In a hearing before the Court of Appeal on Friday afternoon, leave was sought for permission to appeal the Court's judgment to the Supreme Court.
Full story: Family Law Week
Interdisciplinary Alliance for Children call for Cafcass to be reformed
The Interdisciplinary Alliance for Children (IAC) sent government minsiters with an oversight to children's justice a 'joint position statement' asking for a meeting to explore alternatives to Cafcass.
Full story: Family Law
Full story: Family Law
Covertly found assets no longer valid in divorce
Separated couples no longer be able to use secretly obtained documents to reveal their spouse's hidden.
Full story: The Guardian
Full story: The Guardian
Husband wins in Court of Appeal in Imerman case
Court of Appeal decides that information copied from husband’s computer cannot be used in ancillary relief proceedings.
Full story: Family Law Week
Full story: Family Law Week
Divorce ruling creates a 'cheat's charter'
Feuding couples who do not want their spouses' lawyers finding out how rich they are have won a landmark legal ruling.
Full story: The Independent
Full story: The Independent
Court of Protection Rules Committee publishes review
The President of the Court of Protection, Sir Nicholas Wall, has published the Court of Protection Rules Committee's Review.
Full story: Family Law Week
Full story: Family Law Week
Tchenguiz brothers lose papers battle in divorce dispute
Property tycoons Robert and Vincent Tchenguiz failed in a Court of Appeal battle to use information about the financial affairs of their sister's husband at her divorce hearing.
Full story: The Telegraph
Full story: The Telegraph
The Family Proceedings Fees (Amendment) Order 2010
This Order provides for the increase of certain fees payable in family proceedings in England and Wales in the Senior Courts and county courts. For convenience this Order replaces the entire schedule of fees payable in family proceedings in the Senior Courts and county courts. Certain fees which were previously increased in 2006 have been increased by the rate of inflation since 2006. Other fees became payable in 2008 or 2009 at the same level as the fees which were increased in 2006. These fees are also being increased by the rate of inflation since 2006.
Statutory Instrument
Statutory Instrument
Court of Appeal rules in Imerman "that there is no legal basis for Hildebrand rules"
The Court of Appeal has ruled in the case of Imerman that that the Hildebrand rules, which historically have enabled a wife or husband to secretly obtain, copy and use each others' documents in divorce proceedings, have "no basis in law" and are unlawful.
Full story: Family Law
Full story: Family Law
Landmark divorce ruling on hidden money
Protection previously afforded to thousands of people in divorce proceedings has been removed following a landmark Court of Appeal judgement.
Full story: BBC News
Full story: BBC News
Number of UK children taken overseas by a parent rises
The number of British children abducted by a parent and taken overseas has increased in the past year.
Full story: BBC News
Full story: BBC News
Number of child abductions rises by 39 per cent in a year – Foreign Office
The number of British children abducted by one of their parents and taken abroad is set to double as the summer holidays start, the Foreign Office has warned.
Full story: The Telegraph
Full story: The Telegraph
Family law supplier base ‘decimated’ by LSC tender
The family law supplier base has been ‘decimated’ by the ‘shock’ outcome of the Legal Services Commission’s tender for civil legal aid work, lawyers groups alleged this week.
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Full story: Law Society Gazette
OPSI website replaced with www.legislation.gov.uk
The Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) website, which publishes all UK legislation, is being replaced today by www.legislation.gov.uk.
Full story: Family Law
Full story: Family Law
The Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children (International Obligations) (E & W & NI) Regulations 2010
These Regulations facilitate the ratification of the Hague Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-Operation in respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children 1996 (Cm 7727) (“the Convention”) by the United Kingdom. They also facilitate the application of Council Regulation (EC) 2201/2003 of 27 November 2003 concerning Jurisdiction and the Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments in Matrimonial Matters and the Matters of Parental Responsibility, repealing Regulation (EC) 1347/2000 (“the Council Regulation”). Except where indicated, they extend to England and Wales and Northern Ireland.
Statutory Instrument
Statutory Instrument
Bureaucracy 'hampers social workers', survey says
Nearly two-thirds of social workers in England say they do not have enough time to serve children and young people properly, an Ofsted survey has found.
Full story: BBC News
Full story: BBC News
Independent commission to look into early intervention
The government has confirmed an independent commission will be set up into early intervention to be chaired by Graham Allen MP.
Full story: Community Care
Full story: Community Care
'Carnage' as family solicitors lose legal aid contracts
LAG has just heard from the Legal Services Commission (LSC) that 1,300 out of 2,400 firms have been awarded contracts in family law.
