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2016 News Archive
- Justice Committee considers family law implications of Brexit
News (20/12/2016)
'Brexit will have huge effect on family law,' lawyers tell Justice Committee - Privy Council clarifies treatment of non-matrimonial property in AR applications
News (19/12/2016)
Appeal dismissed in Scatliffe v Scatliffe - Legal aid applications jump 26% in private family law cases
News (18/12/2016)
MIAMs down by 17% in last quarter - Government ‘too slow to improve child protection services’
News (16/12/2016)
Public Account Committee says DfE must end complacency over children at risk of harm - Most arrangements under Child Maintenance Service are still in place one year later
News (16/12/2016)
Results of 30-month review published by DWP - CPS and NPCC launch new honour-based violence/abuse and forced marriage protocol
News (16/12/2016)
Protocol is key component of CPS’s Action Plan - CMA demands greater transparency from legal service providers
News (15/12/2016)
Competition in legal services is ‘not working well’ - Latest family court statistics confirm recent surge in public law applications
News (15/12/2016)
Public law applications running at 21% above a year ago - Enforcement of family financial orders – Law Commission report
News (15/12/2016)
Commission recommends reforms to make law ‘more effective, accessible and fair’ - New private law work received by Cafcass in November up 7% on a year ago
News (14/12/2016)
3,586 new private law cases received - Care applications received by Cafcass in November up 22% on a year ago
News (14/12/2016)
1,262 applications received - Judges should be able to prevent litigants in person inundating the court with emails
News (11/12/2016)
Lady Justice King calls for enhanced case management powers - Supreme Court to hear appeal by charities in Ilott v Mitson
News (11/12/2016)
Inheritance Act 1975 appeal to be heard on 12 December 2016 - Bill to ratify Istanbul Convention to have second reading on 16 December 2016
News (08/12/2016) - Summary published of all ECtHR cases against UK since 1975
News (08/12/2016)
Links for all post-1997 judgments - Privy Council to give judgment in division of matrimonial assets case
News (08/12/2016)
Judgment to be promulgated in Scatliffe v Scatliffe on 12 December 2016 - ‘Toxic trio’ increasingly drives involvement of children’s social care services
News (08/12/2016)
Initial contacts to children’s social care up 58% over last 8 years - Divorce rate continues its downward trend
News (08/12/2016)
Cohabiting and increasing age at marriage may be factors - 1.8 million adults said they were victims of domestic violence in last year
News (08/12/2016)
In last six years 598 women have been killed by current or former partners - Claims for financial orders on divorce do not vest in trustee in bankruptcy
News (05/12/2016)
Judgment published in appeal against strike out of claim - Lord Chief Justice concerned about LiPs and paid McKenzie friends
News (05/12/2016)
Lord Thomas questions whether withdrawal of legal aid is exacerbating private law disputes - Parliamentary research briefings relevant to family lawyers
News (04/12/2016) - Children in care 'in need of early education but too few receive it'
News (02/12/2016)
New study finds missed opportunities - Home Secretary hosts forum to end FGM
News (02/12/2016)
Government responds to Select Committee’s recommendations on FGM - Report by The Children’s Society reveals neglect of teenagers at home
News (02/12/2016)
One in seven reports some form of neglect by parents or carers - FGM protection orders factsheet published
News (01/12/2016) - Resolution launches new Code of Practice
News (30/11/2016)
Members mark Good Divorce Week with Parliamentary gathering - Cobb J sets out core principles for conducting re-hearings
News (28/11/2016)
Court re-hears fact-finding into life-threatening injuries to child - Parents fear transgender children will be taken away after Re J (A Minor)
News (27/11/2016)
Four mothers anticipate proceedings brought by their ex-partners - Men’s attitude to fatherhood affects children’s behaviour
News (27/11/2016)
Amount of direct involvement in childcare of less significance - Older divorcees could be affected by Autumn Statement pension changes
News (25/11/2016)
Money Purchase Annual Allowance to be cut to £4,000 per year - Home Affairs Committee says work of Jay Committee is vital
News (25/11/2016)
Confidence in ability to deliver its objectives ‘seriously diminished’ - Responses to the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement
News (24/11/2016) - Law Society publishes practice note for practitioners advising at private law family court duty schemes
News (22/11/2016)
Practice note advises on managing professional risks - Court of Appeal gives important judgment about witnesses’ rights to appeal in family proceedings
News (20/11/2016)
Witnesses subject of adverse judicial findings may challenge judge’s findings on appeal - Cost of problems affecting children, young persons and families calculated at £17 billion
News (18/11/2016)
Early Intervention Foundation publishes annual analysis - Responding to human rights judgments 2014-16: MoJ report published
News (18/11/2016) - Orders made to secure 14 year old's wish to be cryo-preserved upon death
News (18/11/2016)
Court was not approving or encouraging cryonics: Peter Jackson J - Legal Aid Agency criticised for ‘muddled’ decision to apply statutory charge to ward’s damages
News (17/11/2016)
No connection between legally-aided wardship proceedings and claim for damages - English councils confirm they set targets for number of children to be adopted
News (17/11/2016)
Transparency Project calls for more research into exercise of adoption policy - Shorter family court proceedings improve outcomes for children
News (16/11/2016)
UEA report investigates what happened to children two years after their final court hearing - London council children's services data breach as court bundle lost
