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2015 News Archive
- Coercive or controlling behaviour now a crime
News (31/12/2015)
Section 76 of the Serious Crime Act 2015 came into force on 29th December 2015 - Children Act Schedule 1 MoJ Form E unaffected
News (31/12/2015)
Departmental check of Form E problem continues - Court of Appeal clarifies law on internal relocation
News (20/12/2015)
The only principle is that the child’s welfare is paramount - Form E problem in MoJ software, reports The Guardian
News (17/12/2015)
Department urgently investigating the extent of the error - Average time for disposal of care and supervision applications is 28 weeks
News (17/12/2015)
60% of such cases disposed of within 26 weeks - Changes to FPR lead to decline in instruction of experts
News (17/12/2015)
LA social work assessments replace evidence of psychiatrists, psychologists and ISWs - Family court transparency charity publishes guidance on parents recording meetings with social workers
News (17/12/2015)
FOI responses reveal that local authorities’ attitudes vary considerably - Outdated marriage law in need of reform, says Law Commission
News (17/12/2015)
‘Law of marriage is out of date, inconsistent and overly restrictive’ - Failing children’s services will be taken over
News (15/12/2015)
High-performing authorities, experts and charities to be brought in - Research reveals family court ‘recycles’ one in three young mothers
News (15/12/2015)
Lancaster University findings published in British Journal of Social Work - Service provided to domestic violence victims improving, says HMIC
News (15/12/2015)
Report notes 31% increase in domestic-abuse related recorded crime - Number of newborn babies taken into care more than doubles in five years
News (14/12/2015)
Research from Lancaster University shows 2,000 newborns taken into care in 2013 - Ofsted publishes ‘state of nation’ report on foster care in England
News (11/12/2015)
More young people remain with foster carers under ‘Staying Put’ arrangements - Resolution tells Justice Committee that court fee increases will hinder access to justice
News (11/12/2015)
Select Committee investigates effect of fee changes - Number of children looked after under s 20 agreements has risen to nearly 20,000
News (11/12/2015)
Number of looked after children at highest since 1985 - Guidance given on allocation of international surrogacy cases in which parental orders are sought
News (11/12/2015)
Russell J hears case involving surrogacy arrangement made in India - Care applications to Cafcass in November up 15% on a year ago
News (10/12/2015)
1,020 care applications received - New private law cases in November rose by 12% on a year ago
News (10/12/2015)
Cafcass received 3,462 new cases - House of Lords debates future of legal aid
News (09/12/2015)
House of Lords Library publishes briefing note in advance of debate - Police forces urged to improve understanding of forced marriage and FGM
News (08/12/2015)
HMIC report reveals weaknesses in police response - Sharia councils fail wives in divorce cases, according to research
News (07/12/2015)
The Independent reports findings of independent research - No Fault Divorce Bill to receive second reading in January 2016
News (06/12/2015)
Resolution backs private members’ bill - Family Justice Council debates adoption without parental consent
News (06/12/2015)
Full transcript of debate available - Supreme Court to hear appeal against refusal to order child’s return to UK from Pakistan
News (06/12/2015)
Appeal to be heard on 8th and 9th December - Guidance published on offence of controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship
News (06/12/2015)
Framework assists investigations under Serious Crime Act 2015, section 76 - Joint Policy Paper aims to boost educational achievement of children in care
News (06/12/2015)
Paper seeks to build on recently published research - Court upholds ‘self-centred’ woman’s right to refuse life-saving treatment
News (06/12/2015)
‘A capacitous individual is sovereign in respect of her own body and mind’ - New research published on Children Act section 17 accommodation
News (06/12/2015)
Difficulties of migrant families ‘not on the radar’ of policy makers - Fostered children fare better educationally than vulnerable children who remain at home
News (30/11/2015)
Bristol / Oxford Study research published - House of Commons Library publishes research briefing on legal aid for domestic violence victims
News (27/11/2015) - Court of Appeal overturns High Court ruling on civil legal aid residence test
News (27/11/2015)
Public Law Project seeks leave to appeal to the Supreme Court - CoramBAAF consults on future of fostering in England
News (27/11/2015)
Charity believes that ‘an effective care system needs to prioritise fostering’ - President's practice guidance 'endorses family law arbitration scheme'
News (27/11/2015)
Family Court has an obligation ‘where the parties agree, to enable non-court dispute resolution to take place’ - Baroness Hale addresses ALC Annual Conference on the child’s voice in family proceedings
News (27/11/2015) - Father’s appeal allowed by Supreme Court in 1996 Hague Convention case
News (25/11/2015)
Court clarifies scope of Article 11 jurisdiction - Latest divorce figures show fall of nearly 3% on previous year
News (23/11/2015)
Third of marriages in 1968 ended in divorce by 2013 - CoA considers English court's jurisdiction under EU Maintenance Reg following previous proceedings in another EU member state
News (23/11/2015)
Thought to be first time court has considered spousal maintenance in such circumstances - Court of Appeal clarifies duty of care owed for ‘unbundled’ legal services
News (23/11/2015)
No wider duty owed by solicitor who re-drafted consent order - Court orders that frozen embryos must be destroyed in accordance with agreement
News (20/11/2015)
Divorced couple dispute use of embryos - Report calls for urgent legal reform for surrogacy
News (20/11/2015)
Far fewer Britons seek surrogacy overseas than previously thought - Court approves withdrawal of treatment from patient in minimally conscious state
News (20/11/2015)
‘Landmark decision’ in Court of Protection - Birth within marriage or civil partnership remains most common family setting
News (19/11/2015)
Steady fall in the percentage of births registered to married couples since the 1960s - Court of Protection to test increased access for public and media
News (19/11/2015)
Pilot scheme will start next year - Court confirms Calderbank offers are admissible on appeal