Full story: LAG News Blog
Full story: LAG News Blog
Children's court service faces inquiry over post-Baby Peter response
MPs call for investigation after report raises serious concerns about Cafcass's ability to handle the rise in workload following the death of Baby Peter.
Full story: The Guardian
Full story: The Guardian
Family court service criticised over increased demand
The agency which looks after children's interests in court has not dealt efficiently with an increase in cases since the death of Baby Peter in 2007, an audit finds.
Full story: BBC News
Full story: BBC News
Cafcass efficiency questioned by National Audit Office
Cafcass' response to rising care applications would have been more effective if better progress had been made in tackling existing organisational problems, the National Audit Office has found.
Full story: Community Care
Full story: Community Care
Quarter of children's NQSWs swamped with work - survey
A quarter of newly qualified children's social workers in England feel their caseloads are too high, a survey by Ofsted has revealed.
Full story: Community Care
Full story: Community Care
Khyra Ishaq review reveals how mother intimidated professionals
Angela Gordon threatened violence and legal action, and accused staff of racism or harassment.
Full story: The Guardian
Full story: The Guardian
Khyra death 'shows professionals should work in pairs'
The death of Khyra Ishaq shows that social workers on child protection cases should be paired up, according to Unison.
Full story: Community Care
Full story: Community Care
Cafcass risks clash with Nagalro by recruiting 50 NQSWs
Cafcass is recruiting 50 newly qualified social workers (NQSWs) under plans to reform its traditional career structures.
Full story: Community Care
Full story: Community Care
Khyra Ishaq death was preventable, says serious case review
Report lists catalogue of missed opportunities to save seven-year-old starved to death by her mother.
Full story: The Guardian
Full story: The Guardian
Khyra Ishaq serious case review to be released
A report into how social workers, police and other professionals handled the case of a girl who died after being starved at home will be released later.
Full story: BBC News
Full story: BBC News
Rising divorce rate is linked to the economic recovery
The easing of the recession has spelled the end for thousands of marriages, lawyers said yesterday.
Full story: Daily Mail
Full story: Daily Mail
Polo playing dotcom tycoon forced to pay wife £7 million in divorce settlement
A polo playing dotcom tycoon was ordered by a judge to pay his ex-wife half his £14 million fortune after being accused of "flagrant, persistent and consistent" attempts to hide his wealth.
Full story: Telegraph
Full story: Telegraph
Boris Berezovsky's second wife wins record £100m divorce settlement
• Oligarch and wife Galina only lived together for two years
• Ruling cements London as divorce court of choice for rich
Full story: The Guardian
• Ruling cements London as divorce court of choice for rich
Full story: The Guardian
Ex-wife returns to court to ask for bigger divorce settlement
The ex-wife of a business tycoon has returned to the divorce courts to ask for a bigger slice of his fortune after he sold his business for £180 million.
Full story: The Telegraph
Full story: The Telegraph
Care applications remain at very high levels
Figures released by Cafcass show that care application demand has remained at a very high level.
Full story: Family Law Week
Full story: Family Law Week
New research highlights child protection needs of older children
A new approach to child protection for older children is urgently needed in order to ensure their safeguarding, according to a three year study, published by The Children's Society, the NSPCC and the University of York and funded by the Big Lottery.
Full story: Family Law Week
Full story: Family Law Week
Fears mount over ‘£500m’ legal aid cut
Speculation mounted over the future of legal aid this week amid reports that the Ministry of Justice plans to slash the £2.1bn legal aid budget by half a billion pounds.
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Lord chief justice calls for shorter cases
The lord chief justice has called for family and criminal cases to be shortened.
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Boris Berezovsky in '£100m' divorce battle
Boris Berezovsky, the Russian oligarch, will divorce his second wife Galina today in what could be the costliest marriage split in British legal history.
Full story: The Telegraph
Full story: The Telegraph
Justice Committee announces inquiry into family law
The House of Commons Justice Committee has announced an inquiry into the operation of the family courts.
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Teenagers get less help from social services due to lack of resources
Study into protection of maltreated teens says there is urgent need for shift in approach to ensure they are kept safe.
Full story: The Guardian
Full story: The Guardian
Domestic abuse campaign targets mosques in Scotland
Islam can't be used to justify domestic violence against a partner. That's the message being given to Scotland's Muslim communities with the help of a new campaign.
Full story: BBC News
Full story: BBC News
Butler-Sloss calls for focus on children
A former president of the Family Division has called on the government to cut the number of children in custody and safeguard access to justice in child welfare cases.