News (16/11/2016)
Information Commissioner emphasises the need to train temporary staff - ‘Alarming number’ of trafficked children go missing from care
News (16/11/2016)
ECPAT UK and Missing People report reveals extent of problem - Pension sharing not available in relation to a foreign pension
News (14/11/2016)
Wife's claim for a pension sharing order failed in long-running dispute - Hague Conventions enter into force for Kyrgyzstan and Serbia
News (13/11/2016)
Form of application to the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit updated - Lady Justice Gloster appointed Vice-President of the Court of Appeal (Civil)
News (13/11/2016) - Applying to the European Court of Human Rights
News (11/11/2016)
House of Commons Library publishes useful briefing note - Parents sought to participate in study into arrangements on separation
News (11/11/2016) - Government rejects recommendation that divorce fee rise should be rescinded
News (10/11/2016)
‘Too soon to draw any firm conclusions,’ says the MoJ - Clause 29 defeated in House of Lords
News (10/11/2016)
Power to exempt local authorities from legal duties removed from Bill - Private law cases received by Cafcass in October up 9% on a year ago
News (10/11/2016)
3,505 new private law cases received - Care applications to Cafcass in October 5% up on a year ago
News (10/11/2016)
Rate of increase lower than in recent months - Lord Chief Justice concerned by volume of public and private law cases before the Family Court
News (07/11/2016)
Annual report highlights workload problems in the Family Court - Unaccompanied migrant children – government to publish strategy next year
News (04/11/2016)
Children’s Services directors publish report of migrant children’s needs and LAs' response - Number of children in need increases slightly
News (04/11/2016)
394,400 children in need and 50,310 subject to a child protection plan - Cohabitation law is failing 3.3 million families, says Resolution
News (04/11/2016)
Cohabiting couple families have been the fastest growing family type over last 20 years - Dr Waney Squier reinstated
News (04/11/2016)
Medical Practitioners’ Tribunal proceedings significantly flawed - Social workers reject government reforms as unsafe, says UNISON
News (04/11/2016)
Only one per cent of respondents believe reforms address their main concerns - Social worker’s flawed assessment separates mother and child for nearly five years
News (04/11/2016)
LA threatened care proceedings if mother challenged foster placement - Government to opt in to the European Commission’s proposal to replace Brussels IIa
News (31/10/2016)
Commission aims to provide clearer deadlines for certain procedures - Number of serious incident notifications may have plateaued
News (30/10/2016)
Serious harm notifications have increased - Civil partnerships appeal to be heard this week
News (30/10/2016)
Couple challenge government’s ban on different-sex civil partnerships - LAs reminded of responsibilities to comply with case management decisions in public law cases
News (30/10/2016)
‘Cardinal principles’ reiterated by MacDonald J - Family Justice Council 10th Annual Debate to be held on 1st December 2016
News (28/10/2016)
‘Settlement Conferences: Are they Article 6 compliant?’ - Areas with highest unpaid child maintenance in UK revealed
News (28/10/2016)
Gingerbread calls on MPs to demand improvements to child maintenance system - Home Affairs Committee begins to hear evidence on Sharia councils
News (28/10/2016) - Paper-free Digital Courtroom technology introduced at the Central London Family Court
Editorial (28/10/2016)
E-filing local direction introduced for financial remedies applications - Boy ‘living life entirely as a girl’ removed from mother’s care
News (23/10/2016)
Mother influenced child in believing he was a girl - Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Bill receives second reading
News (23/10/2016) - Family Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2016
News (20/10/2016)
Rule 14.2 amended from 14th November 2016 - Lack of evidence that Troubled Families programme has impacted on families
News (20/10/2016)
Public Accounts Committee examines impact of programme - Child protection: concerns raised as to the police approach
News (18/10/2016)
Ofsted Chief writes to Chief Inspector of Constabulary - Civil Partnerships Records Regulations 2016
News (17/10/2016)
Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships Records Regulations 2016 - Official Solicitor publishes questionnaire for private law cases involving families
News (17/10/2016) - 25th anniversary of implementation of Children Act 1989
News (17/10/2016) - Bankrupt cannot be compelled to draw pension to repay debts
News (17/10/2016)
Trustee in bankruptcy fails in Court of Appeal - Civil partner wins appeal against estate of former partner who hid assets
News (14/10/2016)
Court confirms that Sharland and Gohil apply to civil partnership dissolutions - Justice Committee launches inquiry into justice system post-Brexit
News (13/10/2016)
Committee will consider implications for international family disputes - Amendments tabled to remove exemption provisions from Children and Social Work Bill
News (13/10/2016)
Together for Children welcomes proposed amendments - Care applications received by Cafcass in September up 23% on a year ago
News (13/10/2016)
Applications received in last six months more than 20% up on 2015 - New private law cases received by Cafcass in September up 19% on a year ago
News (13/10/2016)
3,588 new private law cases received - Four out of five separating couples ignore MIAM requirement
News (12/10/2016)
Government must listen to mediation professionals: National Family Mediation - Vast variation in spending by LAs on children in need
News (12/10/2016)
National Audit Office: LAs do not understand which approaches provide best help and protection for children - 360,000 visits to Government's Sorting out Separation website
News (09/10/2016)
