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2019 News Archive

• First couples enter into opposite sex civil partnerships
  News (31/12/2019)
  Civil partnership ceremonies begin today
• Marriage and civil partnership in England and Wales
  News (16/12/2019)
  
• New care applications received by Cafcass fell 9 per cent in November
  News (15/12/2019)
  
• New private law cases received by Cafcass in November about the same as a year ago
  News (15/12/2019)
  
• ‘Online legal advisors give parents biased and potentially damaging advice’
  News (13/12/2019)
  Research assesses McKenzie Friends’ Facebook threads
• Born into care: guidelines to be developed for health and social work professionals
  News (13/12/2019)
  Rapid evidence review and case law review published by the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory
• Average time for care case to reach first disposal now 33 weeks
  News (13/12/2019)
  Domestic violence applications up by 23 per cent
• Social Work and Human Rights guides launched by BASW
  News (13/12/2019)
  Publications mark Human Rights Day on 10th December 2019
• Manders win race adoption case
  News (06/12/2019)
  Judge finds ‘direct discrimination on the grounds of race’
• Domestic abuse survivors twice at risk of long-term illnesses
  News (06/12/2019)
  Study by the Universities of Birmingham and Warwick published
• Transparency order templates
  News (06/12/2019)
  
• Risks facing children in care must be addressed: The Children’s Society
  News (06/12/2019)
  
• Number of children in care rises as adoptions fall
  News (06/12/2019)
  DfE statistics released for year to 31 March 2019
• New SRA Standards and Regulations now in force
  News (01/12/2019)
  
• 140 children’s organisations urge political leaders to solve social problems that leave children ‘scarred for life’
  News (01/12/2019)
  
• Working group identifies main barriers causing medical expert shortages
  News (01/12/2019)
  President’s Working Group on Medical Experts in the Family Courts publishes report for consultation
• Ten per cent fall in divorce rate driven by administrative backlog
  News (01/12/2019)
  90,871 divorces of opposite-sex couples in 2018
• Parents found guilty in Ireland's first FGM trial
  News (01/12/2019)
  
• European Parliament adopts resolution assessing the many challenges children and youth face
  News (01/12/2019)
  
• Almost 2.5 million in England and Wales experienced domestic abuse in last year
  News (25/11/2019)
  ONS publishes stattistics on domestic abuse in England and Wales for year ending March 2019
• Conservatives will pilot integrated domestic abuse courts for criminal and family matters
  News (24/11/2019)
  Manifesto published
• Financial Remedies Courts: Structure document and Good Practice Protocol published
  News (22/11/2019)
  
• Labour promises ‘wholesale review of care system’
  News (22/11/2019)
  Domestic abuse and ‘no fault’ divorce legislation included in manifesto
• Marriage between woman and trans man is void
  News (21/11/2019)
  Gender Recognition Certificate had not been obtained at date of ceremony
• Victims and survivors of domestic abuse let down by fragmented system in Wales
  News (21/11/2019)
  Auditor General finds that information on prevalence is unreliable
• 'Support for child victims of domestic abuse: patchy, piecemeal and precarious'
  News (21/11/2019)
  New Action for Children report published
• Lib Dem manifesto commits to ‘no-fault’ divorce
  News (21/11/2019)
  
• Research on the effect of the PLO and Re B-S on care proceedings published
  News (20/11/2019)
  
• ‘A third of married couples do not know about pension sharing on divorce’
  News (17/11/2019)
  
• Manx government consults on ‘no fault’ divorce legislation
  News (17/11/2019)
  Bill based on Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill
• Number of children in foster care rises by 3 per cent over last year
  News (14/11/2019)
  Almost 55,000 children and young people placed with foster carers
• Child abuse linked to witchcraft rises by a third, councils reveal
  News (14/11/2019)
  
• New care applications received by Cafcass fall slightly in October
  News (13/11/2019)
  
• New private law cases received by Cafcass in October rose by 9 per cent year-on-year
  News (13/11/2019)
  
• Practice Guidance: Placements in unregistered children’s homes in England or unregistered care home services in Wales
  News (13/11/2019)
  
• Russian billionaire succeeds in having wife’s MFPA Pt III claim dismissed
  News (10/11/2019)
  If claim allowed, there would be 'no limit to divorce tourism'
• ‘Worrying shortfall’ in district bench recruitment will have adverse consequences for family cases
  News (09/11/2019)
  Lord Chief Justice publishes annual report
• First registrations of opposite-sex civil partnerships set for New Year’s Eve
  News (07/11/2019)
  Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) Regulations 2019 approved by Lords
• Family conflict and hardship driving increased pressure on child protection services
  News (07/11/2019)
  Domestic violence, substance misuse and offending causing rise in demand for child protection
• Domestic Abuse and Divorce Bills fall on dissolution of Parliament
  News (07/11/2019)
  
