News
All the news items published on Family Law Week this year are listed below. You can browse our news archive using the folders on the left.
- Law Society’s consultation response backs no-fault divorce
News (13/12/2018)
Law Society also calls for restoration of legal aid for separating couples - Care applications received by Cafcass in November slightly down on last year
News (13/12/2018)
1,214 new care applications received - Cafcass private law demand in November up 9 per cent on last year
News (13/12/2018)
4,111 new private law cases received - Mr Justice MacDonald appointed Family Division Liaison Judge for the Northern Circuit
News (13/12/2018)
Appointment effective from 1 February 2019 - Update to Compendium of Standard Orders: Amended Forced Marriage Orders
News (13/12/2018)
Note from Mr Justice Mostyn - European Council agrees more effective rules to resolve cross-border parental responsibility issues
News (09/12/2018)
Work will continue on finalising the text of the revised regulations - President’s Practice Guidance: Family Court – Anonymisation guidance
News (07/12/2018) - 925 newly recorded FGM cases in July to September 2018
News (07/12/2018)
Latest figures published by NHS Digital - Government commits to reform the Mental Health Act 1983
News (07/12/2018)
Final report of Independent Review of the MHA published - Violence against women and girls from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities examined
News (07/12/2018)
Commons Select Committee explores factors behind violence and abuse in GRT communities - Over 4 million children now live in poverty, finds Joseph Rowntree Foundation
News (07/12/2018)
Children’s Commissioner calls for halt to Universal Credit - Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2018
News (05/12/2018) - Report on Alternative Dispute Resolution published by Civil Justice Council
News (05/12/2018) - CoramBAAF commissioned to undertake a rapid review on Special Guardianship
News (02/12/2018)
Nuffield Family Justice Observatory seeks to support Family Justice Council’s revision of protocols - Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008 (Commencement No 16) Order 2018
News (30/11/2018) - Resolution calls for government to reform divorce law urgently
News (30/11/2018)
YouGov poll highlights public’s concerns about impact of divorce on children - FGM concerns in social work assessments double, councils say
News (30/11/2018)
National FGM Centre describes FGM figures as ‘alarming’ - Financial support for a child who is informally living with a claimant
News (29/11/2018)
Updated versions of form and guidance published - Judicial review guide 2018 published by Administrative Court
News (28/11/2018) - Sir Andrew McFarlane explains why he won’t use the word "Crisis"
News (26/11/2018)
Addressing the rise in public law cases is the President’s ‘Number One priority’ - Families ‘subject to thin, red line decisions’ should be diverted from the courts
News (25/11/2018)
Principle of ‘No Order’ should be more readily applied in children cases - 1.3 million women and 695,000 men experienced domestic abuse in last year
News (25/11/2018)
No significant change in prevalence of domestic abuse over last 12 months - Bedford couple’s support withdrawal highlights special guardianship concerns
News (22/11/2018)
Report echoes Ombudsman’s earlier call to learn from SGO complaints - Law Society publishes briefing on Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill
News (22/11/2018)
Bill scheduled for HoL report stage on 27 November 2018 - Government confirms it will introduce civil partnership legislation in next parliamentary session
News (22/11/2018)
Consultation will precede bill - Children’s mental health services in England: two new reports
News (22/11/2018)
Children’s Commissioner and NHS Digital publish analysis of CAMHS - Preventing and tackling forced marriage: Home Office consultation
News (16/11/2018)
Views of victims, survivors and experts sought - Number of looked after children rises and number of adoptions falls
News (16/11/2018)
Adoptions of looked after children decrease by 28 per cent in three years - Sir James Munby appointed Chair of the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory
News (16/11/2018) - Courts to pilot more flexible hours in family and civil cases
News (16/11/2018)
Two courts in Manchester and Brentford will run the pilots for six months - Increase in family law cases causing court backlogs: Lord Chief Justice
News (16/11/2018)
‘Still too few judges to absorb all of the increases in case volumes’ - Care applications received by Cafcass in October about 4% higher than last year
News (16/11/2018)
Demand for the year 2% less than last year - Cafcass private law demand in October up 6 per cent on last year
News (16/11/2018)
Demand for the year running at 2 per cent above last year - Improving access to social housing for victims of domestic abuse
News (12/11/2018)
Guidance follows consultation exercise - Family Procedure (Amendment No 2) Rules 2018
News (12/11/2018) - Law Society publishes guidance on what happens if there is a no-deal Brexit
News (12/11/2018)
Papers cover family law, legal services, civil and commercial co-operation and data protection - Committee stage of Divorce (Financial Provision) Bill scheduled for 23 November
News (11/11/2018) - Pension Advisory Group: Update
News (11/11/2018) - President’s Guidance: Addition to Compendium of Standard Family Orders