News (16/11/2015)
FPR 28.3(8) applies only to first instance proceedings - Family Procedure Rules amendments provide for filing documents by email
News (15/11/2015) - Review of residential care ‘unnecessary and costly repetition’
News (15/11/2015)
Review is an ‘attempt to extend the Government’s privatisation agenda’ - Local authorities do not have a non-delegable duty of care to children in foster placements
News (13/11/2015)
Court of Appeal finds that local authority is not vicariously liable to claimant - Care applications to Cafcass in October up 7% on a year ago
News (13/11/2015)
1,079 care applications received in the month - New private law cases in October fell by 2% on a year ago
News (13/11/2015)
3,311 new private law cases last month - Divorce centres: Further progress report
News (09/11/2015)
Bury St Edmunds Divorce Centre launches Information Bulletin - Court makes civil restraint order against ‘obsessive’ litigant in financial remedies case
News (09/11/2015)
Lack of objective legal advice a consequence of withdrawal of legal aid - Court of Appeal considers change of intention to hold property in equal shares
News (09/11/2015)
Is there, in practice, any difference between ‘imputation’ and ‘inference’? - New arrears figures for the Child Maintenance Service are “disappointing” says Gingerbread
News (08/11/2015)
£35 million of arrears owed to children - Prime Minister’s plans for speeding up adoption welcomed
News (08/11/2015)
CoramBAAFcalls for 'postcode' lottery of provision to be addressed - Average time for placements falls to 17 months
News (08/11/2015)
2,460 children waiting with a placement order - Cohabiting couple continues to be the fastest growing family type
News (08/11/2015)
Data encourage renewed calls for statutory cohabitation rights - President calls for end of misuse of section 20 agreements
News (08/11/2015)
Steps needed urgently to ensure that there is no repetition of local authority practice - Jewish husband ‘banned’ from synagogues because of refusal to grant get
News (08/11/2015)
Wife has sought religious divorce for 15 years - Mostyn J lambasts ‘abysmal’ litigant in person
News (01/11/2015)
Costs order in the sum of nearly £150K made against husband - New matching service launched for local authorities to list children seeking long-term fostering
News (01/11/2015) - All options should be considered when protecting potentially vulnerable children
News (01/11/2015)
Ombudsman’s reminder prompted by urgent removal of fostered children - Fifth of looked after children placed in children’s homes judged adequate or worse
News (01/11/2015)
Ofsted publishes information about the characteristics of all looked after children - Online divorces proposed in Northern Ireland
News (30/10/2015)
Lawyers encouraged to back the proposed system - ‘Systemic failing in the provision of support to vulnerable care leavers’: Public Accounts Committee
News (30/10/2015)
Central and local government must do more to aid care leavers’ transition to adulthood - Mitochondrial donation regulations come into force
News (30/10/2015)
HFEA oversees licensing of clinics - Independent review of children’s residential care announced
News (30/10/2015)
Sir Martin Narey to head review team - Number of children subject to a protection plan continues upward trend
News (25/10/2015)
Children in need numbers relatively stable - Directors of Children’s Services call for creative approach in radicalisation cases
News (25/10/2015)
Care orders are a last resort - Assumptions about cost and misuse of judicial review are, at best, misleading
News (22/10/2015)
Research underscores the importance of access to the High Court’s inherent supervisory jurisdiction - IFLA launches new website
News (22/10/2015)
Website will help Institute’s aim of raising profile of family arbitration - Civil partnership registrations fall by 70% in a year
News (22/10/2015)
Decline follows the introduction of same-sex marriage - Guidance published on age assessment
News (22/10/2015)
‘Age assessment of unaccompanied children seeking asylum is a challenging process,’ says ADCS - Skeleton arguments, appeals and litigants in person: guidance to counsel
News (19/10/2015)
Court of Appeal sets out approach to be adopted by counsel who take on appeal - 52,000 children benefited from an ‘effective family-based arrangement’ after contact with Child Maintenance Options
News (16/10/2015)
DWP says service has maintained a steady performance despite increased volumes - Half of kinship carers have to give up work to care for the kin child
News (16/10/2015)
Four-fifths of kinship carers have been left ill-informed of the legal options - Care applications to Cafcass in September up 7% on a year ago
News (15/10/2015)
Applications in the last six months 11% ahead of 2014 figures - New private law cases to Cafcass in September up 9% on a year ago
News (15/10/2015)
Applications in the last six months 15% ahead of 2014 figures - Independent reviewing officers use collaborative methods to fulfil their role
News (14/10/2015)
New study investigates how the IRO’s role has evolved - Wives win appeals in Supreme Court
News (14/10/2015)
Full and frank disclosure required of all parties - Fifth of children are denied mental health treatment
News (12/10/2015)
Cases rejected because children did not meet CAMHS’s high clinical threshold - President issues guidance on radicalisation cases in the family courts
News (08/10/2015) - Court closures will inhibit access to justice: Law Society
News (08/10/2015)
Law Society publishes response to proposals to close 91 courts and tribunals - Supreme Court judgments in Sharland and Gohil due this week
News (08/10/2015)
Judgments to be handed down on 14th October - Exonerated parents seek the return of their adopted child
News (08/10/2015)
Child suffered Vitamin D deficiency - Coram Children’s Legal Centre boosts online advice service
News (05/10/2015)
New website complements telephone support service - Divorce centres: Further progress report
News (05/10/2015)
HMCTS explains how the new system is working - The law on press reporting of ancillary relief proceedings is ‘a mess’: Mostyn J
News (04/10/2015)
Permission given to appeal to resolve the ‘unhappy divergence of judicial approach’ - Family Justice Council seeks Public Law Family Solicitor
News (04/10/2015) - Number of children placed for adoption has fallen by 15% in last year
News (04/10/2015)
National Adoption Leadership Board points to Re B / Re B-S effect - Number of looked after children in Wales decreases slightly
News (04/10/2015)