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Birmingham City Council 'failing to protect' children
Birmingham City Council is failing to protect vulnerable children in care and its capacity to improve is inadequate, an Ofsted report has found.
Full story: BBC News
Full story: BBC News
LSC family fees training events
The Legal Services Commission (LSC) has announced the launch of 68 national training events to help providers prepare for the Family Fee Schemes 2010.
Full story: Family Law
Full story: Family Law
Children urged to complete survey about child protection
The Children's Commissioner, Maggie Atkinson, is calling on children practitioners to encourage young people they know to feed their views into the Government's review of child protection.
Full story: Family Law
Full story: Family Law
Woman 'lied about child abuse' in divorce case
A High Court judge in Belfast has concluded that a woman involved in a divorce case falsely accused her ex-husband of sexually abusing their children.
Full story: BBC News
Full story: BBC News
'Gay couples will get equal right to marry'
The Coalition will give homosexual couples the same legal rights to marriage as heterosexuals, a senior Liberal Democrat has said.
Full story: The Telegraph
Full story: The Telegraph
Time controls needed in family cases
Lord Judge, the Lord Chief Justice, raised concerns about finance and delays in the courts in a speech this week.
Full story: New Law Journal
Full story: New Law Journal
Prenuptial agreements on rise amongst younger men
High earners are rejecting their fathers' romantic view of marriage to protect assets.
Full story: The Observer
Full story: The Observer
Number of middle class homes sold due to divorce has doubled in last year
The number of middle class family homes sold due to divorce has almost doubled in the last year, according to new figures.
Full story: The Telegraph
Full story: The Telegraph
Judge orders warring hedge fund couple to stop fighting as they will never be poor
A judge has told an "immensely" wealthy couple to stop their expensive divorce battle because neither of them will ever be poor.
Full story: The Telegraph
Full story: The Telegraph
Child support debt owed by constituency
Gingerbread, the single parent charity, has described the level of child maintenance debt across the country as "truly shocking" after collating figures on how much child maintenance is owed in every Parliamentary constituency.
Full story: The Guardian
Full story: The Guardian
Association of Directors of Children’s Services says independent social workers aren't needed
The chair of Association of Directors of Children's Services Marion Davis has called for a review of the use of independent social workers in court.
Full story: Family Law
Full story: Family Law
Kenneth Clarke to slash Legal Aid budget
Legal Aid faces “brutal” cuts that will restrict public spending on legal advice for cases ranging from immigration to divorce.
Full story: The Telegraph
Full story: The Telegraph
First serious case review to be marked outstanding by Ofsted
Only five serious case reviews of 66 done by local safeguarding children boards in the first half of 2010 have been deemed inadequate, while one has been marked outstanding for the first time, Ofsted figures show.
Full story: Community Care
Full story: Community Care
Baby Peter GP suspended for year
A GP who saw Baby Peter eight days before his death has been suspended from working as a doctor for 12 months.
Full story: BBC News
Full story: BBC News
New powers to stop parents dodging maintenance arrears
The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission has begun using tough new powers to halt or reverse the sale and transfer of assets by parents attempting to dodge financial responsibility for their children.
Full story: Family Law Week
Full story: Family Law Week
Parents of obese children may be guilty of neglect
Child health experts say 'parental failure' over diet and exercise becomes a child protection issue.
Full story: The Guardian
Full story: The Guardian
Baby P's grandmother had 'violent background'
The violent history of Baby Peter's family should have alerted social workers more to the dangers posed to the toddler, according to a leaked report.
Full story: BBC News
Full story: BBC News
Children's Commissioner's role to be independently reviewed
The Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, has commissioned Dr John Dunford OBE, currently General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, to carry out an independent and consultative review of the office, role and functions of the Children's Commissioner for England.
Full story: Family Law Week
Full story: Family Law Week
Vanishing dads owe £3.7 billion to children
Grimsby, Milton Keynes and Blackpool have more feckless fathers who refuse to pay for their upbringing of their children than anywhere else in the UK, new figures show today.
Full story: Daily Express
Full story: Daily Express
Wife beaters could face random police visit to discourage reoffending, Theresa May says
People convicted of domestic violence could face random visits by police to make sure they are not reoffending, Thersea May has suggested.
Full story: The Telegraph
Full story: The Telegraph
Lord Justice Thorpe to review GMC child protection guidance
The General Medical Council (GMC) has announced that Lord Justice Thorpe will chair a working group to produce new guidance for doctors involved in child protection.