News (11/11/2018) - New report illustrates increasing challenges faced by children and families in an era of austerity
News (11/11/2018)
“Over 100 new duties have been placed on children’s services since 2011” - President explains judiciary’s expectations of expert witnesses in family law cases
News (11/11/2018)
Sir Andrew McFarlane addresses Bond Solon Experts Conference - Sharia court in Dubai dismisses application to enforce transfer of £350 million boat
News (11/11/2018)
English High Court orders ignored - Premarital cohabitation has short-term benefits and longer-term costs for marital stability
News (04/11/2018)
New American study published on cohabitation experience and association with marital breakdown - High Court hears that failed asylum seeker’s daughter is at FGM risk
News (04/11/2018)
Case ‘the first of its kind’ - The International Recovery of Maintenance (Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance 2007) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018
News (02/11/2018) - Labour Party confirms commitment ‘to return all funding for early legal advice’
News (02/11/2018)
House of Commons debates future of legal aid - Cornwall Council leaves homeless teenager in a tent
News (02/11/2018)
Ombudsman finds failings in council’s planning for young, homeless people - Government asks Law Commission to review weddings law
News (02/11/2018)
Law Commission’s scoping paper found the rules outdated - Financial Remedies Pilot extended to eight more court centres
News (02/11/2018) - 85% of parents with family-based child maintenance arrangement said it worked at least fairly well
News (02/11/2018)
Statistics released for February to April 2018 - Judiciary to receive a pay rise of 2 per cent
News (28/10/2018)
Review finds recruitment problems arising from deteriorating conditions of service - Ministry of Justice commits to care leaver covenant
News (28/10/2018) - Civil Partnerships Bill completes Commons stages
News (28/10/2018)
New clause requires government to bring equality between between same-sex and other couples - CFAB presents key findings from research at London event
News (28/10/2018)
Sir James Munby will speak on the challenges for child-centred social work practice across international borders - Guidance published on supporting media access to courts and tribunals
News (26/10/2018) - Civil Partnerships Bill reaches report stage
News (26/10/2018)
New clause requires government to bring equality between between same-sex and other couples - Foster carers forced to bear transport costs when child moved schools
News (26/10/2018)
Ombudsman finds that Gateshead Council should have provided free school transport - Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill ‘must be changed’, concludes Human Rights Committee
News (26/10/2018)
Definition of ‘deprivation of liberty’ needs to be clarified - Number of children in need rises by 4 per cent since last year
News (26/10/2018)
Number of child protection plans rises by 5 per cent - Home Affairs Committee urges Government to widen forthcoming Domestic Abuse Bill
News (22/10/2018)
Report recommends end to single Universal Credit payments - Pensions transferred by terminally ill woman liable to IHT, Court of Appeal rules
News (21/10/2018)
HMRC win appeal where divorcee sought to prevent husband receiving any of her pension - “Vulnerable children will be victims” of Government’s failure to provide clarity – House of Lords Committee
News (21/10/2018)
EU Justice Sub-Committee warns Government over family justice system after Brexit - FNF claims legal aid changes have caused increase in bogus domestic abuse claims
News (20/10/2018)
Organisation publishes review of trends in non-molestation orders - Many thousands of babies are living in households carrying very high risks: Children’s Commissioner
News (18/10/2018)
15,800 babies considered to be vulnerable or highly vulnerable are still living at home - Mrs Justice Theis appointed Senior Family Liaison Judge
News (18/10/2018) - 1,065 new care applications received by Cafcass in September
News (12/10/2018)
Applications 4 per cent down on a year ago - Private law cases received by Cafcass in September slightly down on a year ago
News (12/10/2018)
3,507 new private law cases during the month - Cafcass publishes new assessment framework for private law cases
News (12/10/2018)
All Cafcass practitioners to be trained to apply framework by March 2019 - International Recovery of Maintenance (Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance 2007) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018
News (11/10/2018)
Regulations to ensure that, after Brexit, UK may apply 2007 Hague Convention - Judge lambasts lack of secure accommodation
News (11/10/2018)
Case represents ‘yet another sorry example of the state failing a child in need’ - Number of care cases in respect of newborn babies has more than doubled in last decade
News (11/10/2018)
First ever national study of newborns in care proceedings published - All-Party Parliamentary Group sets out key requirements for Domestic Abuse Bill
News (09/10/2018)
New report calls for long-term, secure funding for specialist domestic abuse services - Inherent jurisdiction and deprivation of children’s liberty
News (09/10/2018)
President seeks to clarify the law - Banker’s wife may lose UK property worth £22 million
Judgments (08/10/2018)
High Court dismisses challenge to unexplained wealth order - Why not civil partnerships for siblings?