Adoptions increase by 11% in last year - 48% of 18 year old care leavers ‘stay put’ with foster carers
News (04/10/2015)
Fostering Network calls for resources to enable more children to benefit from ‘staying put’ duty - Judges need more feedback on their work, new research concludes
News (03/10/2015)
Bristol University’s recommendations welcomed by the President - Children’s Commissioner calls for renewed focus on reducing poverty of young children
News (27/09/2015)
Additional investment in targeted interventions is essential - A quarter of foster children move home twice or more in a year
News (27/09/2015)
Action for Children launches appeal for more foster carers - Mediation starts in the last quarter up by a third
News (27/09/2015)
Legal aid statistics published for April to June 2015 - ALC publishes response to SGO consultation
News (27/09/2015)
Concerns expressed about the appropriateness of encouraging private law applications - Vulnerable teenagers forced out of local authority accommodation
News (27/09/2015)
The Children’s Society seeks guarantees that all LA accommodated children are properly safeguarded - House of Commons briefing paper published on transparency in the family court
News (27/09/2015)
Useful summary produced of current rules and history of reform - Latest MoJ statistics for Family Courts in England & Wales bulletin published
News (27/09/2015)
Report shows 4% increase in number of cases - ‘Unbundling’ family legal services 'can make them more accessible'
News (18/09/2015)
Research presents practitioners’, consumers’ and judges’ experiences of unbundling - Nagalro responds to government’s consultation on special guardianship
News (18/09/2015)
Association calls for best practice to be more consistently applied - Being in care is not detrimental to children’s educational outcomes
News (18/09/2015)
Low educational outcomes are partly explained by pre-care experiences - Family law barristers nominated for Bar Pro Bono Award
News (18/09/2015) - Children’s voices should be heard, Local Government Ombudsman urges
News (17/09/2015)
Complaint upheld after LA fails to pursue foster children’s allegations - Court fee increases making ordinary people's legal rights 'meaningless'
News (17/09/2015)
Law Society reiterates concerns over rise in divorce fees - Parental order under s 54 of HFEA 2008 cannot be made in favour of sole applicant
News (14/09/2015)
President rejects father's application - Baker J makes FGM protection order in respect of 13 year old taken to Sudan
News (14/09/2015)
Kent County Council applies to High Court - Court rules in favour of parents who were told they could not be the legal parents of their child
News (12/09/2015)
President grants declarations of parentage - Pope reforms process of annulments of marriages
News (10/09/2015)
Procedure is intended to be speedier and cheaper - Proposals for Bill of Rights to be published this autumn
News (10/09/2015)
‘Greater authority for the Supreme Court’ sought - Professor Nicholas Hopkins appointed as Law Commissioner for property, family and trust law
News (10/09/2015) - Private law cases received by Cafcass up 18% on a year ago
News (10/09/2015)
2,954 cases received in August - 943 care applications received by Cafcass in August 2015
News (10/09/2015)
4% increase on August 2014 figure - Latest judgment in long-running financial remedy dispute over £54 million assets
News (07/09/2015)
Wife awarded 80% of her costs - Obituary of Denise Marshall, founder of schemes to help trafficked women and victims of DV
News (07/09/2015) - Woman sentenced for posting person's intimate images on Facebook
News (07/09/2015)
First female prosecuted under new law - Judge names children believed to have been removed to Cyprus
News (06/09/2015) - Grandparents jailed for assisting abduction to Costa Rica
News (06/09/2015)
Children subsequently returned to the UK - Controlling parents can damage children’s mental wellbeing
News (06/09/2015)
Parenting can have long-term positive impacts on wellbeing through to older age - Sixteen year old who attempted to reach Syria removed from parents’ care
News (31/08/2015)
‘Radicalising materials’ found at home - DfE research examines local authority practice and special guardianship orders
News (31/08/2015)
Report considers how SGOs are being used since Family Justice reforms - DWP report explores barriers to child maintenance arrangements of long-separated parents
News (31/08/2015)
Parents want to avoid disruption and change - 40% decrease in number of children waiting to be placed with adopters
News (27/08/2015)
Average period between entering care and placement falls from 656 to 594 days - Bids invited for funding to help support domestic violence victims
News (27/08/2015)
Deadline for bids to £3m fund is 1st October 2015 - Resolution invites members to participate in research into no fault divorce
News (27/08/2015)
Study should inform debate as to how the law might be reformed. - Marriage rates collapse among middle classes, says Marriage Foundation
News (24/08/2015)
‘Wealthy four times more likely to marry than poor’ - Judge deplores lack of assistance from Legal Aid Agency
News (24/08/2015)
Court considers costs of translation of documents in care proceedings - Court of Appeal re-states approach to implacable hostility cases
News (24/08/2015)
Father’s appeal is dismissed in 'tragic outcome' - Supreme Court to consider 1996 Hague Convention appeal
News (23/08/2015)
J (A Child) (1996 Hague Convention) (Morocco) to be heard in November - Increase in foster children ‘staying put’ demands more funding for local authorities
News (23/08/2015)
Need for best practice to be shared – Fostering Network - Hayden J orders seizure of schoolgirl’s passport
News (21/08/2015)
Local authority fears that she might seek to travel to Syria - 20,000 apprenticeships should be set aside for care leavers
News (21/08/2015)
Barnardo’s say that care leavers need Government support - Call for improved protection of the rights of Northern Ireland’s children in care
News (21/08/2015)
A fifth of children have been in the system for at least five years - Holman J calls for amendment to standard form Location Order following arrest of mother on plane
News (17/08/2015)
Guidance given regarding need for particular care in wording of location orders - Court grants 14 year old’s application for revocation of adoption order
News (16/08/2015)
Circumstances ‘highly exceptional and very particular’ - The President repeats lessons for adoption cases involving European nationals
News (16/08/2015)