• Britain’s Children’s Commissioners call for UNCRC to be incorporated into domestic law
  News (07/11/2019)
  Assessment of children’s rights marks thirtieth anniversary of UNCRC
• Tort of deceit can exist between husband and wife
  News (03/11/2019)
  Claims ‘fundamentally incompatible’ with Court’s consideration of MCA s25
• Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Legal Aid for Separated Children) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2019
  News (01/11/2019)
  
• Domestic Abuse Bill and Divorce Bill to fall on dissolution of Parliament
  News (01/11/2019)
  
• ‘Bedroom tax’ unlawfully discriminates against domestic violence victims
  News (01/11/2019)
  European Court of Human Rights delivers judgment
• New play addresses adoption, homelessness, mental disability, mental ill-health and transgender issues
  News (01/11/2019)
  University of Gloucestershire, 4 December 2019
• President’s Guidance as to reporting in the Family Courts
  Judgments (01/11/2019)
  
• ‘Justice should be devolved to Wales’
  News (27/10/2019)
  Commission on Justice in Wales publishes report
• Supreme Court judgment due as to use of inherent jurisdiction to order summary re-location
  News (27/10/2019)
  
• Privy Council to give judgment in Jersey financial provision case
  Judgments (27/10/2019)
  
• ‘Government needs to do more to improve the welfare of separated families’
  News (27/10/2019)
  Social Security Advisory Committee publishes report
• New support for young people leaving care
  News (27/10/2019)
  
• Separated migrant children given better access to legal aid
  News (27/10/2019)
  
• CSA caseload reduced by 200,000 from March to June 2019
  News (18/10/2019)
  
• Crown Prosecution Service expands its guidance on FGM
  News (18/10/2019)
  
• Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments (Civil and Family) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
  News (17/10/2019)
  
• Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill policy documents updated
  News (17/10/2019)
  
• New government support for adoptive families
  News (17/10/2019)
  
• Number of newborn babies in care proceedings has doubled in Wales since 2015
  News (17/10/2019)
  Nuffield Family Justice Observatory publishes new report
• Support for victims of domestic abuse in safe accommodation
  News (17/10/2019)
  Government publishes response to consultation
• The Queen's Speech Reintroduces Domestic Abuse Bill and Divorce Bill
  News (14/10/2019)
  The Queen says Britain will leave the EU on October 31st and details new bills.
• Civil partnership registrations rise for third consecutive year
  News (11/10/2019)
  Dissolutions fall by a quarter
• New care applications received by Cafcass in September fell by 5 per cent
  News (11/10/2019)
  New applications down in each of the last eleven months
• New private law cases received by Cafcass in September rose by 11 per cent year-on-year
  News (11/10/2019)
  
• Proportion of births in E & W to mothers born outside the UK falls for the first time since 1990
  News (10/10/2019)
  One in three children born in E & W had at least one parent born outside the UK
• Kinship care in crisis, finds Grandparents Plus
  News (10/10/2019)
  State of the Nation Survey 2019 published
• Getting divorced if there is a no-deal Brexit
  News (10/10/2019)
  
• HHJ Gaynor Lloyd appointed as Designated Family Judge for North Wales
  News (10/10/2019)
  
• Scottish Civil Partnership Bill introduced
  News (06/10/2019)
  
• No age limit: older people and domestic abuse
  News (06/10/2019)
  Age UK publishes report
• BASW publishes responses to Public and Private Law Interim Reports
  News (06/10/2019)
  
• New support for foster families to overcome trauma
  News (06/10/2019)
  Practical and emotional support from communities of foster carers to boost their resilience
• Commons debates Child Maintenance Service’s performance in recovering payments
  News (06/10/2019)
  
• Domestic Abuse Bill receives second reading
  News (06/10/2019)
  Bill carried over into next parliamentary session
• Child Maintenance Service managing nearly half a million arrangements
  News (27/09/2019)
  
• Supreme Court considers parental responsibility and deprivation of liberty
  News (26/09/2019)
  Majority decide parental responsibility cannot authorise a violation of a child’s fundamental human right
• Mediation starts increase 22 per cent on a year ago
  News (26/09/2019)
  MIAMs up 14 per cent
• Second reading of Domestic Abuse Bill set for 2 October
  News (26/09/2019)
  
• Care proceedings now taking 33 weeks to first disposal
  News (26/09/2019)
  Average time from divorce petition to decree nisi increases by five weeks
• ALC Upcoming Newcomer Award 2019
  News (26/09/2019)
  
• Supreme Court judgment in deprivation of liberty case to be promulgated on 26 September
  News (22/09/2019)
  16-year-old lacked capacity to make decisions about his residence and care
• Contacts to NSPCC helpline rise 12 per cent
  News (22/09/2019)
  
• Register our Marriage campaigns for equality for unregistered faith marriages
  News (22/09/2019)
  