News (08/10/2018)
Private member’s bill due for committee consideration in House of Lords - Campaign launched to highlight harmful consequences of FGM
News (07/10/2018) - Government agrees to amend regulations to allow for legal aid certificates to be backdated
News (07/10/2018)
Concession made in litigation brought by Duncan Lewis Solicitors - Outgoing charity head bemoans lack of political leadership on forced marriage
News (07/10/2018)
Jasvinder Sanghera welcomes new proposals but remains sceptical of government’s commitment - New measures announced to combat forced marriage
News (06/10/2018)
Consultation will consider a duty on professionals to report forced marriage cases - DWP and Barnardo's collaborate to support care leavers into work
News (06/10/2018) - Resolution welcomes the government's civil partnership announcement
News (06/10/2018)
Basic legal rights urgently needed for cohabiting couples - Supreme Court of India declares criminal offence of adultery to be unconstitutional
Articles (30/09/2018)
Ordinance criminalising triple talaq challenged in court - 1,675 new FGM attendances in April to June 2018
News (30/09/2018)
Official statistics published by NHS - MIAMs in last quarter down a further seven per cent on a year ago
News (28/09/2018)
Mediation starts remain stable - Access to justice increasingly only for the few, Law Society warns ministers
News (28/09/2018)
Law Society publishes LASPO review submission - Duration of care proceedings now 30 weeks on average
News (28/09/2018)
Divorce petitions at their highest quarterly rate since 2013 - 630,000 children currently covered by Child Maintenance Service arrangements
News (28/09/2018)
Three-quarters of payments are by Direct Pay arrangements - Decrease in cases involving violence against women and girls over last year
News (28/09/2018)
But stalking and harassment cases rise significantly - Mr Justice Holman makes pound for pound order
News (24/09/2018)
Conduct described as “frankly, intolerable and an affront to justice” by judge - History to be made in the Supreme Court on 3 October
Judgments (24/09/2018) - Divorce rate falls by over half among newlyweds
News (23/09/2018)
‘This is a real good news story’: Sir Paul Coleridge, Marriage Foundation - ‘No deal’ Brexit papers: Handling family law cases that involve EU countries
News (23/09/2018)
Government explains how the rules for family law cases would change if UK leaves the EU with ‘no deal’ - Resolution heralds ‘landmark moment' for divorce law
News (23/09/2018) - New figures show welcome rise in men reporting domestic abuse to the police: ManKind Initiative
News (23/09/2018)
Reporting of incidents has doubled in five years - One in four children in need of protection who left the UK continued to be at risk of abuse or neglect
News (23/09/2018)
CFAB publishes new research into international children and families cases - Law Commission proposes radical reforms for leaseholds of houses and flats
News (20/09/2018)
Reforms designed to secure a better deal for leaseholders who want to purchase the freehold or to extend the lease of their home - Divorce law to be reformed
News (17/09/2018)
Focus to shift from “blame and recrimination” - “When a child won't see one parent”
News (15/09/2018)
Parental Alienation - “From inadequate to outstanding, from paper to cloud”
News (15/09/2018)
Insights into how Cafcass workers have harnessed use of new technology - Latest Private law children cases received
News (14/09/2018)
Cafcass figures published - Latest care order applications figures
News (14/09/2018)
Cafcass publishes latest Local Authority care order applications received statistics - System failing LGBT+ victims of domestic abuse, new report warns
News (11/09/2018)
LGBT+ victims almost twice as likely to have attempted suicide - ‘Significant rise’ in domestic abuse reports during the World Cup
News (09/09/2018)
239 domestic abuse calls linked to England’s fixtures - 40,100 family-based arrangements set up in year to January 2018 after speaking to Child Maintenance Options
News (09/09/2018)
92% still in place by March 2018 - Existing court powers must be used to boost mediation numbers: NFM
News (09/09/2018)
NFM publish submission to LASPO post-implementation review - Government to consult on no-fault divorce
News (09/09/2018)
Proposals will provide for a single ground for divorce of irretrievable breakdown - Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill would weaken DOLS: Law Society
News (07/09/2018)
Briefing states that the Bill ‘is not fit for purpose’ - Open letter urges withdrawal of key parts of new ‘myth busting’ guide about England’s care system
News (07/09/2018)
50 organisations and social work experts write to Children Minister - Deputy High Court Judges appointed
News (06/09/2018) - Denying bereavement benefits to unmarried partners with children is incompatible with ECHR
News (02/09/2018)
Supreme Court rules in favour of bereaved mother who was not married to her children’s father - Commons to hold debate on LASPO and the post-implementation review
News (27/08/2018)
Briefing prepared for the debate on 4 September - Two Family Justice Council vacancies
News (27/08/2018)
Family Mediator and a Parents’ and Relatives’ Interests member sought - Repatriation of victims of forced marriage: FOI release
News (26/08/2018) - Mr Justice Hayden appointed Vice-President of the Court of Protection
News (23/08/2018) - Overall ‘cost of a child’ is £150,753 for a couple
Judgments (21/08/2018)
CPAG’s Cost of a Child in 2018 report released - Institutional neglect: 50,000 children in care where council services are failing
News (19/08/2018)
Social Market Foundation accuses politicians of ignoring “silent crisis” in care services - ‘Cohabiting couples need basic legal protections’
News (19/08/2018)
Coalition of organisations raise awareness of ‘common law marriage myth’ - Man and woman charged with FGM of three-year-old girl
News (17/08/2018) - Domestic abuse victims increasingly refused right to remain in UK
News (17/08/2018)
FOI request reveals doubling of refusals between 2012 and 2016 - Number of civil partnerships grew slightly in 2017
News (17/08/2018)
Increase resulted from more civil partnerships between women - Financial order reforms set to help unfairly treated former partners and families
News (17/08/2018)
Government will seek to amend Family Procedure Rules - Divorcing couples admit to ‘exaggerating’ foul play
News (17/08/2018)
