive families rose by 43% in last year, says ADCS
News (24/04/2013)
”Adoption landscape brighter than many predicted, according to new research - Thousands of children repeatedly go missing from care, reports NSPCC
News (24/04/2013)
Society calls for urgent action to protect children in care - ‘Child Poverty Act framework needs to be supplemented, not replaced’
News (23/04/2013)
Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission publishes response to government’s consultation - Divorcees need better understanding of pension issues, experts warn
News (22/04/2013)
66 per cent of divorced women rely on State Pension - Council ordered to pay legal costs of brothers who spent 13 years in foster care
News (21/04/2013)
Lancashire CC escapes indemnity award due to its cooperation in the litigation process. - ADCS calls for greater use of kinship care
News (19/04/2013)
Association launches new research on workings of the care system - New court fee waivers system proposed by Ministry of Justice
News (19/04/2013)
Proposed scheme estimated to make savings of £7m per year - Scot Young released from prison
News (19/04/2013)
Half of the sentence for contempt of court served - Michael Keehan QC appointed to the High Court bench
News (19/04/2013)
Appointment follows elevation of Ryder J to the Court of Appeal - Cafcass commits to “doing more with less”
News (19/04/2013)
Strategic Plan for 2013-15 published - “We can and must meet the 26 week limit,” says the President
News (19/04/2013)
Sir James Munby reports on progress of family justice reform - High Court upholds separation agreement 22 years later
News (19/04/2013)
Court considers the agreement of ‘magnetic importance’ - The President to give this year’s ICLR Annual Lecture on 25th April
News (18/04/2013)
‘Marriage from the eighteenth to the twenty-first century’ - Taxpayer saved at least £23,000 per year for each child in informal kinship care
News (16/04/2013)
New study examines experiences of children in informal kinship care - High Court emphasises the local authority’s duty to consult appropriately before removing children subject to ICO
News (15/04/2013)
Court finds for mother in judicial review proceedings against council - Panorama’s investigation into Britain’s Sharia Courts re-scheduled for 22 April
News (15/04/2013)
Domestic violence against women is ignored, claims programme - Benefit cap may encourage couples to separate
News (15/04/2013)
Government’s welfare benefit cap rolls out from 15th April - Court terminates father’s parental responsibility
News (14/04/2013)
First reported case on issue since 1995 determines child’s needs justify termination of PR - Lord Justice Ryder talks of “revolutionary culture of change” in family justice
News (13/04/2013)
No “big bang” but an incremental approach to change - Sandwell’s child protection arrangements found to be inadequate
News (12/04/2013)
New director of children’s services appointed - Resolution launches pilot scheme to help separating parents reach own agreements
News (12/04/2013)
Annual conference hears of new scheme funded by the DWP innovation fund - Project launched to identify best practice in local authority’s care provision
News (11/04/2013)
Views of looked after children and young people sought by Voice and Hadley Centre - Legal Aid Agency need not fund expert’s report where child is legally aided and parents not
News (10/04/2013)
Law Society expresses disappointment at High Court ruling - United Kingdom ranked 16th of 29 developed countries for well-being of its children
News (10/04/2013)
CPAG predicts an increase of 600,000 in ‘absolute’ child poverty by 2015 - Government funds new support schemes for separated parents
News (10/04/2013)
New services are intended to help 280,000 separated families - Latest legal aid proposals include further remuneration cuts for public law family solicitors
News (10/04/2013)
Changes proposed to experts’ fees and eligibility criteria - Year-end care application figures from Cafcass show another record-breaking year
News (09/04/2013)
11,055 applications for the year from April 2012 - Research into impact of legal aid cuts published
News (09/04/2013)
‘Advice deserts’ predicted as result of legal aid changes - Cafcass reports private law applications reaching record highs ahead of legal aid changes
News (09/04/2013)
Cafcass expects a short-term decrease in applications - Proposed amendments to same-sex legislation would separate state and religious marriage
News (07/04/2013)
Proposals would involve repeal of Marriage Act 1949 - Panorama investigates Britain’s Sharia Courts
News (07/04/2013)