• New funding to protect child abuse victims and track down offenders
  News (19/09/2019)
  
• UK's first Domestic Abuse Commissioner announced
  News (19/09/2019)
  
• Proportion of population who are married continues to decline
  News (15/09/2019)
  
• 6,000 became homeless in three months following domestic abuse
  News (15/09/2019)
  Women’s Aid publishes No Woman Turned Away report 2019
• Support for family and friends carers looking after children
  News (15/09/2019)
  Research briefing financial and other help available
• Annual CPS Violence against Women and Girls report published
  News (15/09/2019)
  
• Domestic Abuse Bill to be re-introduced in next Queen’s Speech
  News (15/09/2019)
  Number of people killed in domestic violence incidents in UK at highest level in five years
• Resolution responds to news that Divorce Bill will be dropped
  News (15/09/2019)
  Numerous family law-related private members’ bills fail following prorogation
• New care applications received by Cafcass in August fell by 11 per cent
  News (15/09/2019)
  New applications down in each of the last ten months
• New private law cases received by Cafcass in August decreased by 3 per cent year-on-year
  News (15/09/2019)
  
• 104 new Family Recorders appointed
  News (06/09/2019)
  159 new Recorders appointed
• Commons debates EU settlement scheme in relation to looked after children and care leavers
  News (06/09/2019)
  Commons Library publishes information pack
• Nagalro raises concern about Cafcass undermining the role of Children’s Guardians
  News (05/09/2019)
  
• Civil Justice Council launches consultation on vulnerable witnesses and parties in civil proceedings
  News (05/09/2019)
  
• Family Justice Council has a vacancy for a Family Private Law Solicitor
  News (05/09/2019)
  
• Scottish Government publishes Children Bill
  News (05/09/2019)
  Modernisation strategy published for family justice
• President's Public Law Working Group: Consultation
  News (05/09/2019)
  
• Judge rules doctors can perform emergency C-section if woman loses capacity
  News (03/09/2019)
  Mr Justice Hayden grants permission for doctors to perform caesarean on bipolar patient should she lose capacity during labour.
• Jacky Tiotto joins Cafcass as new Chief Executive
  News (02/09/2019)
  
• Are online divorces used as a marital cry for help?
  News (30/08/2019)
  FOI request indicates that fewer online divorces proceed to final decree than paper petitions
• Council failed to carry out works promised as part of care order: Ombudsman's report
  News (29/08/2019)
  Family left in overcrowded conditions for more than a decade
• Legal aid: updated exceptional case funding form
  News (29/08/2019)
  
• 107,000 children under 16 applied under the EU settlement scheme in last 10 months
  News (27/08/2019)
  Migration statistics from the Home Office
• Family Law Week Editor Brendan Farrell Passes Away
  News (19/08/2019)
  
• Mental health services fail to ask women about their experience of domestic abuse
  News (18/08/2019)
  Report published by Agenda
• Pension cap exception may benefit divorcing pension holders
  News (18/08/2019)
  
• Recent parliamentary research briefings of interest to family lawyers
  News (18/08/2019)
  
• New care applications received by Cafcass in July fell slightly
  News (18/08/2019)
  New applications down in each of the last nine months
• New private law cases received by Cafcass in July increased by 18 per cent year-on-year
  News (18/08/2019)
  
• Child-parent abuse doubled in three years, according to police records
  News (11/08/2019)
  Prosecutions fell by 36 per cent over the same period
• Launch of Deputy High Court s9(4) support programme 2019
  News (11/08/2019)
  
• No-fault divorce is ‘a marriage-wreckers charter’: Christian Institute
  News (09/08/2019)
  
• Children at risk of sexual exploitation need better support: report
  News (09/08/2019)
  Children constantly moved around social care system are more likely to be vulnerable to CSE
• Cohabiting couple families continue to grow faster than married couple and lone parent families
  News (08/08/2019)
  Number of same-sex couple families has grown by more than 50 per cent in three years
• Guernsey consultation finds significant desire for divorce law change
  News (04/08/2019)
  
• Law banning triple talaq challenged in Indian courts
  News (04/08/2019)
  
• Reform special guardianship to protect and support children and carers, says new review
  News (04/08/2019)
  ‘SGOs provide children with a safe, permanent home,’ concludes review
• Number of older children going into care is damaging stability of the system
  News (04/08/2019)
  Number of teenagers in care has risen by 21 per cent in five years
• Annual FGM statistics released
  News (27/07/2019)
  Local Government Association calls for renewal of National FGM Centre’s funding
• Separated migrant children to access legal aid more easily
  News (25/07/2019)
  Draft legislation amending LASPO laid
• Robert Buckland QC appointed Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
  News (25/07/2019)
  
• Submitting a legal aid claim in civil and family cases: guidance
  News (25/07/2019)
  