Full story: Family Law
Full story: Family Law
Family lawyers left ‘in limbo’ by LSC
Legal aid lawyers have been ‘left in limbo’ by the Legal Services Commission’s continuing failure to announce the outcome of the family and social welfare tenders, practitioners said this week.
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Metropolitan Police bids to block Baby Peter inquest
The Metropolitan Police are trying to block an inquest into the death of Baby Peter, the BBC has learned.
Full story: BBC News
Full story: BBC News
Shared Parenting Bill presented in the House of Commons
A private members bill on shared parenting was tabled yesterday in the House of Commons by Brian Binley, Conservative MP for Northampton South.
Full story: Family Law
Full story: Family Law
Manchester social services criticised over baby's care
Social services in Manchester have been criticised in an independent review into the care given to a baby boy who was left brain damaged and blinded.
Full story: BBC News
Full story: BBC News
Excluding independent social work expertise from courts is dangerous, say ISW agencies
Independent social workers (ISWs) who work as expert witnesses in the family courts expressed astonishment at remarks made last week by Marion Davis, chair of the Association of Directors of Children's Services, which appear to show a lack of understanding of their role in court proceedings.
Full story: Family Law Week
Full story: Family Law Week
Coalition still split on marriage tax plans, says Sarah Teather
Liberal Democrat children and families minister says issue is one of only a few that divide her party and the Conservatives.
Full story: The Guardian
Full story: The Guardian
Great Ormond Street Hospital 'withheld Baby P facts'
Great Ormond Street Hospital did not disclose key information to the original inquiry into what happened to Baby Peter, it has been claimed.
Full story: BBC News
Full story: BBC News
Most rich men 'too romantic for a pre-nup'
The rate of divorce may be at record levels, but it seems men’s sense of romance is very much alive. At least among the rich ones.
Full story: Daily Mail
Full story: Daily Mail
Court condemns Russians' bitter divorce
A young Russian couple's "bitter and unruly" divorce battle was criticised in the Court of Appeal today over whether it was a good use of judges' time.
Full story: The Independent
Full story: The Independent
Baby P doctor faces being struck off
A GP who breached his professional duty towards Baby P in the months leading up to the toddler's death faces being struck off after a disciplinary panel ruled today that his fitness to practise was impaired.
Full story: The Independent
Full story: The Independent
Child protection chiefs warn officials over full serious case review plans
Representatives at councils involved in England's most high-profile child protection cases are urging civil servants to proceed with utmost caution in carrying out government plans to publish serious case reviews in full.
Full story: Children & Young People Now
Full story: Children & Young People Now
President issues new guidance on McKenzie Friends
The Master of the Rolls and the President of the Family Division have issued new guidance on McKenzie Friends in light of the increase in litigants-in-person in all levels of the civil and family courts.
Full story: Family Law
Full story: Family Law
Call to limit use of court guardians
Independent children's guardians will not be allocated to non-urgent family court cases, under plans set to be considered by the ongoing review of the family justice system.
Full story: Children & Young People Now
Full story: Children & Young People Now
Support for reform of SCRs gathers momentum
Momentum is gathering behind a push to replace the current system of serious case reviews with a model devised by the Social Care Institute for Excellence.
Full story: Community Care
Full story: Community Care
Independent social workers refute attack on their court role
Independent social workers have been left dismayed by calls from directors of children's services to end their role in care application proceedings.
Full story: Community Care
Full story: Community Care
Number of children in secure children’s homes falls by 10%
The Department for Education has released statistics on children accommodated in secure children's homes at 31 March 2010.
Full story: Family Law Week
Full story: Family Law Week
Pre-nups set to become legally binding in English divorce courts
Multi-million pound divorce cases could become a thing of the past under radical proposals to make prenuptial contracts legally enforceable.
Full story: The Sunday Telegraph
Full story: The Sunday Telegraph
ADCS chief says independent social worker role should end
Independent social workers' role in court should cease, according to Marion Davis, president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services.
Full story: Community Care
Full story: Community Care
Care-leaver plans must be reviewed by social workers, judge rules
Plans for children leaving care must be reviewed by a social worker rather than a personal adviser, a High Court judge has ruled.
Full story: Children & Young People Now
Full story: Children & Young People Now
Baby P GP 'guilty of misconduct'
Baby Peter's GP Dr Jerome Ikwueke has been found guilty of a serious breach of professional duty.