Domestic violence against women is ignored, claims programme - High Court agrees to transfer of care proceedings from Ireland to England
News (05/04/2013)
Cobb J examines law and procedure of BIIR in order to transfer jurisdiction - Councils set out their own plans to speed up adoption
News (05/04/2013)
Local authorities propose to work together to match adopters with children - New national online service launched for would-be adopters
News (05/04/2013)
Research suggests that 4 million in England would consider adopting - NICE publishes quality standard to improve the wellbeing of looked after children
News (04/04/2013)
NICE’s remit expands into social care - Legal Aid changes come into force
News (02/04/2013)
Bar Council publishes guide for litigants in person - reunite reports rise in calls to its advice line
News (31/03/2013)
Both abduction and prevention cases are on the increase - Rise in litigants in person alters the nature of proceedings, says President of Association of District Judges
News (28/03/2013)
Burden on judges will increase in the wake of forthcoming changes - Mrs Justice Macur and Mr Justice Ryder appointed to the Court of Appeal
News (28/03/2013)
Two Family Division judges among ten appointments to the Court of Appeal - PSE reports paints a picture of growing deprivation for UK children
News (28/03/2013)
Life chances for children diminished, says CPAG - Average time for disposal of a care or supervision application is now 45 weeks
News (28/03/2013)
Nearly 30,000 children were involved in public law proceedings in 2012 - Law Society has vacancies on its Family Law Committee and Children’s Law Sub-Committee
News (27/03/2013)
Children’s Law Sub-Committee requires a member for Wales - Hampshire agrees to take over provision of Isle of Wight’s children’s services
News (27/03/2013)
‘Groundbreaking’ strategic partnership agreed in outline - US Supreme Court hears same-sex marriage case
News (27/03/2013)
Audio recordings of advocates' arguments available online - Northamptonshire’s child protection services are inadequate, according to Ofsted
News (25/03/2013)
Council accepts the criticisms unreservedly - Children whose parents have mental health difficulties are poorly supported and protected
News (25/03/2013)
Inconsistent mental health provision is disadvantaging young people in care, claims Ofsted - Sharp decline in Cafcass use of experienced Guardians, Nagalro survey finds
News (22/03/2013)
Self-employed Guardians used by Cafcass have declined from 750 to 130, says Nagalro - Lord Chief Justice calls for research into effects on child witnesses in abuse cases
News (22/03/2013)
Toulmin Lecture describes developments in children evidence over the last 50 years - Police announce new approach to assessing risk to missing children
News (22/03/2013)
NSPCC fears that children will be put at risk - HFEA advises Government on necessary safeguards for IVF-based mitochondria replacement
News (22/03/2013)
Agency’s public consultation shows broad support - New Working Together guidance published for professionals working with children
News (22/03/2013)
Safeguarding guidance seeks to implement Munro recommendations - Draft Inheritance and Trustees’ Powers Bill published
News (21/03/2013)
Consultation on the draft financial provision legislation launched - Courts face second day of strike action
News (20/03/2013)
PCS calls out members on Friday, 5th April - Mostyn J orders mother to pay £13,000 costs in unsuccessful Schedule 1 CA 1989 appeal
News (18/03/2013)
‘Mercy’ requires that costs be paid in instalments - Delight turns to disappointment for foster carers of two or more children
News (18/03/2013)
More details of ‘bedroom tax’ reveal that many will still be affected - Wife awarded £18 million by Mr Justice Moylan
News (18/03/2013)
Husband awarded 55% and wife 45% of capital assets - Civil Legal Aid (Remuneration) Regulations 2013 come into force on 1st April
News (18/03/2013)
Regulations set out the fees and rates for the Family Advocacy Scheme - Youth justice system fails children in care, says the Commons Justice Committee
News (18/03/2013)
‘Police called to a children’s home to investigate a broken cup’ - Problems for prospective parents arising from India’s new surrogacy regulations
News (14/03/2013)
India tightens visa requirements in surrogacy cases - False allegations of domestic violence are rare, according to the CPS
News (14/03/2013)
111,891 prosecutions for domestic violence in 17-month period (and six for making false allegations) - Impact of child neglect underestimated, warns NSPCC
News (14/03/2013)