• Lord Reed appointed next President of Supreme Court
  News (25/07/2019)
  Three new Justices also appointed
• President offers ‘profound thanks’ to all involved in the family justice system
  News (25/07/2019)
  
• Rise in knives and blades found at London family courts
  News (21/07/2019)
  Thousands of knives and sharp objects confiscated annually
• Consultation concerning treatment of Calderbank offers when determining issues relating to costs
  News (19/07/2019)
  Responses sought by 31 October 2019
• Domestic abuse in rural areas
  News (19/07/2019)
  National Rural Crime Network report reveals “a shocking picture”
• Child abduction: accredited solicitors referral list
  News (19/07/2019)
  
• Effectiveness of the Child Maintenance Service
  News (19/07/2019)
  Parliament holds Westminster Hall debate
• Pensions: civil partnerships and same sex marriages
  News (19/07/2019)
  
• Legal Aid Agency makes family case planning change
  News (19/07/2019)
  
• Domestic Abuse Bill introduced to Parliament
  News (19/07/2019)
  Plans also announced to support asylum seekers suffering domestic abuse
• Assessing risk of harm to children and parents in private law children cases
  News (19/07/2019)
  Public call for evidence issued by Ministry of Justice
• New private law cases received by Cafcass in June increased by 9 per cent year-on-year
  News (14/07/2019)
  
• Government sets out next steps for opposite-sex civil partnerships
  News (14/07/2019)
  Consultation document includes right to convert from marriage to civil partnership
• Courts and Tribunals (Online Procedure) Bill due to receive Commons second reading on 16 July
  News (14/07/2019)
  Bill will simplify process for online divorce
• Councils can investigate parents’ complaints without consent of minors
  News (12/07/2019)
  Ombudsman clarifies local authority’s obligation
• Refuge awarded grant to run National Domestic Violence Helpline
  News (12/07/2019)
  
• New care applications received by Cafcass in June fell by 5 per cent
  News (12/07/2019)
  New applications down in each of the last eight months
• Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019
  News (08/07/2019)
  
• ‘Important details in Divorce Bill must be addressed to ensure it is clear, fair and accessible’
  News (07/07/2019)
  Law Society submits written evidence to Bill Committee
• Court Fees (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2019
  News (05/07/2019)
  
• Law Commission begins work on marriage law reform
  News (05/07/2019)
  Final report expected in two years
• Children in care to be helped into independent schools
  News (04/07/2019)
  
• Council admits unlawful practice in turning away homeless children from care
  News (04/07/2019)
  Essex County Council breaches duty under Children Act section 20
• Social workers concerned about child confidentiality in family court reporting
  News (04/07/2019)
  BASW publishes response to draft guidance on reporting in the Family Courts
• Consultation: Children Cases in the Family Court – Interim Proposals for Reform
  News (03/07/2019)
  Closing date for responses: 30 September 2019
• The Pension Advisory Group guide to treatment of pensions on divorce published
  News (02/07/2019)
  
• 82 per cent of parents in contact with Child Maintenance Options had an arrangement within six months
  News (29/06/2019)
  45,500 parents contacted Child Maintenance Options between August and October 2018
• Law Commission review launched into marriage ceremonies in England and Wales
  News (29/06/2019)
  Two-year project will review the current laws
• Female BAME domestic violence victims ‘being failed’ in Manchester
  News (28/06/2019)
  Report from Sisters For Change and The Manchester Maya Project analyses local authority responses
• MIAMs increased 9 per cent in last quarter year-on-year
  News (28/06/2019)
  Mediation starts up by 10 per cent
• Care proceedings taking, on average, 33 weeks to first disposal
  News (28/06/2019)
  New cases started in family courts in last quarter up 5 per cent on a year ago
• Applications and orders for domestic violence remedies at ten-year high
  News (27/06/2019)
  7,180 applications made between January and March 2019
• Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill receives second reading
  News (27/06/2019)
  Committee stage due to be completed by 4 July
• Laws around taking, making and sharing intimate images without consent to be reviewed
  News (26/06/2019)
  ‘Revenge pornography’ legislation under consideration
• Family Justice Panel update
  News (22/06/2019)
  Representatives named to gather evidence on how family courts protect children and parents in domestic abuse cases
• Whitehall’s paralysis is letting down Children in Need: Children’s Commissioner
  News (22/06/2019)
  ‘The next Government must look seriously at the life chances of vulnerable children’
• President of the Family Division’s Working Group on Medical Experts in Family Proceedings: Symposium on 4 July
  News (22/06/2019)
  
• Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill scheduled for second reading on 25 June 2019
  News (21/06/2019)
  Nuffield Foundation publishes briefing note
• Financial Remedies Courts project extended to eight new zones
  News (21/06/2019)
  
• President issues guidance on forms of order in children cases
  News (18/06/2019)
  
• New care applications received by Cafcass in May fell by 11 per cent
  News (16/06/2019)
  