Slater and Gordon survey finds that 30 per cent ‘bend truth’ - LASPO changes may have disproportionately affected certain groups: LSB
News (12/08/2018)
Legal Services Board responds to MoJ review - Football used as scapegoat for domestic violence
News (10/08/2018)
Over-simplified reports risk trivialising the issue - Paediatricians as expert witnesses in the family courts: new guidance
News (10/08/2018)
Guide accompanies generic expert witness standards in Part 25 of the FPR - Government announces easier court entrance for legal professionals
News (10/08/2018)
Pilot will allow fast-track entry from September - 1,224 new care applications received by Cafcass in July
News (10/08/2018)
Applications 2 per cent down on a year ago - Private law cases received by Cafcass in July up 4 per cent on a year ago
News (10/08/2018)
3,768 new private law cases in the month - New phase of online divorce pilot launched
News (05/08/2018)
Testing should soon encompass entire process from petition to decree absolute - Williams J finds that Islamic marriage falls within Matrimonial Causes Act
News (05/08/2018)
Wife entitled to decree of nullity - Nagalro publishes guide to Cafcass's professional time guidance
News (05/08/2018)
Nagalro explains its action to secure change - 38,900 family-based arrangements made by parents following contact with CM Options
News (05/08/2018)
DWP publish statistics for February 2017 to January 2018 - Home Secretary promises to do more to prevent forced marriages
News (05/08/2018)
Sajid Javid condemns “despicable, inhumane, uncivilised practice" - Guidance regarding legal aid for unaccompanied and separated children
News (03/08/2018)
Applications should be made for Exceptional Case Funding - Support for children of alcohol dependent parents: guidance and application forms
News (03/08/2018) - Nominations open for the ALC’s Outstanding Children Law Newcomer
News (03/08/2018) - Asking ten “critical” questions before embarking on a serious relationship can help couples thrive
News (03/08/2018)
Exeter University’s questions based on key relationship attributes and skills - President’s Guidance: Children Arbitration in The Family Court
News (30/07/2018)
On 26 July 2018 President’s Guidance: Children Arbitration in The Family Court was published. - President’s Guidance: Addition to Compendium of Standard Family Orders
News (29/07/2018)
Three New orders added - Retirement of the President of the Family Division and Head of Family Justice for England and Wales: The Right Honourable Sir James Munby
News (29/07/2018)
Pioneering President retires - Strong reaction to the Supreme Court’s Judgment in Owens v Owens
News (25/07/2018)
Divorce law “Unfit for purpose” claims family lawyer - Supreme Court dismisses appeal in Owens v Owens
News (25/07/2018)
Clarification of the appropriate Inquiry for s.1(2)(b) MCA 1973 divorce petitions - The President of the Family Division issues Guidance on arrangements for adoption visits
News (24/07/2018)
Sir James Munby is troubled by indications that Guidance in relation to the arrangements for adoption visits is not always followed. - More must be done to protect women and girls from violence, equality body warns
News (23/07/2018)
Equality and Human Rights Commission submits report to UN - FGM Bill receives second reading
News (21/07/2018)
Bill would enable interim care orders in FGM cases - Public Accounts Committee has ‘little confidence’ in government’s court modernisation plans
News (20/07/2018)
Changes need ‘proper evaluation of their wider impact’ - Sir Andrew McFarlane receives Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year's Outstanding Achievement award
News (20/07/2018)
Tony McGovern, Martha Cover and Dan Rosenberg also win LALYs - New law designed to encourage first major reforms to divorce in 50 years
News (20/07/2018)
Divorce (etc) Law Review Bill introduced in House of Lords - Supreme Court to deliver judgment in Owens v Owens on 25 July
News (19/07/2018)
Court will address interpretation of section 1(2)(b) Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 - Bar Council launches ‘LASPO: 5 years on’ survey
News (19/07/2018)
Participation of the Family Bar sought - Accommodation under s 20 agreement was lawful without parents’ informed consent
News (18/07/2018)
Parents’ appeal fails in Supreme Court - Husband wins Supreme Court appeal against order to pay all wife’s rental costs
News (18/07/2018)
First instance judge was entitled to decline to vary periodical payments order - Court of Appeal determines issue of effective service of proceedings under Brussels IIa
News (15/07/2018)
Court invites Rule Committee to consider inclusion of additional obligations in FPR - Law firm pledges funds in effort to save FDAC National Unit
News (15/07/2018)
Call for other firms to donate - Supreme Court to deliver judgment on section 20 accommodation
News (15/07/2018)
Court of Appeal found no breach of Human Rights Act - Online note published on Habitual Residence and the Scope of the 1993 Hague Convention
News (15/07/2018)
Available in English, French and Spanish - Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Amendment) (Sibling Couples) Bill begins parliamentary passage
News (15/07/2018)
Second reading scheduled for 20 July - Commons to debate progress on protecting victims of domestic abuse in the family courts
News (15/07/2018)
House of Commons Library publishes research briefing - Supreme Court will deliver judgment in Mills v Mills on 18 July 2018
News (14/07/2018)
Court will consider applications to vary periodical payments orders under s.31(7) MCA - Commons Select Committee examines Domestic Abuse Bill
News (14/07/2018) - Government to proceed with new child maintenance compliance and arrears strategy
News (14/07/2018)
General approval from respondents for proposals in consultation document - Separated migrant children to be granted legal aid
News (14/07/2018)
MoJ written statement follows judicial review of legal aid cuts - Government seeks to change law on deprivation of liberty safeguards
News (08/07/2018)
Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill begins its parliamentary passage - Justice Committee calls for changes to Sentencing Council’s guidelines on child cruelty offences
News (08/07/2018) - 4,495 newly recorded FGM cases in year to March 2018
News (08/07/2018)
Much more needs to be done to support survivors and protect girls at risk, says Barnardo’s - Court of Protection application and appeal fees reduced