Charity calls for more social work expertise in identifying child neglect - ‘Fraudulently induced’ pre-nuptial agreement is void, says US appeal court
News (14/03/2013)
Decision opens the way for others to challenge pre-nups, say commentators - Delight at exemption of foster carers from ‘bedroom tax’
News (13/03/2013)
Campaigning efforts of fostering groups prove successful - Tower Hamlets' foster policy declared unlawful
News (11/03/2013)
Council has three months to reconsider its policy. - Citizens Advice Bureaux report rise in domestic violence cases
News (10/03/2013)
Bureaux will participate in pilot to aid debt and housing clients enduring domestic violence - MoJ will fund CAB’s family law service at the RCJ
News (10/03/2013)
£90,000 grant will replace LSC funding - Care applications continued their upward trend in February
News (10/03/2013)
Applications are 11.5% up on last February - “LiPs” not “SRLs” to be used in family, civil and criminal Courts
News (08/03/2013)
Master of the Rolls issues new Practice Guidance - DPP announces measures to transform police and CPS response to child sexual abuse
News (07/03/2013)
Keir Starmer calls for a national consensus on investigation and prosecution - House of Lords Adoption Legislation Committee criticises over-emphasis on adoption
News (06/03/2013)
Councils should have a legal duty to provide post-adoption support - Supreme Court proceedings in Petrodel v Prest broadcast live
News (05/03/2013)
Click the link below - Forced Marriage Unit advised in 1485 cases in 2012
News (05/03/2013)
Youngest victim was 2 years old; the oldest 71 - Children and Families Bill Committee announces evidence programme
News (04/03/2013)
Oral evidence to be heard from 5th March - Mostyn J lifts ban on Telegraph’s reporting of private law children case
News (04/03/2013)
Reporting justified by the need for transparency in the family courts - Adoptive families headed by same-sex couples are as likely to thrive as those adopted by heterosexuals
News (04/03/2013)
New research published by BAAF to coincide with LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week - Conservative-only Government would repeal the Human Rights Act, says Justice Secretary
News (03/03/2013)
Chris Grayling tells Sunday Telegraph that government would ‘start again’ - Senior district judge of Principal Registry appointed a circuit judge
News (01/03/2013)
HHJ Waller will be based at Watford County Court - Children’s Commissioner raises concerns about Children and Families Bill
News (01/03/2013)
OCC publishes child rights impact assessment of Parts 1 – 3 of the Bill - 20,000 children in need in Wales in 2012
News (01/03/2013)
Welsh Government publishes children in need census for 2012 - Legal aid lawyer of the year: nominations are open
News (01/03/2013)
Nominate a Family Legal Aid Lawyer - Children and Families Bill passes its second reading
News (01/03/2013)
Read the Commons debate in Hansard - Client dissatisfaction highest in divorce cases, says Legal Ombudsman
News (28/02/2013)
New report focuses on family law complaints - Five specialist family lawyers appointed Queen’s Counsel
News (27/02/2013)
Lowest number of appointments since system reviewed - Resolution pays tribute to its founder. John Cornwell
News (26/02/2013)
John Cornwell, the founder and first national chairman of Resolution (then known as the Solicitors Family Law Association), died on Friday, 22nd February. He was 69. - Four councils agree to share Legal Services
News (25/02/2013)
Shared legal services to save £600,000 over 4 years - Imermans settle their financial remedy dispute
News (24/02/2013)
Vivian Imerman is to pay his former wife £15 million - Outstanding child maintenance arrears amount to £3.8 billion
News (24/02/2013)
Child Support Agency publish results for last quarter - Resolution publishes briefing on Children and Families Bill
News (22/02/2013) - Ministry of Justice reveals ‘divorce hot spots’
News (20/02/2013)
2,800 petitions issued in Birmingham courts - Supreme Court unanimously allows father’s appeal in L and B (Children)
News (20/02/2013)
Court considers circumstances in which a judge is entitled to change her mind after oral judgment - Supreme Court dismisses local authority’s appeal in J (Children)
News (20/02/2013)
The real possibility that the parent caring for the child has harmed a child in the past is not by itself sufficient,’ says Lady Hale - Cobb J prevents local authority from removing child from prospective adopter who lost her sight
News (18/02/2013)
Relief granted under sections 6 and 7 of the Human Rights Act 1998 - Pension entitlements commonly undervalued, says report
News (18/02/2013)