• New private law cases received by Cafcass in May up by 8 per cent year-on-year
  News (16/06/2019)
  
• Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill introduced
  News (14/06/2019)
  
• Draft Domestic Abuse Bill report published by Joint Committee
  News (14/06/2019)
  Greater protection needed for victims of domestic abuse
• Vulnerable children removed from foster carers who wanted to adopt them
  News (14/06/2019)
  Ombudsman asks local authority to apologise
• CPS issues statement clarifying decision-making on sexual offence cases
  News (14/06/2019)
  Coalition issues judicial review proceedings against CPS
• Significant numbers of children are denied their statutory right to advocacy: Children’s Commissioner
  News (14/06/2019)
  Local authorities should have a clear strategy for providing advocacy services
• New Official Solicitor and Public Trustee appointed
  News (12/06/2019)
  
• Study Links Domestic Violence And Mental Illness Risks
  News (10/06/2019)
  Women who experience domestic violence more likely to develop serious mental health issues.
• Number Of Children In Secure Homes Drops
  News (10/06/2019)
  Department For Education numbers reveal drop in number of children accommodated in secure children's homes.
• Court Rules Youth At Grave Risk From Gang Violence Cannot Be Placed Into Secure Accommodation
  News (10/06/2019)
  Sir Justice MacDonald rules that the court does not have the power to remove the 17 year old from his mother's care without her consent.
• Law Commission Calls For Court To Be Removed From Surrogacy Arrangements
  News (09/06/2019)
  Law Commission brands current laws "outdated"
• Family lawyers call for independent inquiry into treatment of domestic abuse in family courts
  News (29/05/2019)
  12 weeks is insufficient for proper evaluation, says group
• Forced Marriage Unit sees cases rise by 47 per cent
  News (29/05/2019)
  Increase does not necessarily represent a rise in the prevalence of forced marriage
• Legal aid: change of process in family high cost cases from 3 June 2019
  News (29/05/2019)
  
• Immigration policy on assessing age of young asylum seekers found to be unlawful
  News (28/05/2019)
  Policy risks children being unlawfully detained as adults
• Jacky Tiotto announced as new Cafcass Chief Executive
  News (28/05/2019)
  
• Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc) Act 2019 comes into force
  News (28/05/2019)
  
• Interim Guidance on Special Guardianship applications
  News (28/05/2019)
  Guidance addresses cases where an extension beyond 26-week time limit is sought
• Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019 becomes law
  News (19/05/2019)
  
• Thousands of new foster families needed this year
  News (19/05/2019)
  
• Courts and Tribunals (Online Procedure) Bill receives second reading
  News (19/05/2019)
  
• Government’s plans for domestic abuse do not reflect scale of the issue
  News (19/05/2019)
  ADCS President calls for ‘public health style’ response
• ‘Nearly 1,500 children in England are locked up by the state’: Children’s Commissioner
  News (19/05/2019)
  ‘A third of a billion a year is spent on 1,465 children’
• New care applications received by Cafcass in April fell by 2 per cent
  News (15/05/2019)
  
• New private law cases received by Cafcass in April up by 7 per cent year-on-year
  News (15/05/2019)
  
• Domestic abuse: Government unveils new support for survivors
  News (13/05/2019)
  
• View from the President’s Chambers: May 2019
  News (12/05/2019)
  
• Courts and Tribunals (Online Procedure) Bill
  News (10/05/2019)
  Second reading due 14 May
• Council criticised for failing to support vulnerable children cared under SGO
  News (10/05/2019)
  Remedies agreed with local authority not implemented
• ‘Children’s services at breaking point’: Commons Select Committee
  News (10/05/2019)
  Increased funding and systemic change needed
• Government response to Select Committee’s domestic abuse report published
  News (10/05/2019)
  
• New programme to protect children at risk of exploitation
  News (10/05/2019)
  
• Research finds missing children are being let down
  News (10/05/2019)
  ‘Opportunities to safeguard children missing from home or care are being missed by councils’
• Positive feedback for video hearings tested in domestic abuse cases
  News (10/05/2019)
  Testing will continue and be independently evaluated
• President releases draft guidance on reporting in the Family Courts
  News (10/05/2019)
  Transparency Review to be established
• ECF evidence requirements for separated migrant children
  News (10/05/2019)
  Applications no longer need to be supported by detailed evidence
• ‘Expert witness pay freeze endangers most vulnerable children,’ says Nagalro
  News (29/04/2019)
  ‘System should not be based on exploiting professionals’ goodwill’
• The World Congress on Family Law and Children’s Rights: Call for Papers
  News (28/04/2019)
  8th Conference to be held in Singapore in July 2020
• Private pension wealth 'biggest asset in millionaires’ divorces'
  News (25/04/2019)
  Succession Wealth analyses ONS data
• Mother of murder victim calls for domestic abuse register
  News (25/04/2019)
  