He is ‘acutely conscious’ of European concerns about non-consensual adoption - Father seeks to challenge FGM protection order
News (14/08/2015)
Counsel says that a port alert may prevent him putting his case - Similar midlife health outcomes for those in married and non-marital cohabiting relationships
News (13/08/2015)
Women who marry in late 20s or early 30s have best health in midlife - Ofsted publishes ‘state of the nation’ statistical picture of children’s social care provision
News (13/08/2015)
Quality of children’s homes has fallen - B&Bs never suitable accommodation for homeless children and young people, Ombudsman warns
News (13/08/2015)
Vulnerable teenager housed in B&B for 5 days - Cafcass received 9% more care applications in July compared with a year ago
News (12/08/2015)
Care applications workload is reducing capacity for early intervention, says Directors of Children's Services - New private law cases received by Cafcass in July 23% up on last year
News (12/08/2015)
3,554 new cases - Mediation service sees calls to its helpline double in past year
News (09/08/2015) - Kid’s Company closure raises concerns over children’s charities more generally
News (09/08/2015)
Children’s charities suffer greater share of Government cuts in funding - Judicial review of councils’ compliance with Children Act s 22C(5) placement duties to be heard
News (09/08/2015)
Nationwide Association of Fostering Providers granted permission - BAAF closure “regrettable loss of independent agency”
News (07/08/2015)
British Association of Social Workers ‘surprised that BAAF was not sustainable’ - Local authorities’ assessment of children in need has improved
News (07/08/2015)
Children and families 'receiving the right help and support at the right time' more often - Court of Appeal rejects ‘gender based assumptions’ in leave to removal appeal
News (06/08/2015)
Too much emphasis is placed on guidance in Payne v Payne - Finding a Legal Aid Family Lawyer or Mediator
News (05/08/2015) - President orders return of children to families suspected of attempting to join Isis
News (03/08/2015)
Parents must wear electronic tags - Adultery and same-sex relationships
News (02/08/2015)
iPM programme focuses on debate about ‘inequality’ in divorce grounds - New standards unveiled for children and family social workers
News (02/08/2015)
Consultation opens on new set of standards - Inheritance Act claims could rise after Court of Appeal ruling
News (02/08/2015)
Rules clarified on reasonable provision for adult children - British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) closes with immediate effect
News (02/08/2015)
Some functions transferred to Coram - Lump sum of £17.3 million reduced to £5 million after ‘Barder’ finding
News (02/08/2015)
Husband committed suicide 22 days after consent order - Maintenance ‘North / South divide' encourages rush to London
News (27/07/2015)
Increase in 'fixed term' arrangements awarded by courts outside the capital - Judge grants FGM protection order against father of three girls
News (26/07/2015)
Mother gives evidence of pressure to submit children to procedure - Wife must leave house she turned into a ‘fortress’
News (24/07/2015)
Appeal against order for sale of matrimonial home dismissed - Separated migrant children put at risk because of cuts to legal aid
News (23/07/2015)
The Children’s Society finds that ‘huge numbers of children must fend for themselves’ - Nearly a thousand children in care repeatedly forced to move school
News (23/07/2015)
The Centre for Social Justice collects data from 124 local authorities - Rights of Women celebrates 40 years of campaigning and legal support
News (23/07/2015) - Fee for issuing divorce proceedings to increase to £550
News (23/07/2015)
Government publishes further response to court fees consultation - Home Office consults on statutory guidance on FGM
News (23/07/2015)
Guidance to commence towards the end of 2015 - Award of all couple’s assets to wife upheld on appeal
News (19/07/2015)
Husband ‘abdicates responsibility' for wife and children - DfE consults on the changing use of special guardianship orders
News (19/07/2015)
Concern that the assessment process for SGOs may not be sufficiently robust - MoJ plans to close 91 courts
News (19/07/2015)
Consultation ends 8th October 2015 - Resolution ‘disappointed' at unapologetic MOJ response on legal aid cuts
News (17/07/2015)
MoJ 'fails to acknowledge seriousness of the situation' - Bedfordshire Police obtain first FGM protection order
News (17/07/2015)
Travel of two young girls prevented by order - Support system for care leavers is not working: National Audit Office
News (17/07/2015)
The cost of unsuccessful transitions is 'high' - Care applications received by Cafcass increase by a quarter on a year ago
News (13/07/2015)
1,104 care applications received in June - Private law cases received by Cafcass a third up on a year ago
News (13/07/2015)
3,466 new cases received in June - Prest may return to Supreme Court
News (12/07/2015)
Court of Appeal upholds judgment summons in respect of non-payment of maintenance arrears - Law Commission consults on Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
News (10/07/2015)
Better and more appropriate outcomes sought for people with care and support needs - Supreme Court clarifies ‘ordinary residence’ for adult living with foster parents
News (10/07/2015)
Majority determines that location of foster placement should not affect 'ordinary residence' - Leading charities warn of over 10,000 children at risk
News (10/07/2015)
91% of UK adults do not know what private fostering is - Consultation on enforcement of family financial orders: deadline extended
News (10/07/2015) - Legal Aid Agency Client and Cost Management System re-designed
News (09/07/2015) - Coram Voice supports Children’s Commissioner’s call for help for care leavers
News (08/07/2015)
'Your Life, Your Care' survey available to local authorities - New figures reveal divorce and cohabitation trends over last 12 years
News (08/07/2015)
Divorce rate increases driven by over 45s - Government loosens restrictions imposed on domestic abuse victims
News (08/07/2015)
Change follows intense lobbying by Law Society and other groups - 3,000 children a year leave care before they are ready: Children’s Commissioner
News (08/07/2015)
Half of looked after children do not understand why they are in care - Revised statement issued on the conduct of financial remedy final hearings before a High Court judge
News (06/07/2015) - Sarah Cove and Noel Arnold honoured at LALY Awards