72,000 visits to support services - Family Court Reporting Watch project launched
News (09/10/2016)
Transparency Project to monitor media coverage of family law - Education Select Committee launches fostering inquiry
News (09/10/2016)
Written submissions sought by 25th November 2016 - Advocates reminded of duties to litigants in person
News (09/10/2016)
Peter Jackson J highlights risk of unfairness from late service - Mr Justice Roderic Wood retires
News (09/10/2016) - HFEA highlights problems with consent forms
News (09/10/2016)
Annual report on adverse incidents sets out lessons to be learned - Lord Dyson retires as Master of the Rolls
News (03/10/2016)
Sir Terence Etherton becomes Master of Rolls from 3 October 2016 - Nicholas Francis QC appointed to High Court bench
News (03/10/2016)
Appointment follows retirement of Dame Mary Hogg DBE - Adoptions decrease for first time in recent years
News (30/09/2016)
Placements for adoption fall by 18% - Local authorities ‘alarmed’ by latest DoLS figures
News (30/09/2016)
Present system costing councils £170 million a year - Domestic abuse: 75% rise in NSPCC helpline contacts since 2011
News (30/09/2016)
Ten adults per day now contacting the charity - First baby born from mitochondrial donation
News (30/09/2016)
HFEA is yet to approve licensing regime for UK clinics - Summary of ‘no-fault’ divorce issues published
News (30/09/2016)
House of Commons briefing paper published - Mediation starts take a further tumble
News (29/09/2016)
Family law legal aid expenditure stands at £530 million for last 12 months - Practice Directions published for Court of Protection pilots
News (29/09/2016)
PDs relate to case management and section 49 pilots - Agencies are working more effectively together to tackle CSE
News (29/09/2016)
Children 'must be involved in decisions about their lives' - New cases in the family courts rise by 10% year-on-year in latest quarter
News (29/09/2016)
Public law cases have increased by 24% - Widow wins frozen embryo case
News (29/09/2016)
Embryos may be stored for ten years - Expansion of joint children’s services company on the horizon
News (28/09/2016)
Windsor and Maidenhead planning to join Achieving for Children - Court of Appeal to determine on privacy in financial remedies proceedings
News (26/09/2016)
Husband seeks to overturn order that couple can be named - Helping families ‘open up about domestic violence needs to be a public health priority’
News (26/09/2016)
NICE says that NHS has important role in identifying victims - Enquiry into the role of social work in adoption: deadline for evidence extended
News (21/09/2016)
Submissions from family justice professionals sought - Nominations sought for ALC’s award for Outstanding Newcomer in the Field of Children Law
News (21/09/2016) - Fast track to the High Court bench
News (21/09/2016) - FGM application reveals loophole in protection measures
News (21/09/2016)
Met Police urge Home Secretary to bar FGM practitioner from entering country - Court directs solicitor to travel to Saudi Arabia to meet Amina Al-Jeffery in private
News (21/09/2016)
21 year-old’s instructions considered ‘equivocal’ - Victims of coercive control are focus of new police pilot
News (21/09/2016)
Research shows officers may not recognise patterns of controlling behaviour - President says family courts face ‘clear and imminent crisis’
News (20/09/2016)
Courts must improve handling of care cases - House of Commons debates DV victims in family courts
News (18/09/2016)
Family court protections unfavourably compared with criminal courts - Joint Committee on Human Rights launches inquiry into human rights implications of Brexit
News (16/09/2016)
Inquiry will consider impact on privacy and family life - Child Maintenance Service 'puts domestic abuse survivors at risk'
News (16/09/2016)
Untrained staff and flawed systems failing parents, warn Gingerbread and Women’s Aid - 4,000 benefit sanctions applied to care leavers in last two years: The Children’s Society
News (16/09/2016)
Half of local authorities ‘fail to offer care leavers financial education’ - Changes to legal aid Special Children Act applications
News (15/09/2016) - Transforming our Justice System
News (15/09/2016)
Consultation and Statement seek to map out future for the court system - Family Procedure (Amendment No 2) Rules 2016
News (14/09/2016)
Amendments come into force on 3rd October 2016 - Mr Justice Moylan appointed Lord Justice of Appeal
News (13/09/2016)
One Lady Justice and five Lord Justices of Appeal appointed - First children arbitration heard
News (13/09/2016)
Ten days elapsed from referral to determination - Care cases received by Cafcass in August up 34% on a year ago
News (12/09/2016)
1,258 care applications received - New private law cases received by Cafcass in August up 23% on a year ago
News (12/09/2016)
3,535 new private law cases received - Joint Human Rights Committee will consider UK’s record on children’s rights
News (08/09/2016)
Recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child under scrutiny - Long-term fostering must be on equal footing with adoption and SGOs in new legislation, says The Fostering Network
News (08/09/2016)
Calls for amendment of clause 8 - Study investigating use of research in family justice system calls for evidence
News (08/09/2016)
Family justice 'observatory' proposed - Civil partnerships registrations halved since introduction of same sex marriage
News (08/09/2016)
Dissolutions increase by 14% since 2014 - Five completed prosecutions for controlling or coercive behaviour by end of March 2016
News (06/09/2016)
Crown Prosecution Service publishes annual VaWG report - Funding crisis threatens refuges
News (06/09/2016)
Cap on housing benefit imperils 67% of refuges - Hayden J expresses concern about preparation of ‘habitual residence’ cases
News (05/09/2016)
Such cases are a factual exploration and must be ‘child driven’ - ALC publishes guidance on the anonymisation of children judgments
News (04/09/2016)