• Legal aid changes to streamline family work
  News (18/04/2019)
  New approach from 19 April 2019
• Separated families in GB number 2.5 million
  News (17/04/2019)
  DWP publishes estimate for child maintenance purposes
• Legal Aid Agency guidance on interpreters at court clarified
  News (17/04/2019)
  
• Jurisdiction and Judgments (Family) (Amendment etc) (EU Exit) (No 2) Regulations 2019
  News (11/04/2019)
  
• Settlement conferences pilot evaluation published
  News (11/04/2019)
  Participants see potential for settlement conferences to be ‘positive and less adversarial way’ to resolve family cases
• Human Rights Committee probes Government on Draft Domestic Abuse Bill
  News (11/04/2019)
  Chair writes to Ministers responsible for the Bill
• Outcomes for children looked after by local authorities: 31 March 2018
  News (11/04/2019)
  
• New projects funded to strengthen families and keep children out of care
  News (11/04/2019)
  DfE announces £84 million investment to mark 30th anniversary of Children Act
• New care applications received by Cafcass in March fell by nearly 10 per cent
  News (11/04/2019)
  New applications have fallen by almost 5 per cent over the last year
• New private law cases received by Cafcass in March rose by 18 per cent
  News (11/04/2019)
  Highest March demand on record
• Government confirms introduction of no-fault divorce
  News (09/04/2019)
  Six-month minimum timeframe to allow for reflection and better future planning
• Sir Andrew McFarlane addresses Resolution Conference on ‘Interesting Times’
  News (07/04/2019)
  
• ‘No weight given’ to pre-nuptial agreement in divorce of cosmetics heiress
  News (05/04/2019)
  Mostyn J awards husband £1.3 million
• Nuffield Foundation appoints Board and Director of the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory
  News (04/04/2019)
  New data partnership established to examine how the family justice system is working
• Children: surrogacy – single people and parental orders: Research briefing
  News (04/04/2019)
  
• Staffordshire residents deprived of liberty without proper assessment
  News (04/04/2019)
  Thousands of vulnerable people may have been treated unlawfully: Ombudsman
• Legal Aid Agency publishes updated Guidance on Remuneration of Expert Witnesses
  News (04/04/2019)
  
• Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill
  News (04/04/2019)
  Government responds to reports by Human Rights Committee
• High Court’s new judicial assistant scheme
  News (04/04/2019)
  
• Legal aid granted on basis of domestic or child abuse evidence rose by 16 per cent in last quarter
  News (31/03/2019)
  Family legal aid expenditure fell slightly to £137 million
• MIAMs increased by 4 per cent in last quarter of 2018
  News (31/03/2019)
  Flattening in the trend of declining mediations and MIAMs
• Family law disputes involving EU after Brexit: guidance for public
  News (31/03/2019)
  
• Family law disputes involving EU after Brexit: guidance for legal professionals
  News (31/03/2019)
  
• Practical Handbook on the Operation of the 1996 Hague Child Protection Convention
  News (29/03/2019)
  Now available online in 24 languages
• Legal Aid Agency publishes updated guidance on Family High Cost Cases
  News (29/03/2019)
  
• Parliamentary inquiry launched into ‘sent away’ children
  News (29/03/2019)
  ‘Record numbers of children go missing after being farmed out to distant children’s homes’
• Man sentenced for controlling and coercive behaviour against mother
  News (29/03/2019)
  
• New cases in the family courts rose by 3 per cent in 2018
  News (29/03/2019)
  Care cases took 30 weeks to first disposal
• Marriage rate rose slightly in 2016
  News (29/03/2019)
  Nearly 250,000 marriages in England and Wales
• Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc) Act 2019 receives Royal Assent
  News (29/03/2019)
  
• Government withdraws ‘myth busting’ document after legal challenge
  News (24/03/2019)
  Article 39 ‘delighted that children’s rights have prevailed’
• Troubled Families Programme has improved outcomes for families and helped reform local services
  News (24/03/2019)
  Evaluation of Programme published
• Stalking Protection Act 2019 receives Royal Assent
  News (21/03/2019)
  
• Pension Advisory Group: An update of activities
  News (21/03/2019)
  
• Brexit Secretary responds to Children’s Commissioners’ ‘No Deal’ concerns
  News (21/03/2019)
  ‘Arrangements are in place to ensure protection of children when UK leaves the EU’
• Effective co-parenting is key to keeping children out of the courts: Cafcass
  News (21/03/2019)
  “Public health approach would help prevent cases from reaching crisis point”
• Children Act 1989 (Amendment) (Female Genital Mutilation) Act 2019 comes into force
  News (19/03/2019)
  
• No fault divorce is consistent with international trends
  News (18/03/2019)
  Nuffield Foundation research seeks to inform MoJ consultation
• 100 years in Law – a celebration of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919
  News (18/03/2019)
  