News (06/07/2015) - Local authorities to get £30m to speed up adoptions
News (06/07/2015)
Funding expected in Wednesday’s Budget - Keehan J grants ‘life-long’ reporting restriction order
News (05/07/2015)
No public interest in identifying victim of CSE - Law Society guidance aims to help solicitors meet the needs of vulnerable clients
News (02/07/2015) - Charities launch damning report on children’s rights in the UK
News (02/07/2015)
‘Children are bearing the brunt of Government’s spending decisions’ - Supreme Court to determine ‘ordinary residence’ for deciding which LA owes duties to individual
News (02/07/2015)
Judgment due 8th July - Police must reassess their approach to child protection
News (02/07/2015)
HMIC warns of risk of failing a new generation of children - Compulsory use of new legal aid administration system postponed
News (27/06/2015)
Resolution renews call for members' feedback - Practice Guidance issued to clarify practice on committals for contempt
News (27/06/2015) - Family Procedure Rules and fees amended in respect of FGM orders
News (27/06/2015) - Number of children with placement order waiting to be placed falls by a third
News (27/06/2015)
Waiting period for placement falls from 656 to 533 days - Independent review launched into links between care and custody
News (27/06/2015)
Prison Reform Trust asks Lord Laming to chair investigation - Surge in public concern over child neglect
News (27/06/2015)
Action for Children calls for a national strategy to counter neglect - LA's 'disproportionate and arbitrary actions' lead to removal of baby from mother
News (26/06/2015)
Ombudsman finds that authority misled mother - Parental consent can be dispensed with in Hague Convention adoption in absence of public law proceedings
News (26/06/2015)
President gives judgment in‘unusual and difficult’ international adoption case - £4.5 million to end delays for children awaiting adoption
News (21/06/2015)
New funding for regional adoption agencies - Changes to Divorce Process: An Update
News (19/06/2015)
Court Users’ meeting on Wednesday 24 June at Central Family Court - Families Need Fathers updates charter
News (18/06/2015)
FNF sends out reminder of key principles underpinning charity - Police records show three child sex offences committed every hour
News (17/06/2015)
NSPCC says that offences have risen by a third in last year - High Court rules against parents seeking to use their late daughter’s frozen eggs
News (16/06/2015)
HFEA 's refusal to permit export was lawful - 29,000 ex-spouses return to court to seek more money from former partners
News (16/06/2015)
Law firm sees a ‘Wyatt v Vince’ effect - ONS launches online life expectancy calculator
News (15/06/2015)
Facility developed to assist pension planning - Four Minnock judgments published
News (15/06/2015) - Will Re H encourage more appeals out of time?
News (14/06/2015)
CoA considers extending time for appeal and merits for first time in family case - Applications for expert instructions must follow the Part 25 procedure
News (14/06/2015)
Court of Appeal criticises ‘unlawful’ order for psychological assessment - NSPCC responds to judge's remarks on ‘cultural context’ of physical chastisement
News (11/06/2015) - Judge responds after runaway mother breaks silence
News (11/06/2015) - UK's first forced marriage conviction
News (10/06/2015)
16 years’ imprisonment for range of offences - Hundreds of children to benefit from innovative pro bono legal project
News (10/06/2015)
Allen & Overy and DLA Piper team up with Coram Children’s Legal Centre - Report focuses on local authority responses to migrant families with ‘no recourse to public funds’
News (10/06/2015)
Study finds tension between immigration law requirements and Children Act duties - Private law applications received by Cafcass rise by 34%
News (10/06/2015)
2,880 new private law cases in May - Care applications up by 5% on a year ago
News (10/06/2015)
913 applications received in May - Education and Adoption Bill published
News (04/06/2015) - Adoptive parents in Wales unable to access support for their children
News (04/06/2015)
Report focuses on disrupted and challenging adoptions - Holman J laments ‘tragic’ waste of couple’s assets
News (04/06/2015)
Ekaterina Fields awarded £1.2 million and maintenance of £320K per year - Guidelines published for dealing with LiPs
News (04/06/2015)
Bar Council, Law Society and CILex agree guidance for their members - Supreme Court appeals in Sharland and Gohil to be heard from 8th June
News (04/06/2015)
Court to decide on issues arising from non-disclosure - Family lawyers nominated for Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year
News (03/06/2015) - Study finds family courts not discriminating against fathers
News (02/06/2015)
Contact applications by fathers 'overwhelmingly successful' - Teens moved too many times around care, survey reveals
News (01/06/2015)
Two in five fostered teenagers are already living with their third foster family - Government to consult on British Bill of Rights
News (31/05/2015)
No bill in the current parliamentary session - HMCTS provides more details of Divorce Centre for London and South East
News (31/05/2015)
Service says that 40% of petitions are returned because of errors - Government to introduce regional adoption agencies
News (31/05/2015)
Directors of Children’s Services welcome proposed legislation - Urgent need for statutory provision for funding for cross-examination of vulnerable witnesses
News (31/05/2015)
Resolution calls for change following Re K and H (Children) - Irish Referendum produces overwhelming result in favour of extending civil marriage rights to same-sex couples
News (26/05/2015)
Substantial majority vote in favour on feast day of Saint for “impossible causes” - Court of Appeal allows Lord Chancellor’s appeal against order that HMCTS should fund father’s legal fees
News (22/05/2015)
Association of Lawyers for Children and Coram Children’s Legal Centre intervene - Alistair MacDonald QC appointed to the High Court bench
News (22/05/2015) - Special guardianship orders on the rise as adoptions fall
News (22/05/2015)
BBC reports that SGOs have tripled in two years - Commons Library publishes briefing on Human Rights Act and challenges to its repeal
News (21/05/2015)
Briefing considers a British Bill of Rights - Surrogate children without parental orders could becomes ‘stateless and parentless’
News (20/05/2015)
Mrs Justice Theis warns of ‘legal timebomb’ - Men experiencing or perpetrating domestic violence linked with increase in mental health problems