Checklists provide practical way for judges to secure children’s anonymity - British courts should be able to grant Islamic divorces, Home Affairs Committee will hear
News (04/09/2016)
All Islamic marriages should be registered as civil marriages - Police and victims urged to use new coercive control laws
News (02/09/2016)
Only three police forces report ten or more prosecutions - Supreme Court refuses permission to appeal decisions concerning children’s participation in proceedings
News (02/09/2016)
Permission refused in Re S (Children) 2016 EWCA Civ 83 and F (Children) [2016] EWCA Civ 546 - Resolution ‘disappointed at selective reporting’ of President’s comments on care cases funding
News (02/09/2016)
‘Cheap shots at lawyers’ not best way to conduct debate on public funding - Number of children benefiting from Child Support 1993 and 2003 schemes falls under half a million
News (02/09/2016)
Number of cases paying less than their liability decreases by 28% in last quarter - Shortcomings in partnership between London councils leave victim of domestic abuse in limbo
News (25/08/2016)
Local authorities fail to ensure woman was safely housed - Guidance published on change of name on official documents
News (25/08/2016)
Policy aims to deter name changes to commit crime - Court of Appeal considers secure accommodation order for young woman of 17 years 8 months
News (22/08/2016)
Order was ‘justified, necessary and proportionate’ - Government will press ahead with British Bill of Rights
News (22/08/2016)
Bill of Rights is a 'manifesto commitment' - 15 councils put obese children on ‘at risk’ register or take them into care
News (19/08/2016)
FoI request reveals LA action in last two years - President clarifies ‘misconceptions’ over settlement conferences
News (19/08/2016)
Latest View also addresses ‘tandem’ model - Father hopes for ‘single parent’ surrogacy law change
News (19/08/2016)
BBC broadcasts interview with father in Z (A Child) case - Commons Local Government Committee calls for more help for care leavers
News (19/08/2016)
Report published on homelessness - Council fined £100,000 after sensitive files found in disused building
News (19/08/2016)
Files contained sensitive information about children - Supreme Court refers to ECJ case of transgender woman denied state pension at 60
News (12/08/2016)
Sec of State argues that full certificate of gender recognition is required - Payment to Christina Estrada held up by former husband’s death
News (12/08/2016)
Mrs Justice Roberts decides there is no need for enforcement measures - Attendance of solicitors at local authority Children Act meetings
News (12/08/2016)
The Law Society publishes practice note - The Fostering Network responds to BBC story about cash incentives to recruit foster carers
News (12/08/2016)
Transfer protocols guide the movement of foster carers between services - Inspections to examine multi-agency working to protect children from domestic abuse
News (10/08/2016)
Guidance published for the inspection regime - Private law cases received in July in line with a year ago
News (10/08/2016)
3,468 cases received in July - Another record month for care applications received by Cafcass
News (10/08/2016)
1,305 applications received in July - Section 37 Senior Courts Act 1981 injunctions can be made only in support of existing substantive powers
News (08/08/2016)
Court of Appeal discharges injunction to transfer pension policy - 97 per cent of children in care missing out on mentors
News (08/08/2016)
Children in care should be offered ‘independent visitors’ where it is in their interests - Administrative Court judicial review guide published
News (07/08/2016)
Guide prepared with all Court users in mind - 26% of CM Options customers last year set up family based arrangements
News (07/08/2016)
DWP publishes data for child maintenance arrangements - Two-year-old girl thought to be at risk of FGM returned to UK
News (07/08/2016)
FGM protection order made - Children accommodated in secure children’s homes at 31 March 2016
News (04/08/2016) - Information Commissioner responds to Supreme Court’s ‘named person’ judgment
News (04/08/2016)
ICO will work with Scottish Government to address Supreme Court's concerns - Landmark judgment directs father to return 21-year-old daughter from Saudi Arabia
News (04/08/2016)
“We have no reason to assume he will not obey the order”: Holman J - Ellie Butler 2014 judgment published
News (01/08/2016) - Lord Justice Briggs publishes final proposals for reform of Civil Justice
News (29/07/2016)
Shared jurisdiction to remain for TOLATA and Inheritance Act claims - Unaccompanied migrant children let down by UK, concludes HoL report
News (29/07/2016)
Lords urge government to address the ‘complex problems’ - Isle of Man allows heterosexual couples to enter into civil partnerships
News (29/07/2016)
First place in British Isles to confer such a right - 900 complaints about child protection made to Local Government Ombudsman in last year
News (29/07/2016)
68% of complaints upheld - Court of Protection extends pilot testing increased access for public and media
News (28/07/2016)
Pilot to run until August 2017 - Strong support across sector for adoption panels in matching
News (28/07/2016)
CoramBAAF publishes results of sector survey - Scottish ‘named persons’ scheme is unlawful, decides the Supreme Court
News (28/07/2016)
Scottish government remains committed to the legislation - Sale under Insolvency Act 1986 s 335A should not be postponed because of respondents’ disabled child
News (25/07/2016)
Court allows appeal by trustee in bankruptcy - Supreme Court to hand down judgment in Scottish ‘named person’ case
News (22/07/2016)
Appellants claim that the scheme is excessively intrusive - IFLA launches children arbitration scheme
News (22/07/2016)
New scheme welcomed by Resolution and FLBA - Government consults on mandatory reporting of child abuse
News (21/07/2016)
New statutory duties would not apply to general public - 5,700 newly recorded FGM cases during 2015-16
News (21/07/2016)