News (07/07/2018) - House of Commons debate on the practice of forced adoption
News (07/07/2018)
Research briefing to be produced for the debate - Local agencies are failing to spot the signs of neglect in older children, finds report
News (07/07/2018)
Growing up neglected: a multi-agency response to older children - Children lawyer becomes Law Society President
News (06/07/2018)
Christina Blacklaws calls for legal aid to be reinstated for family cases - Two million children growing up in families where there are serious risks, says Children’s Commissioner
News (06/07/2018)
Million vulnerable children being let down by a system that doesn’t recognise them - Sir Andrew McFarlane ‘supportive’ of early intervention in post-separation arrangements for children
News (01/07/2018)
‘Proposal should be given serious consideration by family judges’ - Applications for legal aid supported by domestic or child abuse increase by 21 per cent
News (01/07/2018)
Applications granted rise by 14 per cent - 36,000 children suffering ‘revolving door’ cycle of repeated referrals
News (30/06/2018)
Action for Children report spells out consequences of fall in early intervention - Family courts see fewer cases but take longer to dispose of them
News (30/06/2018)
Average care case takes 30 weeks, average divorce petition 51 weeks to decree absolute - Whistleblowing case raises ‘new and grave issues’ in respect of legal professional privilege
News (29/06/2018)
Paralegal sends court details of alleged conversations between advisers and client - Three new appointments to the Supreme Court
News (29/06/2018)
Lady Justice Arden DBE, Lord Justice Kitchin and Lord Justice Sales to be made Justices - How local authorities should report a serious child safeguarding incident
News (29/06/2018)
Guidance published by Ofsted - MoJ research highlights barriers to family law legal aid for domestic violence victims
News (29/06/2018)
Report recommends expanding the current list of evidential requirements - Mr Justice Baker appointed to the Court of Appeal
News (27/06/2018)
Seven newly appointed Court of Appeal judges - Civil partnership law incompatible with ECHR, concludes Supreme Court
News (27/06/2018)
Heterosexual couple denied civil partnership win appeal - 601,600 children covered by Child Maintenance Service arrangements
News (24/06/2018)
CMS publishes performance information from August 2013 to March 2018 - The Family Drug and Alcohol Court National Unit set to close from end of September
News (24/06/2018)
President laments government's 'failure of imagination’ - First forced marriage protection order for teenage boy
News (22/06/2018)
Further orders made to protect three younger siblings - Baker J rejects husband’s financial remedy claim 26 years after decree nisi
News (22/06/2018)
Case distinguished from Wyatt v Vince - Improved mental health support for children in care
News (22/06/2018)
DfE announces pilot scheme - Supreme Court to deliver judgment in civil partnership case on Wednesday, 27 June
News (21/06/2018)
Steinfeld judgment will consider bar on different-sex couples entering into civil partnerships - Court of Appeal emphasises that time limit for care proceedings should be extended if necessary
News (20/06/2018)
Family Justice Council invited to draft authoritative guidance - Online Divorce Pilot Update
News (18/06/2018)
It is “The shape of things to come” says the Lord Chief Justice - President-Designate of the Family Division expresses concern about care crisis
News (18/06/2018)
Lord Justice McFarlane welcomes new Care Crisis Review and calls for change - Care Crisis Review published
News (18/06/2018)
Major Review confirms crisis in Children’s Social Care and Family Justice Sector and sets out 20 options for change - Public Law applications data released
News (17/06/2018)
Cafcass publishes latest figures - Latest new private law cases received data
News (17/06/2018)
Cafcass releases figures for May 2018 - Mills v Mills appeal in the Supreme Court
News (11/06/2018)
Judgment now awaited in this much anticipated appeal - Supreme Court delivers judgment in Northern Ireland termination of pregnancy law challenge
News (10/06/2018)
A majority of Supreme Court Justices concludes that the appellant did not have standing to bring the proceedings but considers that the current law in Northern Ireland is “deeply unsatisfactory”. - Practice Guidance: Standard children and other orders
News (07/06/2018) - No significant improvement in availability of secure accommodation for children and young persons
News (07/06/2018)
Official figures published for England and Wales: March 2018 - Children’s Commissioner calls for protection of children’s rights post-Brexit
News (07/06/2018)
Ministers asked to reconsider withdrawal from EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights - Revised Forms A, A1 and D50C issued by HMCTS
News (05/06/2018) - Domestic abuse: ‘Make a Stand’ pledge
News (04/06/2018)
Pledge comprises four commitments to support people who live and work in housing who are experiencing domestic abuse - President calls for family court capable of dealing holistically with all a family’s problems
News (03/06/2018)
Lecture outlines the problems with family courts as currently structured - Thousands of children are ‘pinging’ around the care system
News (03/06/2018)
Over 3,000 children have moved home four or more times in two years - ONS analyses characteristics of women at most risk of partner abuse
News (31/05/2018)
Article examines Crime Survey data for England and Wales: years ending March 2015 to 2017 - 25th anniversary of the 1993 Hague Intercountry Adoption Convention celebrated
News (30/05/2018)
Brochure analyses the main achievements and identifies the remaining challenges - Report reveals lack of protective measures for domestic abuse survivors during court process
News (30/05/2018)
Quarter of survivors surveyed reported being cross-examined by their abusive ex-partner - Second forced marriage conviction within a week
News (29/05/2018)
Leeds couple tricked their daughter into travelling to Bangladesh - Bill to modernise court system introduced in House of Lords
News (24/05/2018)
Courts and Tribunals (Judiciary and Functions of Staff) Bill - Research review on parental alienation published
News (24/05/2018)
Cafcass Cymru publication provides an evidence base to guide practice - Mother found guilty of forcing her daughter into marriage
News (23/05/2018)
Victim brought back to the UK from Pakistan - Some holiday reading for family lawyers ...