News (20/05/2015)
Research focuses on men as victims and perpetrators - ‘First Wives Club’ formed to help women embroiled in divorce battles
News (18/05/2015)
Telegraph reports alliance of divorcees seeking to change the system - President gives guidance as to Court of Protection’s powers to impose care plans on reluctant local authorities
News (15/05/2015)
Parents fail in appeal to secure a ‘best interests’ approach to son’s care - Parents sought to participate in study into shared care after divorce
News (15/05/2015) - Court of Appeal clarifies route for applications for permission to appeal
News (15/05/2015)
Application should be to judge at first instance ‘as a matter of good practice’ - April care demand 18% higher than a year ago
News (13/05/2015)
Cafcass releases rates of application by each local authority - Private law cases received by Cafcass continue to fall
News (13/05/2015)
8% decrease in April compared with a year ago - On-line system for civil legal aid must be fixed or delayed, says Association of Costs Lawyers
News (13/05/2015)
‘Hardly any actual system issues have been addressed’ - Calls made for ‘properly regulated’ framework for surrogacy agreements
News (11/05/2015)
High Court dispute underlines distress caused by informal agreements - Return proceedings lasting 13 months breach father’s Article 8 rights
News (10/05/2015)
ECtHR finds against Romania - Court reserves judgment in mother’s claim to bear daughter’s child
News (10/05/2015)
Judicial review challenge against HFEA refusal - Divorcees with pension earmarking orders may need to act to protect benefits
News (10/05/2015)
Pension reforms may have unintended consequence for divorcees - Michael Gove appointed Justice Secretary
News (10/05/2015)
Second non-lawyer to serve as Lord Chancellor in 440 years - Court of Appeal upholds ‘rare’ successful Barder appeal
News (10/05/2015)
Husband’s inheritance invalidated consent order - Supreme Court launches 'video on demand' service
News (05/05/2015)
Service covers both current and decided cases - BAAF calls for Adoption Support Fund to be extended to special guardianship and international adoption
News (04/05/2015)
BAAF launches therapeutic services for children - 100 leading lawyers sign open letter calling for restoration of legal aid
News (04/05/2015)
Labour pledges to help victims of domestic violence - Supreme Court refuses permission to appeal claim under s 11(2) of Children Act 2004
News (30/04/2015)
Section does not introduce fresh criteria for determining intentional homelessness - Nature of parenting does not affect children’s intelligence, says research
News (30/04/2015)
New study contradicts earlier research - ‘Social media is the new marriage minefield,’ according to research
News (30/04/2015)
Quarter of couples argue over social media use - Divorce can cost £2,100 per year in lost retirement income
News (26/04/2015)
Prudential highlights the effect of divorce on retirement finances - No "broad natural parent presumption" confirms Court of Appeal
News (24/04/2015)
Testamentary guardians succeed in appeal against child arrangements order - Parents should ‘use carrot and stick’ to effect contact
News (24/04/2015)
Child's refusal cannot be a justification for parental failure, says President - ‘DIY justice’ or vital reform – what do we know about legal aid?
News (23/04/2015)
Full Fact examines the claims and counter-claims about legal aid provision - Privy Council judgment on lump sum and beneficial interests to be handed down
News (23/04/2015)
Judgment in Bromfield v Bromfield due on 27th April - Resolution launches national support network for junior family practitioners
News (19/04/2015)
YRes aims to kick-start aspiring family lawyers’ careers - Resolution chair slams failing new legal aid digital system
News (19/04/2015)
‘Nothing short of a national scandal,’ says Jo Edwards - Consent order can be challenged by application to set aside or appeal
News (19/04/2015)
PD 30A, para 14.1 is ultra vires - BAAF responds to main parties’ election pledges for looked after children
News (16/04/2015) - Conservatives pledge to scrap Human Rights Act
News (15/04/2015)
Legal aid systems would be kept under review - HMCTS publishes Q & A document for divorce processing changes
News (15/04/2015) - Care applications received by Cafcass rise by 5% for last 12 months
News (15/04/2015)
Applications received in March are 16% up on a year ago - New private law children cases received by Cafcass 26% down on previous 12 months
News (15/04/2015)
Figures for March 2015 10% down on March 2014 - Court considers impact of Wyatt v Vince on the limits of strike out
News (12/04/2015)
Strike out application dismissed in Inheritance Act case - Bury St Edmunds divorce centre will commence operations from June 2015
News (12/04/2015)
Phased implementation leading to full operation in October 2015 - Law Commission starts work on review of law of marriage
News (10/04/2015)
Initial report expected by end of 2015 - Gingerbread welcomes Labour commitment to review Child Maintenance Service
News (10/04/2015)
Labour to bring forward review of CMS - Guidance published for applying for family law legal aid in domestic violence cases
News (01/04/2015)
Useful template letters available online - Short films for litigants in person on advicenow website
News (31/03/2015)
Family Justice Council funds films - Changes to legal aid ‘represent a black mark on government’s children’s rights record’
News (29/03/2015)
Joint Committee on Human Rights: more needs to be done to comply with UNCRC - Local Government Association advocates ‘disruption orders’ to stop CSE
News (27/03/2015)
Next government called on to introduce legislation - Resolution welcomes recommendations for mediation to include children
News (27/03/2015)
Voice of the Child Advisory Group publishes final report - Average duration of care cases falls to 28.7 weeks
News (27/03/2015)
Nearly 60% of care proceedings disposed of within 26 weeks - New Practice Direction on Committal for Contempt of Court – Open Court
News (27/03/2015)
Practice Direction supplements Family Procedure Rules 2010 - 17% of local authorities have no published policy on family and friends care
News (27/03/2015)
Family Rights Group calls for legal duty on LAs to publish policy - Nominations sought for ALC Outstanding Newcomer Award
News (27/03/2015) - Cases on threshold must be supported by stated facts: Court of Appeal
News (27/03/2015)
Court summarises principles set out by the President in Re A (A Child) - Supreme Court allows local authority’s appeal against costs order