HSCIC publishes first ever annual statistics - Court of Appeal disapproves of ‘destitution’ as threshold for support for migrant children and families
News (20/07/2016)
Judicial review appeal dismissed - A round-up of family-related Private Members’ Bills in progress
News (19/07/2016) - Judgment in 'stratospheric' Part III MFPA claim published
News (18/07/2016)
Juffali judgment and comprehensive summary available - Roberts J quantifies wife’s ‘needs’ claim under Part III MFPA 1984
News (18/07/2016)
Assets almost exclusively ‘non-matrimonial’ - Resolution welcomes new Justice Secretary
News (15/07/2016) - Law Commission opens consultation on its next programme of law reform
News (14/07/2016)
Commission proposes reviews of laws relating to surrogacy and to children’s social care - Supreme Court confirms that Lord Chancellor has no power to remove legal aid rights from specified groups
News (13/07/2016)
Unanimous judgment rejects residence test - Marriage continues decline and cohabitation increases since 2002
News (13/07/2016)
Latest ONS figures show that just over half the adult population are married - New private law cases received by Cafcass in June up 6% on a year ago
News (12/07/2016)
3,599 new private law cases received in the month - Care applications received by Cafcass in June highest ever monthly figure
News (12/07/2016)
1,265 applications is an increase of 13% on a year ago - Children’s organisations welcome Narey report into residential children’s homes
News (11/07/2016)
Government to pilot Staying Close scheme - Former model wins £75 million divorce award
News (10/07/2016)
Christina Estrada had sought £238 million - Baljit Bains and Tracy Winstanley win LALY awards
News (10/07/2016) - Strategy for helping care leavers published
News (07/07/2016)
State will support care leavers to achieve specified key outcomes - Supreme Court to determine legality of legal aid residence test
News (07/07/2016)
Judgment to be delivered on 13th July - Strong support among local authorities for 26 week time limit in care proceedings
News (07/07/2016)
DfE publishes research into care applications in 21 local authorities - Independent review into Sharia Law: call for evidence
News (06/07/2016) - ALC publishes guidance on settlement conferences pilot
News (06/07/2016)
Association expresses concern about parties’ right to a fair hearing - Resolution calls for full review into the impact of LASPO
News (03/07/2016)
Mediation agreements at 60% of pre-LASPO levels - 60% of care applications completed within 26 weeks
News (03/07/2016)
Average time for the disposal of care applications is 28 weeks - Unregulated online divorce providers service 10-13% of the market
News (03/07/2016)
Legal Services Board research reveals extent of unregulated providers' market shares - Guidance on financial needs on divorce published
News (01/07/2016)
FJC guide addresses courts and legal advisers - Child maintenance: deduction orders against joint accounts
News (01/07/2016)
DWP launches consultation - CoramBAAF urges Parliamentarians to reject clause 15 of the Children and Social Work Bill
News (01/07/2016)
Provision could relax assessment process for children being fostered with family and friends - ‘200,000 more children now living in poverty’
News (01/07/2016)
The Children’s Society calls for urgent action to protect the well-being of children - Further progress report on the London & South East Divorce Centre
News (01/07/2016)
Top 10 reasons for returning divorce petitions - Home Affairs Committee launches inquiry into Sharia councils in the UK
News (27/06/2016)
Second inquiry to examine operation of Sharia Law in UK - Resolution and IAFL respond to EU referendum result
News (24/06/2016) - Permission to publish 2014 judgment concerning Ellie Butler’s death refused
News (23/06/2016)
Publication might prejudice any retrial - 18 EU countries agree to clarify rules on property regimes for international couples
News (23/06/2016)
United Kingdom is not participating - Child cruelty offences in England highest in a decade
News (23/06/2016)
Rise of 75% in offences recorded by police in last ten years - Justice Select Committee calls for divorce petition fee rise to be rescinded
News (23/06/2016)
Thousands penalised by divorce tax: Resolution - Supreme Court does not have jurisdiction to hear second appeal under Brussels IIR art 34
News (22/06/2016)
Appeal by father in D (A Child) struck out - Children and Social Work Bill receives Second Reading
News (19/06/2016)
Bill will enter Committee Stage on 27th June 2016 - Mr Justice MacDonald reminds professionals of responsibilities when considering allegations by children
News (19/06/2016)
Actions of some professionals ‘materially prejudiced the welfare of both children’ - Court of Protection: final Case Management Pilot Practice Direction
News (17/06/2016)
Pilot scheme sets out three case management pathways for CoP proceedings - MoJ seeks views on DV victims seeking legal aid in private family cases
News (17/06/2016)
Law Society urges members to complete the MoJ survey - ‘Hundreds of millions of owed child maintenance is failing to be collected’
News (17/06/2016)
Gingerbread says that government is failing its obligation to families - Supreme Court to decide whether child must have ‘opportunity to be heard’ in disputed custody case
News (17/06/2016)
Judgment to be delivered in D (A Child) on 22nd June - Final settlement approved in long running and hotly contested financial remedies case.
News (13/06/2016)
Lump sum ordered in favour of ex-wife who brought financial remedies claim 19 years after decree absolute. - President makes declaration to correct clerical errors in legal parentage case
News (13/06/2016)
Immediate disclosure must be afforded in such cases says the President - Newly released FGM data
News (13/06/2016)
The Health & Social Care Information Centre publishes FGM Enhanced Dataset - Disciplinary hearing rejects allegations against author of report on expert witnesses in Family Courts.