News (20/05/2018) - Ombudsman highlights most common problems faced by special guardians
News (18/05/2018)
Councils need to provide the right support and guidance - Council’s special guardian policy left scores of families out of pocket
News (18/05/2018)
Ombudsman finds policy wrongly implemented for at least eight years - Practice Guidance: Standard Financial and Enforcement Orders – Update
News (18/05/2018)
Addendum issued by the President of the Family Division - Ministry of Justice publishes Family Justice Research Bulletin 7
News (18/05/2018)
Bulletin includes ongoing and forthcoming studies - Tandem model of child representation in public law proceedings is working well, finds study
News (18/05/2018)
Guidance as to the respective roles of solicitor and guardian may be beneficial - Child Support Agency statistics for January to March 2018
News (18/05/2018)
838,200 cases still managed by the CSA - Protocol: Communicating with UK visas and immigration (UKVI) in family proceedings
News (17/05/2018) - Civil Partnership case goes to Supreme Court today
News (14/05/2018)
Rebecca Steinfield and Charles Keidan's appeal hearing due to last two days - Wife fails in attempt to increase award of £51.4 million plus share of business assets
News (13/05/2018)
CoA gives weight to pre-marital agreement - New private law cases received by Cafcass in April up 13 per cent on last year
News (11/05/2018)
Highest demand for the month of April in the last four years - Care applications received by Cafcass in April 6 per cent ahead of last year
News (11/05/2018)
1,110 care applications received - Court of Appeal upholds decision to imprison husband in serious contempt of court
News (11/05/2018)
‘Disregard of the orders was motivated by resentment’ - Owens v Owens Supreme Court hearing begins 17 May
News (11/05/2018)
Hearing scheduled to last one day - Finalists named in 2018 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards
News (11/05/2018) - Law Commissions review surrogacy law
News (11/05/2018)
Areas of concern include parental orders, international surrogacy and regulation - Consultation launched on revised statutory guidance for LAs on family and friends care
News (11/05/2018)
Guidance includes asylum seeking children brought to UK under Dublin III Regulation - Child Mental Health Green Paper is unambitious and ignores hundreds of thousands of children, say Select Committees
News (10/05/2018)
New “Trailblazer” pilot projects to be rolled out too slowly - Forced Marriage Unit publishes statistics for 2017
News (10/05/2018)
Fall in cases requiring FMU support does not reflect reduced prevalence of forced marriage - Apply for a divorce: Online service goes public
News (08/05/2018)
Research continuing on solicitors' application service - REMO7 and REMO8 forms updated
News (29/04/2018) - Court campaigner honoured with John Cornwell Award
News (29/04/2018)
Edward Cooke receives prestigious award for his work to protect his local court - Revised protocol published for referrals of families to child contact centres by judges and magistrates
News (27/04/2018)
Protocol endorsed by the President of the Family Division - Second edition of Guidance on Financial Needs on Divorce published
News (26/04/2018)
Guide produced for the family judiciary, courts and legal advisers - ‘Defending a divorce is expensive, complicated and unlikely to succeed’
News (26/04/2018)
New research adds to calls for no fault divorce - ECtHR finds fresh application from family of Alfie Evans inadmissible
Judgments (25/04/2018)
Statement of the ECtHR - Plans announced to help children living with alcoholic parents
News (25/04/2018)
£6 million funding designed to help 200,000 children in England - IPSO upholds complaint against Times story about Muslim fostering arrangement
News (25/04/2018)
Newspaper's report distorted judge’s decision - New President of the Family Division appointment: The Rt Hon Sir Andrew McFarlane
News (24/04/2018) - President’s interim guidance: defective divorce petitions/decrees
News (23/04/2018) - ‘Mystical quality’ of divorce process confuses and defeats people in crisis: NFM
News (23/04/2018)
Getting a divorce should be far simpler, says family charity - Family Relationships (Impact Assessment and Targets) Bill proceeds to third reading
News (22/04/2018)
Third reading scheduled for 26 April 2018 - Children and Social Work Act 2017 (Commencement No. 4 and Transitional and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2018
News (22/04/2018)
Commencement dates for safeguarding provisons - Resolution Conference calls for an end to the ‘divorce blame game’
News (22/04/2018)
‘It's ridiculous that Mrs Owens has to go to the Supreme Court’: Margaret Heathcote, National Chair - Supreme Court declines to hear appeal by Alfie Evans’s parents
News (22/04/2018)
Application based on habeas corpus refused - Innovative theatre group highlights range of issues arising in the Family Court
News (22/04/2018)
Behind Closed Doors Theatre present plays for professionals and general public - Pension Advisory Group publishes two draft reports
News (19/04/2018)
PAG seeks practitioners' responses to recommendations on pensions and divorce - Court of Appeal gives guidance on treatment of earning capacity and sharing and compensation principles
News (16/04/2018)
In Waggott v Waggott [2018] EWCA Civ 727 wife’s appeal dismissed; husband’s cross-appeal allowed - Sir Ernest Ryder speaks on the Role of the Justice System in Decision-making for Children
News (15/04/2018)
Sir Ernest addresses the principles underpinning judicial decision-making and the evidential requirements in a changing environment - Lanzarote Convention on Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse
News (13/04/2018) - Means testing for civil legal aid: updated documents
News (13/04/2018) - Care applications received by Cafcass in March 2018 down by 4%
News (12/04/2018)