• 80 per cent of parents in contact with Child Maintenance Options had an arrangement within 6 months
  News (15/03/2019)
  41,800 parents contacted Child Maintenance Options between May and July 2018
• Commons approves amendments to Civil Partnerships Bill
  News (15/03/2019)
  Regulations to be introduced by end of year
• Jurisdiction and Judgments (Family) (Amendment etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
  News (15/03/2019)
  
• New care applications received by Cafcass in February fall by 16 per cent
  News (15/03/2019)
  Cafcass considers monthly figure to be an ‘outlier’
• New private law cases received by Cafcass in February rose by 20 per cent
  News (15/03/2019)
  Highest February demand since 2013
• Olly Sheridan found
  News (15/03/2019)
  
• Civil Partnership and Marriage (Same Sex Couples) (Jurisdiction and Judgments) (Amendment etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
  News (11/03/2019)
  
• Women’s Aid responds to government’s ending violence against women and girls strategy
  News (10/03/2019)
  Refreshed strategy published “to re-affirm government’s commitments”
• Mother convicted of FGM sentenced to eleven years imprisonment for the offence
  News (08/03/2019)
  Further two years to be served for other offences
• Man jailed for controlling and coercive behaviour and beating pregnant girlfriend
  News (08/03/2019)
  Three year sentence imposed
• Family Procedure Rules 2010 and Court of Protection Rules 2017 (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
  News (08/03/2019)
  
• Planned court reforms need an additional year
  News (08/03/2019)
  Proposed finish date of the programme is 2023
• Civil Partnerships Bill returned to House of Commons to consider amendments
  News (08/03/2019)
  
• Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
  News (07/03/2019)
  
• Government pledges support for male victims of domestic abuse
  News (07/03/2019)
  Position paper published supplementing VAWG strategy
• Supreme Court grants permission to appeal in Villiers v Villiers
  News (04/03/2019)
  Case concerns jurisdiction between England and Wales, and Scotland in maintenance proceedings
• Speech by Mostyn J on spousal maintenance published
  News (03/03/2019)
  
• Police response to victims of domestic abuse continues to improve
  News (03/03/2019)
  Improvements found in how the police identify, respond to and support victims
• Compensation scheme opened up for more victims of child sexual abuse
  News (03/03/2019)
  ‘Same-roof’ rule of criminal injury compensation scheme to be abolished
• Children’s Commissioner calls for improved safeguarding of children in gangs
  News (03/03/2019)
  Study published on children in England who are gang members
• Children Act 1989 (Amendment) (Female Genital Mutilation) Bill proceeds to committee stage
  News (01/03/2019)
  NHS publishes latest FGM figures for England
• Scotland gives more help to child witnesses of domestic abuse
  News (01/03/2019)
  Amendment to Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Bill proposed
• Grants given to support victims of domestic abuse in family courts
  News (01/03/2019)
  Personal Support Unit and Citizens Advice Witness Service share £900K
• 2010 practice guidance on McKenzie Friends 'should be updated and reissued'
  News (27/02/2019)
  Judicial Executive Board ‘deeply concerned about the proliferation of McKenzie Friends’
• The new state pension: transitional issues
  News (27/02/2019)
  
• Charity launches legal challenge to protect vulnerable children and young people
  News (24/02/2019)
  Article 39 seeks removal of ‘myth busting’ guide
• Civil Partnerships Bill report stage scheduled for 1 March
  News (24/02/2019)
  
• Child Support Agency no longer has any cases requiring payment of on-going child maintenance
  News (24/02/2019)
  
• High Court clarifies internet access for vulnerable people
  News (22/02/2019)
  Guidance given in respect of persons who lack mental capacity to use the platforms
• Domestic violence and abuse: help available from DWP
  News (22/02/2019)
  
• Children’s Commissioners seek assurances on issues facing children after Brexit
  News (22/02/2019)
  Four Commissioners write to the Brexit Minister
• Private donors raise £280K to fund FDAC national unit
  News (17/02/2019)
  
• Family Procedure Rules 2010 and Court of Protection Rules 2017 (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
  News (17/02/2019)
  
• Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill receives third reading in Commons
  News (17/02/2019)
  Bill returns to Lords for consideration of Commons’ amendments
• Pensions: civil partnerships and same sex marriages
  News (17/02/2019)
  
• Council did not do enough to protect toddler from harm: Ombudsman
  News (17/02/2019)
  Child left with life-long injuries after opportunities missed to protect him
• Information about the Reducing Parental Conflict programme
  News (17/02/2019)
  DWP publishes guidance collating all resources for LAs and stakeholders
• New care applications received by Cafcass in January down 10 per cent
  News (17/02/2019)
  1,051 new care applications during January
• 3,636 new private law cases received during January by Cafcass
  News (17/02/2019)
  Third highest January figures on record
• Government urged to reform overly complex divorce system
  News (09/02/2019)
  ‘Current system can fuel conflict and disadvantages litigants in person’
• Human Rights Committee begins inquiry into children whose mothers are in prison
  News (08/02/2019)
  