News (13/06/2016)
The Health and Care Professions Council disciplinary panel dismisses all allegations. - Bar Council and Law Society call for prohibition of paid “McKenzie friends” and for a replacement term to avoid confusion for Litigants in Person
News (13/06/2016)
The responses to the Judicial Executive Board’s Consultation – Reforming the courts’ approach to McKenzie Friends - Husband entitled to challenge validity of his ex-wife’s mother’s will
News (06/06/2016)
Court of Appeal allows appeal by creditor of a beneficiary of an estate - Children in Care Missing out on Advocacy Services
News (06/06/2016)
Children Commissioner’s report proposals for improvements - Mental health services failing children with life-threatening conditions, says Children’s Commissioner
News (02/06/2016)
Quarter of children referred for specialist mental health treatment in 2015 did not receive a service - Directors of Children's Services welcome ending of serious case reviews
News (02/06/2016)
Move to timelier, local reviews will help partners learn lessons - Supreme Court to hear appeal on liability of local authorities for foster carers
News (02/06/2016)
Appeal against judgment in NA v Nottinghamshire County Council [2015] EWCA Civ 1139 - Independent review into application of Sharia Law in England and Wales launched
News (27/05/2016)
Review will explore whether sharia law is incompatible with English law - Case not made for ban on fee charging McKenzie Friends, says Legal Services Board
News (27/05/2016)
‘Any moves to restrict consumers' choices should be based on evidence of detriment’ - Updated Guide on Reporting Restrictions in the Criminal Courts published
News (27/05/2016) - ‘Too many children in care end up in prison,’ says new review
News (23/05/2016)
Lord Laming calls for effective joint working between children’s agencies - Proposals to be brought forward for a British Bill of Rights
News (22/05/2016)
Bill of Rights ‘would restore common sense’ to human rights applications - Local authority ordered to pay £17,500 damages to girl accommodated under s 20 Children Act
News (22/05/2016)
Theis J finds that Kent County Council breached Art 6 and 8 rights - Public Guardian's approach to family care payments
News (20/05/2016)
Practice Note explains factors for calculating payments - 412 Irish same-sex marriages registered in first year
News (20/05/2016) - Single parents with children born through surrogacy should have same rights as couples, declares the President
News (20/05/2016)
‘UK law unfairly discriminates against single parents with children born through surrogacy’ - Children and Social Work Bill has been published
News (20/05/2016)
Government aims to 'tip the balance in favour of permanent adoption where that is the right thing for the child' - Evidence obtained illegally in family and civil proceedings
News (15/05/2016)
Bar Council issues revised advice - President’s Guidance issued for international family law cases
News (12/05/2016)
Guidance addresses administrative/procedural aspects of transfers of proceedings under Article 15 of Brussels IIa - Care applications received by Cafcass in April 28% up on a year ago
News (12/05/2016)
1,221 applications received - Sharp year-on-year increase in private law cases received by Cafcass
News (12/05/2016)
3,557 cases received in April 2016 - Parents fined for breaching forced marriage protection order
News (11/05/2016)
Couple believed that the order had been rescinded - New Pension Tracing Service website launched
News (11/05/2016)
Free online service should help locate workplace pensions - McKenzie Friends in court: consultation extended
News (11/05/2016)
Closing date: 9th June 2016 - CoramBAAF expresses concern about use of Special Guardianship Orders
News (11/05/2016)
SGOs are too often made ‘without sufficient background checks’ - Children of mother who tried to move family to Syria taken into care
News (09/05/2016)
Mother had contact with Islamic State members - Resolution submits evidence to Bach Commission on Access to Justice
News (09/05/2016)
Submission emphasises impact of legal aid cuts on separated couples - Council criticised for data protection failings
News (08/05/2016)
Adoption case details stolen from car - Psychologists as expert witnesses in the Family Courts in England and Wales
News (06/05/2016)
FJC and British Psychological Society produce guidance - Legal Aid Agency changes standard cost limits in family law cases
News (28/04/2016)
£5,000 cost limitation after 1st May 2016 - Man who ‘controlled every aspect of victim's life’ convicted for controlling or coercive behaviour
News (27/04/2016)
Six months imprisonment and two years restraining order for perpetrator - Child Maintenance Service’s caseload rose by 21% in 3 months to February 2016
News (27/04/2016)
88% of money due has been paid under the 2012 scheme - Number of marriages in 2013 fell by 8%
News (27/04/2016)
First annual decline since 2009 - Resolution launches FGM screening toolkit
News (26/04/2016)
Toolkit aims to help family lawyers raise the issue with their clients - ‘Only a fraction’ of forced marriage investigations result in a prosecution
News (22/04/2016)
FoI request uncovers evidential difficulties of investigations - Evidence requirements for domestic violence legal aid relaxed
News (22/04/2016)
Interim regulations come into force on 25th April 2016 - New Resolution chair aims for No Fault Divorce
News (22/04/2016)
Nigel Shepherd addresses Resolution annual conference - Police pensions: transfer values and pension sharing on divorce
News (22/04/2016)
Addenda to scheme guidance published - Police force fined for passing on personal details in domestic violence case
News (21/04/2016)
Contents of mobile phone given to suspect’s solicitor - Increased need for translation services in civil and family courts
News (21/04/2016)
Polish is the language for which most requests for interpreter services are made - English family courts are still among the most generous for spousal maintenance, concludes report
News (17/04/2016)
International Spousal Maintenance Barometer reviews 16 jurisdictions - House of Commons to debate children’s homes ‘out of area’
News (17/04/2016)
HoC Library briefing paper published on the issue - Wellbeing of children in care threatened by cuts, The Fostering Network warns
News (17/04/2016)
Two-thirds of foster carers report cuts to allowances and access to support - Mother banned by Court of Appeal from calling her child ‘Cyanide’
News (17/04/2016)
Court’s powers will be exercised in only the most extreme cases - Two-thirds of local authorities report an increase in care applications over last year
News (17/04/2016)
Cafcass shows the rate of care applications received by each local authority in England during 2015-16 - Care applications received by Cafcass in March up 14% on a year ago
News (14/04/2016)
Second highest monthly total of care applications - Private law cases received by Cafcass in March up 4% on a year ago
News (14/04/2016)