Blind reliance on Cash Equivalent continues to be a major pitfall in financial remedy cases - Campaign to protect children from exploitation launched by local government
News (17/02/2013)
LGA seeks to encourage a ‘national conversation’ - Heterosexual couples challenge ‘discriminatory’ bar on civil partnerships
News (17/02/2013)
Couples seek amendment to ‘Equal Marriage’ Bill - Supreme Court will decide this week whether finding of fact can be relied upon in respect of later children
News (16/02/2013)
Panel of seven justices will give judgment on 20th February - Same-sex couples cannot provide a ‘warm and safe environment’ for raising children, says Welsh Secretary
News (15/02/2013)
Stonewall Cymru is ‘saddened’ by ‘such an offensive and inaccurate remark’ - Lord Justice Ward has retired from the Court of Appeal
News (15/02/2013)
Retirement from 15th February 2013 - Supreme Court declines to lift the corporate veil in VTB v Nutritek
News (11/02/2013)
Does the Supreme Court’s decision have implications for Petrodel v Prest? - 1.5 million children across UK face neglect on a daily basis, claims report
News (10/02/2013)
Action for Children calls for more public advice to aid the reporting of neglect - Practice guide to the Hague Convention 1996 published
News (08/02/2013)
‘Child Protection Convention’ guide is available to download free - Children and Families Bill introduced to Parliament
News (08/02/2013)
Second reading set for 25th February - Divorce rate after ten years of marriage unchanged since the 1960s, says new research
News (08/02/2013)
The Marriage Foundation publishes analysis of divorce statistics over the last forty years - New Ofsted report highlights failings in data for missing children
News (08/02/2013)
Children’s Minister announces pilot to improve data collection - Care application levels continue rising in January
News (08/02/2013)
Applications for the current year are running at 8% above last year - Second implementation update for the Family Justice Modernisation Programme published
News (08/02/2013)
Mr Justice Ryder will continue as Head of the Modernisation of Family Justice until Easter 2013 - Cafcass publishes its draft strategic plan
News (08/02/2013)
Consultation now open - Reoffending by child sex offenders can be prevented, say independent inspectors
News (07/02/2013)
Behavioural warning signs are too often missed - Two million have experienced domestic abuse in last twelve months
News (07/02/2013)
7% of women and 5% of men have suffered domestic abuse in last year - Mrs Justice Baron ‘deprecates’ district judge’s home visits to check residence claims
News (06/02/2013)
High Court hears of ‘unannounced’ visit by the court to grandparents’ home - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) passes its second reading
News (06/02/2013)
Read the contributions to the debate in Hansard - Second reading of Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill this week
News (03/02/2013)
Conservative activists urge Prime Minister to delay the Bill - Children’s Commissioner calls for comprehensive impact assessments of Government’s judicial review proposals
News (01/02/2013)
Response to the judicial review consultation published - Mental health services must involve patients in their care decisions, says CQC annual report
News (01/02/2013)
Compulsory Treatment Orders increase 10% in the last year - High Court approves consent order achieved following rabbinical arbitration
News (01/02/2013)
All issues, including parenting of children, referred to Beth Din - Sperm donors given leave to apply for contact with children
News (31/01/2013)
Case demonstrates the importance of agreeing plans before fertility treatment commences - New Part 25 of FPR introduced to speed up family proceedings
News (31/01/2013)
Restrictions imposed on expert evidence adduced in children cases - UK residents (under 65) living in married households have declined by 6% in last ten years
News (30/01/2013)
Cohabiting couples and lone parents households increase - Relocation Cases – call for help
News (29/01/2013)
Request for practitioners' and judges' assistance from Dr Rob George - High Court grants anonymity of judgment in TOLATA dispute
News (28/01/2013)
Mr Justice Mostyn reviews law on anonymisation and freedom of expression - Court of Appeal considers variation of lump sum orders
News (28/01/2013)
Baron J gives guidance on the drafting of such orders - Law Society and Bar Council welcome Supreme Court decision on legal professional privilege
News (27/01/2013)
LPP only applies to qualified lawyers - Family Justice Board publishes its action plan for reforming the family justice system