News (25/03/2015)
General rule in In Re T applies to appeals - Half of homeless teenagers turned away by local authorities
News (24/03/2015)
Charity calls for all homeless teenagers to be assessed for housing needs - Home Secretary announces review of application of Shari’a law
News (23/03/2015)
Wives divorced under Shari’a law ‘left in penury’ - Resolution welcomes proposals to protect vulnerable witnesses in family courts
News (22/03/2015)
President’s report published - £40,000 damages awarded to husband misled over IVF birth
News (22/03/2015)
Wife lied to husband as to paternity of child - Teenage girls made wards of court to prevent travel to Syria
News (22/03/2015)
Second such order in a few days - Choices between online and face to face divorce services reflect distinctive needs
News (19/03/2015)
High levels of customer satisfaction for both traditional and online providers - Supreme Court to determine whether costs rule in Re T extends to appeals
News (19/03/2015)
Court to hand down judgment in Re S (Children) - Supreme Court declines to overturn benefits cap
News (18/03/2015)
But cap breaches children’s rights, says Court - Wyatt v Vince shows need for reform, says Resolution
News (18/03/2015)
Need for greater certainty in outcomes of family law cases - ‘Justice sacrificed on the altar of public debt’: Mostyn J
News (15/03/2015)
Judge grants costs allowance under Schedule 1 to Children Act - Stigmatisation, not structure, causes problems for children in ‘non-traditional’ families
News (13/03/2015)
‘Quality of relationships matters most to the well-being of families’ - Adoptions at highest since 1992
News (12/03/2015)
Adoptions of looked after children rose by 26% in year to March 2014 - Report 'reveals the hidden depths of women’s financial abuse'
News (12/03/2015)
Report by TUC and Women’s Aid sets out implications of Universal Credit - LASPO has harmed access to justice: Justice Committee
News (12/03/2015)
Reforms have failed to achieve MoJ’s objectives - Children’s social care in over half of local authorities not good enough, reports Ofsted
News (12/03/2015)
Report ‘tells a partial and excessively negative story’, say Directors of Children’s Services - Cafcass figures for February show care applications still on the rise
News (11/03/2015)
954 care applications received by Cafcass in February - Private law cases received by Cafcass fall by 13% in February
News (11/03/2015)
Cases in last 12 months have fallen by a quarter - Supreme Court allows wife’s claim 18 years after divorce to proceed
News (11/03/2015)
Omission from FPR of power to grant summary judgment deliberate - Enforcing family financial orders – Law Commission proposes better solutions for separating couples
News (11/03/2015)
Consultation open until 11th July 2015 - Latvia complains to House of Commons about adoptions of non-UK citizens
News (10/03/2015)
The Guardian reports on letter by Latvian parliament - Children’s homes quality standards – DfE responds to consultation
News (08/03/2015)
Guidance published for children’s homes - Report outlines progress in campaign to end violence against women and girls
News (08/03/2015) - Adoption order granted to single father in surrogacy arrangement
News (08/03/2015)
Woman acts as surrogate mother for son’s baby - 70% of children living with both parents
News (08/03/2015)
Proportion of children raised by both parents increases by 3% - Supreme Court decides on strike-out of wife’s claim 18 years after decree absolute
News (08/03/2015)
Judgment to be handed down in Wyatt v Vince on 11th March - Notice period for marriages and civil partnerships extended
News (08/03/2015)
New arrangements intended to prevent sham marriages - New Children’s Commissioner for England outlines her priorities
News (08/03/2015)
Anne Longfield OBE starts six year term - Order prohibiting involvement of children in political activities set aside
News (27/02/2015)
Application for prohibited steps order to be re-heard - Professionals miss five opportunities to stop domestic violence
News (27/02/2015)
SafeLives research shows that victims suffer for 3 years before getting help - ‘Tough’ new inspection regime for children’s homes from April 2015
News (27/02/2015)
Inspections to focus on progress and experiences of children and young people. - President deprecates filing of excessive court bundles
News (27/02/2015)
Unauthorised witness bundles may be destroyed, warns Sir James Munby - Referrals to children’s services rise by more than 10%
News (26/02/2015)
Child protection plans have increased by almost a quarter since 2010 - Challenge to ban on heterosexual civil partnerships to proceed
News (26/02/2015)
Couple granted protective costs order in judicial review claim - Maintenance cannot be ‘a meal ticket for life’
News (25/02/2015)
‘Sea change’ in courts’ attitude to spousal maintenance - House of Lords approves ‘three-person IVF’
News (25/02/2015)
Debate considers legality of mitochondrial donation regulations - ‘Discoverer’ of shaken baby syndrome expresses concern over flawed evidence
News (24/02/2015)
Open letter links SBS claims with miscarriages of justice - Seven grandparents a day seek court order to see grandchildren
News (23/02/2015)
Government should shoulder blame, says National Family Mediation - Children’s Society urges child protection changes to Serious Crime Bill
News (22/02/2015)
16 and 17 year olds lack adequate protection - Ofsted's Single Inspection Framework is flawed, says Association of Directors of Children’s Services
News (22/02/2015)
Inspection results ‘not credible’ - Marriage tax allowance scheme open for registrations
News (22/02/2015)
Allowance scheme available later this year - President reminds practitioners of importance of fundamental principles in care applications
News (22/02/2015)
Court highly critical of local authority’s approach - Legal aid changes limit justice for victims of domestic violence
News (19/02/2015)
Citizens Advice publishes new research into effects of changes - Appeal lodged against DV legal aid ruling
News (19/02/2015)
Rights of Women supported by Law Society in appeal - Children to be more clearly heard in decisions about their future
News (19/02/2015)
Range of measures to be introduced to involve children - Family Drug and Alcohol Court to be nationwide
News (18/02/2015)
DfE investment funds roll-out of the court - DNA tests to be available in all private family law proceedings
News (17/02/2015)