Private law work increases by 9% for the last year - Supreme Court clarifies ‘best interests’ test in Article 15 of Brussels IIa
News (13/04/2016)
The language is ‘simple and clear’ - '95% of separating couples head straight to court'
News (11/04/2016)
Divorcees shun ‘compulsory’ mediation meetings, finds NFM - Personal insolvency news for family lawyers
News (08/04/2016)
Changes to bankruptcy procedure - Surrogacy law research project
News (08/04/2016)
Request for help from surrogate mothers, commissioning parents, practitioners and academics - Supreme Court to rule on applicability of art 15 of Brussels IIa to care proceedings
News (08/04/2016)
Court considers assessment of children’s best interests on applications for transfer of proceedings - Domestic violence evidence requirements for legal aid
News (07/04/2016)
LAA responds to Court of Appeal judgment - Family Justice Council publishes guide to sorting out finances on divorce
News (05/04/2016)
Guide aims to assist litigants in person - Cafcass publishes guidance on section 20 agreements
News (05/04/2016)
‘Local authorities should review all open s 20 cases’ - Report reveals wide variation in charging for divorce services
News (05/04/2016)
Most firms offer fixed fees for simpler, uncontested cases - Court of Appeal gives guidance in committal cases
News (04/04/2016)
Mrs Justice Theis sets out checklist of considerations - Government unveils new adoption strategy
News (03/04/2016)
4 year strategy pledges to end delay - MIAMs halved compared to pre-LASPO levels
News (31/03/2016)
Mediation starts at about 60% of pre-LASPO levels - Average time for the disposal of care applications is 28 weeks
News (31/03/2016)
Quarterly statistics for family courts published - Legal Aid Agency confirms that CCMS will be compulsory from 1st April 2016
News (31/03/2016)
Resolution and LAPG criticise decision - ECtHR affirms that state has positive obligations to keep family together
News (31/03/2016)
Adoption of Portuguese children found to be a breach of Art 8 - A bad budget for children, say children’s charities
News (18/03/2016)
Concerns that budget does not address child poverty - ‘Wholesale review of Scottish family law’ may be needed: Scottish Parliament's Justice Committee
News (18/03/2016)
Concerns expressed as to the clarity of cohabitation law - FPR strike-out provision amended from 6th April 2016
News (18/03/2016)
Further amendments relate to attachment of earnings, charging and stop orders - No Fault Divorce Bill to be presented in next Parliamentary session
News (17/03/2016)
Bill runs out of time in current session - Resolution condemns 'stealthy implementation' of divorce fee hike
News (17/03/2016)
Divorce fee to rise to £550 on 21st March 2016 - Research reveals public misconceptions about children adopted from care
News (17/03/2016)
CoramBAAF responds to research - ADCS publishes ‘thought-provoking' paper on innovation and change in children’s services
News (17/03/2016)
Paper highlights examples of local innovative practice - New service launched to help separated parents to communicate over their children’s lives
News (14/03/2016)
ParentPlan aims to enable co-parents to communicate effectively - Patients subject to DOLS applications must have access to independent representation
News (12/03/2016)
Charles J adjourns all similar cases until a solution is found - Guidance given in child support cases where a parent is fearful of attending hearing because of intimidation
News (10/03/2016)
Range of measures available to assist party to attend - Urgent action needed to protect London’s runaway children
News (10/03/2016)
Police in London are receiving 70 reports a day of children going missing - Children in Need census for Wales published
News (10/03/2016)
19,385 children in need - New private law cases received by Cafcass in February up 10% on a year ago
News (10/03/2016)
3,237 new cases received - Record number of care applications received by Cafcass in February
News (10/03/2016)
Care applications February up 27% on a year ago - Reported FGM cases are ‘drop in the ocean’, says Head of National FGM Centre
News (10/03/2016)
Only 17 of 9,000 GP practices submitted an FGM report - Forced Marriage Unit receives 350 calls per month
News (10/03/2016)
FMU gave advice or support in 1,220 cases in 2015 - Government increases funding for protection of women and girls
News (10/03/2016)
New VAWG fund comes into effect in 2017 - Nominations open for Legal Aid Lawyer of Year awards
News (07/03/2016)
Nomination period ends 25 April - High Court in India asks Law Commission to recommend signing Hague Convention
News (06/03/2016) - European Commission proposes EU accession to international Convention to fight violence against women
News (06/03/2016)
Convention will be discussed in the Council of Ministers and in the European Parliament - Updated statutory guidance on special guardianship published
News (06/03/2016) - The President envisages a digitised and paperless family court within four years
News (06/03/2016)
Digital on-line divorce planned for initial implementation in early 2017 - Local authority criticised for quality of section 7 report
News (06/03/2016)
Court unable to place any weight on report - Diplomat’s daughter made ward of court in FGM case
News (01/03/2016)
FGM protection order granted - Muslim Women’s Network publishes guidance on Muslim marriage and divorce in UK
News (28/02/2016)
MWNUK advocates registration of Muslim marriages in order to utilise legal protections - 'Very limited rights of challenge' to arbitration award: Mr Justice Mostyn
News (28/02/2016)
Challenges to arbitration awards to be fast-tracked for allocation to a High Court judge - Updated template to help social workers prepare for court is launched
News (28/02/2016)
New template should be used in new cases from 29 February - Charities call for inclusion of Children’s Minister in Welsh government’s cabinet
News (25/02/2016)
Joint manifesto for children launched - Judicial Executive Board consults on reforms to guidance on McKenzie Friends
News (25/02/2016)
Paper discusses whether formal rules of court are needed - Family Court Transparency Charity publishes guidance on use of 'voluntary' accommodation of children
News (24/02/2016)
Section 20 guidance follows judicial concern - 'OK take custody' email did not constitute 'clear and unequivocal consent'
News (22/02/2016)
Mr Justice Baker grants mother’s application for the summary return of three children to France - Adopters and kinship carers will not lose out on tax credits
News (20/02/2016)
Government’s decision welcomed by CoramBAAF - Faults found in old version of Form E1
News (19/02/2016)
Faults affected version used between April 2011 and March 2012 - Central Family Court withdraws local practice direction restricting guardians’ attendance
News (19/02/2016)
Nagalro welcomes decision - Consultation launched on statutory definition of CSE
News (19/02/2016)
Proposals aim to ensure that all professionals are working to the same definition - Drive Project aims to challenge perpetrators of domestic violence