• Family law disputes involving EU after Brexit
  News (08/02/2019)
  Government issues guidance for parties
• Female genital mutilation: resource pack produced
  News (08/02/2019)
  
• Resolution welcomes government commitment on no fault divorce
  News (08/02/2019)
  Justice Secretary pledges divorce law reform in next parliamentary session
• MoJ announces new legal aid strategy
  News (08/02/2019)
  SGO proceedings to qualify for legal aid
• Mr Justice Williams makes appeal for return of Olly Sheridan
  News (03/02/2019)
  
• Property regimes for international couples in Europe
  News (03/02/2019)
  New rules apply in 18 Member States
• Mother first to be convicted of FGM
  News (01/02/2019)
  First prosecution in England for failing to protect a person from FGM
• ‘Wellbeing of children in single parent families not negatively affected’: Gingerbread research
  News (01/02/2019)
  ‘Single parenthood is more common than typically reported’
• No-deal Brexit guidance: Practical recommendations for family law
  News (01/02/2019)
  Law Society and Resolution publish joint note
• Draft Domestic Abuse Bill: Select Committee seeks views
  News (31/01/2019)
  
• Slow decline in number of approved fostering households continues
  News (31/01/2019)
  Proportion of fostered young people Staying Put increases
• ALC publish study on Judicial Approaches in Settlement Conference Pilots in Children Cases
  News (26/01/2019)
  Findings do not support roll out of the procedure in its current form
• Visitors to Fosterline increase by 35 per cent
  News (25/01/2019)
  
• Addressing the ‘unsustainable’ workload in the family courts is Number One priority, says President
  News (25/01/2019)
  Meanwhile, some corners may need to be cut and time-limits exceeded
• Almost half of the public believe that common law marriage exists
  News (24/01/2019)
  Figures underline why a change in the law is so desperately needed: Resolution
• Call for evidence on the Mental Capacity Act 2005 Code of Practice
  News (24/01/2019)
  Government seeks to identify which aspects of the Code require revision
• Access to high-quality support for all vulnerable children by 2022 ‘a tall order’
  News (24/01/2019)
  Poor progress made in improving children’s social care services: National Audit Office
• Domestic abuse draft bill and consultation response published
  News (21/01/2019)
  Wide-ranging reforms proposed
• Draft Domestic Abuse Bill to be published
  News (20/01/2019)
  Government responds to consultation on proposals
• Civil Partnerships Bill proceeds to committee in House of Lords
  News (19/01/2019)
  Amendments to be laid before the House in committee
• Child maintenance: changes to powers of entry and information requests
  News (19/01/2019)
  DWP consults on proposed changes
• Private law cases received by Cafcass in December 2018 13 per cent up on a year ago
  News (18/01/2019)
  
• Care applications to Cafcass in December declined by 4 per cent on a year ago
  News (18/01/2019)
  975 new applications received
• Take the JLD resilience and wellbeing survey 2019
  News (13/01/2019)
  
• Forced marriage: victims will no longer have to pay repatriation costs
  News (13/01/2019)
  Foreign Secretary changes policy with immediate effect
• Civil Partnerships Bill due to receive second reading on 18 January
  News (13/01/2019)
  
• Children living with domestic violence must be treated as victims, says NSPCC
  News (13/01/2019)
  Quarter of a million children living with domestic violence in England
• Children’s social care: nine in ten councils pushed into the red
  News (13/01/2019)
  Local Government Association fears children’s services are ‘at a tipping point’
• New Queen’s Counsel announced
  News (11/01/2019)
  
• Only three in ten children with mental health problems receive NHS-funded treatment
  News (11/01/2019)
  Government must accelerate prevention and early intervention efforts: Public Accounts Committee
• Family Justice Council 12th Annual Debate: the use of covert recordings in family law
  News (06/01/2019)
  Transcript and podcast available
• Teens in care are being housed alone in B&Bs
  News (06/01/2019)
  Observer investigation finds increased use of ‘independent living arrangements’
• Parental orders under section 54 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008
  News (04/01/2019)
  Law amended to allow one person to apply for a parental order
• £2.7 million fund announced to tackle parental conflict
  News (04/01/2019)
  DWP looks for new initiatives to help families at risk of parental conflict
• British victims of forced marriages required to pay their rescue costs, The Times reports
  News (04/01/2019)
  Those unable to pay asked to sign loan agreements by Foreign Office
• Thirteen apply online for divorce on Christmas Day
  News (04/01/2019)
  455 online divorce applications received over Christmas period
• Mr Justice Moor appointed Family Division Liaison Judge for the Thames Valley Region
  News (04/01/2019)