Cafcass to develop new model for drugs and alcohol testing - Wife’s MPS application rejected because interim budget exceeded standard of living of marriage
News (16/02/2015)
Court intervention not required to ensure interim needs met - Children sent back to Australia despite mother’s wishes in will
News (16/02/2015)
Mother died after return to England - Civil partnership registrations declined by 11% in 2013
News (15/02/2015)
Dissolutions rose by 20% - Government to introduce mandatory reporting of FGM
News (15/02/2015)
Obligation to be limited to victims under 18 - Three new members appointed to the Family Justice Council
News (15/02/2015)
Elizabeth Isaacs QC, Helen Morris and Sara McIlroy appointed from March 2015 - Law Society encourage use of ‘pet-nups’
News (15/02/2015)
One-in-four divorces involve a dispute over pets - Care applications in January level with a year ago
News (13/02/2015)
887 applications received by Cafcass - Private law cases received by Cafcass continue to fall
News (13/02/2015)
January figures 15% down on a year ago - Resolution updates members on divorce centre changes
News (09/02/2015) - First reported domestic award of damages for a child in care proceedings
News (08/02/2015)
Local authority pays damages of £12,000 to child - Public Accounts Committee disturbed that legal aid changes were not evidence-based
News (08/02/2015)
PAC concerned by the rise in LiPs and fall in mediations - Final care order without a full hearing appropriate only in exceptional cases
News (08/02/2015)
Neither judgment nor reasons given for order - Guidance launched to help children benefit from pets in adoptive and foster homes
News (08/02/2015)
Local authorities encouraged to develop policies to help foster carers - Non-party costs order made against Capita
News (06/02/2015)
Failure to provide Slovak interpreter ‘lamentable’, says the President - Care cases shorter where family court advisers involved
News (05/02/2015)
Pre-proceedings involvement can shorten cases by three weeks - Director of Public Prosecutions defends failed FGM prosecution
News (05/02/2015)
Three further cases being considered by CPS - Say 'No' to FGM videos broadcast on YouTube
News (05/02/2015)
Videos released as part of anti-FGM campaign - Fall in solicitor referrals to MIAMs and mediation confirmed by MoJ study
News (01/02/2015)
MoJ publishes family mediation research programme - FGM in UK a bigger problem than realised
News (01/02/2015)
First prosecution continues - Resolution concerned that Financial Remedies Working Group report focuses on high net worth cases
News (01/02/2015)
Failure to reintroduce Calderbank offers is ‘a missed opportunity’ - French court prohibits parents naming child ‘Nutella’
News (01/02/2015)
Name would cause ‘mockery or disobliging remarks’ - Ombudsman warns of risk of determining mental capacity without proper assessment
News (30/01/2015)
Family left believing their father was being ‘held prisoner’ against his wishes - Professor Sally Holland appointed new Children’s Commissioner for Wales
News (30/01/2015) - Half of all sibling groups in care are split up
News (30/01/2015)
A third of siblings in care live apart - £2.9bn of child maintenance arrears ‘uncollectable’
News (25/01/2015)
DWP says nearly 9 out of 10 absent parents within the CSA system are contributing towards child maintenance - LGA criticises Ofsted’s ‘blinkered approach’ to inspecting children’s services
News (25/01/2015)
Senior local government leaders convene summit on CSE - High Court dismisses challenge to legal aid changes
News (25/01/2015)
Evidence required of DV victims not unlawful - Family mediation information materials published
News (25/01/2015) - Supreme Court considers costs order against local authority
News (25/01/2015)
Appeal in Re S (Children) to be heard on 28th January - Government drops proposal to raise divorce fee
News (18/01/2015)
Consultation attracts high level of criticism - Number of children going missing from foster care rises by a third
News (18/01/2015)
More siblings being placed together - Young people’s guide to staying put published
News (18/01/2015)
Guide is for those in care or who have left care - Judges should not jump to conclusion that FGM should lead to adoption
News (18/01/2015)
President hears first care case involving alleged FGM - Cafcass reports fall of 4% in new private law cases in December
News (16/01/2015)
New private law cases in 2014 fall by 25% - Care applications rise by 13% year-on-year in December
News (16/01/2015)
10,894 applications during 2014 - Twelve family lawyers awarded silk
News (16/01/2015)
93 new QCs appointed - Legal aid application process ‘functions as a barrier to access,’ agrees the President
News (11/01/2015)
Parents’ reliance on pro bono assistance ‘unprincipled and unconscionable’ - New EU personal protection law comes into force
News (11/01/2015)
EU Protection Measures Regulation in civil matters implemented from 11th January 2015 - DV prosecutions soar as prosecutors given new guidelines
News (11/01/2015)
New guidelines came into force on 30th December - Commons debate on mitochondrial donation possible within weeks
News (11/01/2015)
Proposed legislation to be considered ‘almost certainly’ before General Election - Barristers can set up new business models without changing regulators
News (10/01/2015)
34% of family barristers have ‘definite or possible intentions’ to do so - Quarter of parents living with partners ‘secretly consider separation or divorce’
News (10/01/2015)
OnePlusOne urges couples to seek early help - MoJ clarifies plans for divorce processing
News (06/01/2015)
More details given in response to FoI request - The Law Commission extends its review of mental capacity and detention
News (11/09/2014)
Review will consider legislation underpinning DoLS under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 - MIAM attendance in Birmingham and Manchester fell by 73%
News (04/07/2014)
Regional details of mediation fall released - Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards 2014 - Winners announced
News (07/06/2014)
Resolution members win the two family categories - Cafcass praised for outstanding leadership by Ofsted
News (24/04/2014)
Service ‘delivers consistently good service for children in the family courts’ - Law Commission report on Matrimonial Property, Needs and Agreements to be published this week
News (24/02/2014)
Article by Law Commission lawyer available on Family Law Week on 27th February - New rules introduced to stop out-of-area residential care
News (05/01/2014)
Regulations to come into force at the end of January