News (25/01/2013)
Plan details planned change up to March 2015 - Organisations oppose plans to remove adoption recruitment from local authorities
News (25/01/2013)
Doubts expressed about the effectiveness of the Government's plans - Research into long-term effects of children adopted from foreign orphanages published
News (25/01/2013)
Quality of the adoptive home is important contributor to adult well-being - Last chance for local authorities to improve adoption services, says DfE
News (25/01/2013)
Government sets out new strategy for tackling delay - Same-sex marriage legislation published
News (25/01/2013)
Bill provides a ‘quadruple lock’ to protect religious organisations - President queries separate representation of parties who ‘stand together’ in care proceedings
News (22/01/2013)
‘The profession must take heed’, Sir James Munby warns - Review of outcomes for children in need in Wales to be published in February
News (22/01/2013)
Chief Inspector’s report finds variation in outcomes for children in need in Wales - Legal Services Board questions the benefits of the ‘cab rank rule’
News (22/01/2013)
Responses of stakeholders sought by the LSB - Government failing in its responsibilities to children, says Children's Rights Alliance
News (22/01/2013)
Report shows deterioration in 31% of UN’s recommendation areas - LSC decides against funding community legal service grants
News (21/01/2013)
Funding due to end in March - State Pension Changes - A Briefing for Family Lawyers
News (21/01/2013)
Clive Weir, a director with Albert Goodman Chartered Financial Planners, summarises the recently announced changes planned for state pensions and indicates their implications for family lawyers. - Japan will join Hague Convention on child abduction
News (20/01/2013)
Foreign Minister says Government desires early ratification - Lord Northampton’s financial remedy case settles on eve of hearing
News (20/01/2013)
Wife due to receive about £17 million - Guidance published by LSC on prior authority for experts in family cases
News (18/01/2013)
Prior authority not necessary for drug and alcohol tests - Law Society publishes practice note on jointly owned property
News (18/01/2013)
Practice note covers the introduction of Form JO by Land Registry - Kent’s children’s safeguarding services upgraded to ‘adequate’ by Ofsted
News (17/01/2013)
Inspection acknowledges efforts made by authority - Average time for disposal of care and supervision applications is 47.7 weeks
News (17/01/2013)
7,500 children involved in Public Law applications each quarter - Law Society publishes new practice note on attendance at local authority Children Act meetings
News (17/01/2013)
Practice Note updates 1997 guidance - Scot Young jailed for ‘flagrant’ contempt of court
News (16/01/2013)
Failure to disclose evidence of loss of assets amounts to contempt - Annual national inspection of Cafcass performance proposed by Ofsted
News (16/01/2013)
Consultation launched into future inspection regime - FLBA addresses Law Commission’s proposals on matrimonial property, needs and agreements
News (14/01/2013)
Response to Law Commission consultation published - Court permits reporting of Bristol foster care case
News (14/01/2013)
Judgment of Mr Justice Baker published - Ontario court recognises UK civil partnership as marriage
News (13/01/2013)
Court grants same-sex divorce - Husband sues ex-wife who deceived him that children were his
News (13/01/2013)
£25,000 damages awarded for deceit - The Care Inquiry draws to close with final session
News (13/01/2013)
Final report and recommendation will be published in Spring 2013 - LSC clarifies advocates’ queries about family fees
News (13/01/2013)
High Court uplift in the PRFD and even model pricing - Adoption ‘hotspots’ map published by DfE
News (11/01/2013)
New information line launched for potential adopters - December care applications 4% up on previous year
News (09/01/2013)
847 applications during the month - Disputes between parents over children’s medical records on the increase
News (06/01/2013)
Medical Protection Society has received a record number of calls from GPs - Another £10 million expected to be spent on legal aid for mediation
News (06/01/2013)
Government encourages the use of mediation - Best practice guidance published on FDR appointments
News (06/01/2013)
Money and Property Committee of the Family Justice Council seek to improve consistency - Family Justice System Young People’s Board calls for swifter action in family courts
News (06/01/2013)
Board express their five key wishes for improving the family justice system