Annual total of care applications falls slightly - New private law cases received by Cafcass in March 2018 down 5% on a year ago
News (12/04/2018)
Annual rate running at 3% above previous twelve months - Guidance: Listing Final Hearings in Adoption cases
News (12/04/2018) - President highlights updated guidance on working with parents with a learning disability
News (12/04/2018) - Average time for disposal of care cases continues to creep upwards
News (09/04/2018)
Little change in overall number of new cases started in family courts in 2017 - Conversion rate of completed foster carer applications to approvals decreases
News (06/04/2018)
Staying put numbers down on a year ago - Mediation starts at their lowest since LASPO introduction
News (06/04/2018)
Quarterly legal aid statistics published - Outcomes for looked after children at 31 March 2017
News (06/04/2018)
Measures cover educational attainment, SEN, absence for school and exclusions - UK’s first Islamic Guidance Document on Adoption and Fostering published
News (05/04/2018)
Penny Appeal publishes groundbreaking document in response to FOI request - Family Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2018
News (05/04/2018)
Amendments take effect from 4 June 2018 - Lord Justice McFarlane addresses contact issues at Nagalro Conference
News (26/03/2018)
Sir Andrew endorses view that rethink of approaches to ‘contact’ is needed - President rues inaction on family law reforms
News (26/03/2018)
Action needed on cohabitants’ rights, divorce, ancillary relief, transparency and cross-examination - Second FGM prosecution fails
News (25/03/2018)
Solicitor cleared of FGM of nine-year-old daughter - Keehan J deprecates “two of the most egregious abuses of section 20 accommodation”
News (25/03/2018)
Child accommodated under s 20 effectively from birth to age 9 - Secure Tenancies (Victims of Domestic Abuse) Bill receives Commons second reading
News (25/03/2018) - Struggling families are being disqualified from justice: Law Society
Editorial (23/03/2018)
President calls for restoration of means test to its 2010 real-terms level - First domestic abuse consultation event held in Birmingham
News (23/03/2018)
Contributions will inform forthcoming legislation - Children and Social Work Act 2017 (Commencement No 3) Regulations 2018
News (16/03/2018)
‘Corporate parenting principles’ brought into force from 1 April 2018 - Review of children in need launched
News (16/03/2018)
DfE seeks to understand what works in practice to improve their outcomes - Children living with parents in emotional distress: 2010 to 2016
News (16/03/2018)
Public Health England publishes updated data - New private law cases received by Cafcass in February 2018 5% down on a year ago
News (15/03/2018)
3,154 new private law cases in the month - Care applications received by Cafcass in February 4% up on a year ago
News (15/03/2018)
Second highest monthly total for a February on record - Consultation on regs to allow a single person to apply for a parental order following a surrogacy arrangement
News (15/03/2018)
Consultation closes on 20 April 2018 - Practice Guidance: Case Management and Mediation of International Child Abduction Proceedings
News (15/03/2018)
Child Abduction Mediation Scheme likely to commence in the week commencing 16 April 2018 - Practice Guidance: Standard Family Orders
News (15/03/2018)
Consultation will run until 16 March 2018 - Government commits to protect people with dementia and learning difficulties
News (15/03/2018)
Broad agreement with the Law Commission's Liberty Protection Safeguards model - Government launches post-implementation review of LASPO
News (12/03/2018)
Findings will be published later this year - Alfie Evans: parents apply for permission to appeal to Supreme Court
News (12/03/2018)
Court of Appeal upholds order allowing doctors to end life support - Lord Justice Jackson retires
News (12/03/2018) - House of Commons to debate foster care
News (11/03/2018)
Debate scheduled for 14 March 2018 - Secure Tenancies (Victims of Domestic Abuse) Bill: 3rd reading 13 March 2018
News (11/03/2018) - Home Affairs Select Committee announces domestic abuse inquiry
News (11/03/2018) - National action required to support children and young people’s mental health needs
News (10/03/2018)
Local services must work together, says CQC - Domestic Abuse consultation launched
News (10/03/2018)
Proposed laws include introduction of Domestic Abuse Protection Orders - Cobb J reviews law on interim orders for sale of parties' former matrimonial home
News (05/03/2018)
Wife’s appeal against interim order for sale allowed - Court of Appeal clarifies application of legal professional privilege in financial remedies case
News (04/03/2018)
Solicitor’s appeal against order to attend court to give evidence dismissed - Family Law Bills before Parliament: an update
News (02/03/2018) - Surrogacy guidance published for parents, surrogates and health professionals
News (01/03/2018)
Two guidance documents published by Department of Health and Social Care - New edition of the Equal Treatment Bench Book launched
News (01/03/2018)
Fully revised and updated version of the practical guide published online - President’s guidance: Jurisdiction of the Family Court
News (01/03/2018) - Marriage rate for opposite-sex couples in 2015 lowest on record
News (28/02/2018)
Marriages between opposite-sex couples decreased by 3.4% in 2015 - Alfie Evans’s parents appeal against ruling sanctioning the withdrawal of his life support
News (26/02/2018)
Appeal to be heard on 1 March - Domestic violence legislation will follow consultation, confirms Prime Minister
News (23/02/2018) - Divorce costs £3,800 a year in retirement income, says Prudential
News (23/02/2018)
Expected annual income for divorcees retiring in 2018 is £17,600 - CoramBAAF welcomes report on child protection practice with Romani and Traveller children
News (23/02/2018)