News (19/02/2016)
Charities will work with perpetrators on one-to-one basis - At-Court Mediation pilot scheme improves level and quality of contact, says NFM
News (19/02/2016)
Charity calls for government-funded project to be extended - Children of separated couples have worse outcomes at age 11, new research confirms
News (19/02/2016)
Frequency and quality of contact is higher for children of parents previously married - Evidence tests for domestic violence are unlawful, says Court of Appeal
News (18/02/2016)
Rights of Women appeal succeeds - ‘Common law marriage’ and cohabitation briefing paper published
News (14/02/2016) - Domestic violence in year to March 2015 lowest since Crime Survey began
News (14/02/2016)
Crime Survey for England and Wales published - Schedule 1 Children Act 1989 periodical payments application dismissed in ‘superrich’ father case
News (14/02/2016)
Latest application was ‘nothing more than a second repetition' of mother's dissatisfaction with quantum - One in ten married people regret not making a pre-nuptial agreement
News (14/02/2016)
20% of Londoners wish that they had made a pre-nup - 86 courts and tribunals to close
News (11/02/2016)
Law Society disappointed by response to consultation - Care applications received by Cafcass in January 16% up on a year ago
News (11/02/2016)
1,040 care applications received - Private law cases received by Cafcass in January 7% up on a year ago
News (11/02/2016)
2,953 new cases - Parliament debates the role of men in preventing violence against women
News (05/02/2016)
Research briefing published by House of Commons Library - State pension sharing on the termination of a marriage or civil partnership
News (05/02/2016)
DWP information note published on changes from 6 April 2016 - Children Arbitration Scheme to be launched
News (05/02/2016)
Resolution announces plan to roll-out scheme in July 2016 - Clear advice and guidance key to supporting young people leaving care, says Ombudsman
News (05/02/2016)
Council makes mistakes in its handling teenager’s immigration status - Inquiry launched into children's social care
News (05/02/2016)
All Party Parliamentary Group for Children calls for written evidence - Quarter of foster carers rarely or never keep in contact with former foster children
News (05/02/2016)
The Fostering Network launches campaign to help maintain foster relationships - Non-biological mother wins international child abduction appeal in Supreme Court
News (03/02/2016)
Court decides that abduction did not affect child’s English habitual residence - 'Evidence tests leave 40% of domestic violence victims at risk'
News (31/01/2016)
New report coincides with Court of Appeal challenge by Rights of Women - Problems arising from lack of representation and translation services highlighted in financial remedies case
News (31/01/2016)
Mr Justice Holman permits woman to appeal where both parties acted in person - Court of Protection prepares to open up to public and media
News (31/01/2016)
Transparency pilot scheme to run for at least six months - High Court rejects bid to lift the ban on civil partnerships for heterosexual couples
News (31/01/2016)
Crowd funding sought for appeal - International Child Abduction Unit: request for co-operation form published
News (31/01/2016)
Guidance provided for local authorities - ALC and NAGALRO respond to guidance on the need for guardians to justify court attendance at care hearings
News (31/01/2016)
Due weight must be given to the guardian’s views on the need for attendance - Supreme Court to deliver judgment in habitual residence case
News (28/01/2016)
Appeal from B (A Child) (Habitual Residence) (Inherent Jurisdiction) [2015] EWCA Civ 886 - Only one in eight children who are sexually abused are identified by professionals
News (28/01/2016)
The Children's Commissioner calls for urgent action to improve prevention - Length of skeleton arguments restricted in High Court financial remedy cases
News (24/01/2016)
Mostyn J’s guidance amended - Model CAP orders released by the President
News (22/01/2016)
Forms drafted to be comprehensible by litigants in person - President proposes changes to bundles PD
News (22/01/2016)
Page limits suggested for certain types of documents - Courts Minister updates Parliament on online Form E problems
News (21/01/2016)
1,403 affected cases are still live - House of Commons meeting calls for extension of civil partnerships
News (21/01/2016)
Panel discussion explores legal issues confronted by unmarried couples - Second reading of No Fault Divorce private members' Bill postponed to March
News (21/01/2016)
Bill would allow divorce on joint petition where marriage has broken down irretrievably - Women’s Aid launches campaign to put child safety at heart of all family court decisions
News (20/01/2016)
‘Nineteen Child Homicides’ report published by charity - House of Commons research briefing published on rise of LiPs
News (20/01/2016)
Paper collates all available evidence on the LASPO effect on representation - President's Draft Guidance on Listing Final Hearings in Adoption Cases published
News (19/01/2016)
Responses sought by 1st March 2016 - Couple challenge ban on heterosexual civil partnerships
News (19/01/2016)
Judicial review proceedings brought by couple - Problems with recruiting High Court judges prompts 3% salary increase
News (17/01/2016)
MoJ cites shortage of suitable Family Division candidates - Care applications to Cafcass in December up 17% on a year ago
News (17/01/2016)
1,092 care applications received - New private law cases in December rose by 12% on a year ago
News (17/01/2016)
Cafcass received 2,991 new cases - Building soc eases rules for divorcees
News (14/01/2016)
100% of income from child maintenance to be taken into account - DV rate has been increasing since 2009
News (14/01/2016)
New analysis method reveals increasing prevalence - 'No rush for same-sex weddings when compared with civil partnerships'
News (14/01/2016)
One in eight civil partners has converted to a same-sex marriage - Government unveils plans to change adoption law
News (14/01/2016)
CoramBAAF welcomes proposals - Family Law silks appointed
News (11/01/2016) - Research published on Resolution's Family Matters service
News (11/01/2016)
Report shows a different way forward for work with separating families - Call for evidence by inquiry into safeguarding absent children
News (10/01/2016)
Submissions of written evidence sought by 22 January 2016 - Scottish government urged to reconsider criminalisation of forced marriage
News (10/01/2016)
Support groups see drop in referrals since the legislation - Irish High Court judgment changes understanding of priority of proceedings under EU Brussels II
News (08/01/2016)
‘Lodged’ means ‘delivery to the court’ and not ‘issue’ - Mediation public information materials published
News (06/01/2016) - DoE publishes findings of special guardianship review
News (06/01/2016)
Report highlights need for proper assessment at the start of each case