‘Romani and Traveller children three times more likely to be taken into care’ than other children - Case closure process at Child Support Agency closes another 40,000 files
News (23/02/2018)
866,700 cases currently managed by CSA - Police undertake to investigate thoroughly all potential offences of FGM
News (23/02/2018)
Avon and Somerset Police statement follows collapsed trial - Sentencing Council publishes new guideline on domestic abuse
News (22/02/2018)
New guideline applies from 24 May 2018 - Commons Committee investigates evidence-based early-years intervention
News (21/02/2018) - Dispensing with Independent Reviewing Officers would put vulnerable children at risk
News (16/02/2018)
Nagalro objects to proposal in foster care review - Guidance to family courts: payment for intermediaries and intermediary assessments
Judgments (16/02/2018) - Supreme Court decides habitual residence issues in Abduction Convention case
News (16/02/2018)
Court also rules that repudiatory retention is possible in law - Public law cases received by Cafcass in January up 3% on a year ago
News (15/02/2018)
Highest monthly total for a January on record - New private law cases received by Cafcass in January up 11% on a year ago
News (15/02/2018)
3,590 new cases received - Nuffield Foundation sets out plans to establish a Family Justice Observatory
News (14/02/2018)
12-month development phase will begin in March - Adoption and Care Planning (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2018
News (09/02/2018) - Countries where a parent can enforce child maintenance decisions: list updated
News (09/02/2018)
Briefing paper published on reciprocal enforcement of maintenance orders - Supreme Court to decide whether ‘anticipatory retention’ is recognised under the 1980 Hague Convention
News (09/02/2018)
Judgment in appeal against C (Children) [2017] EWCA Civ 980 to be given on 14 February 2018 - Human Rights Committee launches inquiry into reform of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
News (09/02/2018)
Written submissions sought from interested parties - ‘Fostering is a success story,’ concludes independent review
News (09/02/2018)
DfE publishes review and recommendations by Sir Martin Narey and Mark Owers - Government asks Law Commission to look at trolling laws
News (08/02/2018)
Report due on online harassment and cyberbullying by October 2018 - High Court order for protection of a six and a half year old from the risk of FGM
News (04/02/2018)
FGMPO to remain in place until her 17th birthday. - Russian billionaire appeals against English court’s highest divorce award
News (04/02/2018)
Wife claims that she has not received ‘a penny’ of £453 million award - Bill to extend civil partnerships to heterosexual couples receives second reading
News (04/02/2018) - Mrs Justice Roberts appointed Family Division Liaison Judge – Western Circuit
News (04/02/2018) - Fully online divorce application process is being tested across England and Wales
News (03/02/2018)
Over 130 online applications made in the first week - Independent review into the application of sharia law in England and Wales published
News (03/02/2018)
Home Office to consider report’s findings - CoA clarifies when proposed adopters’ merits may be considered on making placement order
News (28/01/2018)
Exception made to Re T (A Child) (Early Permanence Placement) - President sets out his vision for national system of Financial Remedies Courts
News (26/01/2018)
View from the President’s Chambers (18) - Jersey looks to reform its divorce laws
News (26/01/2018)
Consultation asks islanders' views on divorce - Violence against women and girls is ‘endemic’ in the UK, concludes report
News (26/01/2018)
Fawcett Society finds that legal system is failing women - Practice Guidance: Standard Financial and Enforcement Orders – Update
News (26/01/2018)
Forms corrected - 85% of parents with a family-based child maintenance arrangement say it works well
News (26/01/2018)
DWP release figures for child maintenance arrangements made after speaking to Child Maintenance Options - Importance of supporting parents with learning disability highlighted in care case
News (22/01/2018)
Obligation does not extend to support that is ‘tantamount to substituted parenting’ - Privy Council considers law applicable to beneficial ownership of joint bank accounts
News (21/01/2018)
Money in a bank account subject to same principles as other property - ‘Modern Families at breaking point as parents buckle under the strain of overwork’
News (21/01/2018)
Modern Families Index published - Consultation launched on transforming court estate
News (19/01/2018)
Proposals follow piloting of online system for divorce applications - BASW unveils Adoption Enquiry report and key findings
News (19/01/2018)
‘Enquiry explores the complex realities of adoption for many people’ - New private law cases received by Cafcass in December 2017 2% down on a year ago
News (15/01/2018)
2,790 new cases received - Care applications received by Cafcass in December 2017 8% down on a year ago
News (15/01/2018)
1,008 applications received - Secure Tenancies (Victims of Domestic Abuse) Bill receives second reading
News (12/01/2018)
Legislation fulfils commitment to victims of domestic violence - Child referred to children's services every 49 seconds, councils warn
News (12/01/2018)
Urgent need to address the £2billion funding gap in children’s services - New family court forms
News (12/01/2018) - Domestic violence and abuse: services and support available from DWP
News (12/01/2018) - Hidden cost of divorce and separation surpasses £14,500 for UK couples, according to Aviva survey
News (12/01/2018)
Separating couples remain living together because of prohibitive housing costs - Changes to domestic violence evidence requirements come into effect
News (08/01/2018) - New year family mediation spike expected by NFM
News (02/01/2018)
Charity cautions Ministers on longer term