Full story: BBC News
Full story: BBC News
Council hired £700-a-day consultants on child protection
A council spent £300,000 bringing in experts on £700-a-day rates after its child protection service was branded 'inadequate' – only to get exactly the same rating three years later.
Full story: Manchester Evening News
Full story: Manchester Evening News
Call for 'international convention’ on parent relocation
A senior Court of Appeal judge has called for an international convention to establish a common approach in contested cases on the relocation of children, where one parent wishes to move abroad.
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Marriage does not make relationships stable, says IFS think tank
Marriage does not make parents’ relationships more stable, according to an influential think-tank.
Full story: The Telegraph
Full story: The Telegraph
Baby P council boss warns against Government attempts to improve child protection
Attempts by the Government to improve confidence in child protection are likely to backfire, the council chief sacked over the Baby P scandal has warned.
Full story: The Telegraph
Full story: The Telegraph
More children taken into care due to 'Baby P effect', says Shoesmith
The former head of Haringey children's services, Sharon Shoesmith, has condemned "naive" politicians for unwittingly creating a "Baby P effect" which has seen hundreds more children being taken into care.
Full story: The Independent
Full story: The Independent
Social care problems not down to funding, says Laming
Problems in children's social care cannot be blamed on a lack of funding, according to Lord Laming, author of two government reviews into child protection.
Full story: Children & Young People Now
Full story: Children & Young People Now
Revised protocol for referrals of families to Supported Child Contact Centres
The National Association of Child Contact Centres has produced a revised protocol for referrals of families to Supported Child Contact Centres, designed to assist judges and magistrates who are proposing to make orders for contact involving the use of a one of their centres.
Full story: Family Law
Full story: Family Law
Number of new private-fostering reports increases
The number of new reports of children being cared for in private fostering arrangements has risen by nine per cent in the past year, the latest figures reveal.
Full story: Children & Young People Now
Full story: Children & Young People Now
Sharon Shoesmith considers further appeal
Sharon Shoesmith has yet to decide whether to appeal a High Court decision preventing a judicial review of her sacking as director of children's services at Haringey Council after the Baby P case in December 2008.
Full story: Community Care
Full story: Community Care
Sharon Shoesmith warns about 'Baby P effect' on social services
Sacked head of Haringey children's services to say that panic adversely affects social workers without reducing child deaths.
Full story: The Guardian
Full story: The Guardian
Family lawyers warn against dangers of cost cutting
Family solicitors have welcomed the government’s aim of encouraging alternatives to court in its review of the family justice system, but warned the focus must not only be cost cutting.
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Lord Justice Munby calls for further opening up of the family courts
ALC Hershman-Levy Memorial Lecture analyses reform of public and press access to family proceedings.
Full story: Family Law Week
Full story: Family Law Week
Couple warned over allowing children to cycle to school alone
A couple have been warned they could be reported to social services unless they stop their young children cycling to school on their own.
Full story: The Telegraph
Full story: The Telegraph
If your friends get divorced, you could be next in line
Academic research finds that relationship break-ups within groups of friends can be contagious.
Full story: The Observer
Full story: The Observer
Boris Johnson 'backs calls for gay marriage'
Boris Johnson, the London Mayor, has backed calls for an end to the ban on same-sex marriages, a prominent gay rights campaigner claimed.
Full story: The Telegraph
Full story: The Telegraph
Forced adoption is a truly dreadful scandal
Social workers are removing children from loving families without proper justification, says Christopher Booker.
Full story: The Telegraph
Full story: The Telegraph
Russian oligarch facing world's most expensive divorce
A Russian oligarch is facing the biggest divorce payment in history after his wife demanded a £3.8 billion settlement.
Full story: The Telegraph
Full story: The Telegraph
Minister Lynne Featherstone indicates gay marriage a step closer
Homosexual couples could be allowed to “marry” in traditional religious ceremonies for the first time, a government minister has said.
Full story: The Telegraph
Full story: The Telegraph
Ten-year plan for Welsh social services to be published in 2011
A blueprint for reforming social services in Wales over the next 10 years will be published in early 2011, the Welsh Assembly government has announced.
Full story: Community Care
Full story: Community Care
Mother loses appeal over baby's removal
The "draconian powers" of social workers to order a child to be taken from a mother who turns out to be innocent is a cost to be paid to protect the vulnerable, appeal judges said today.
Full story: The Independent
Full story: The Independent
Modern Britain delays parenthood, ONS report shows
Britons are having babies later, are less like to marry and claim double the welfare benefits compared to the 1970s, a report has revealed.
Full story: BBC News
Full story: BBC News
Lord Justice Thorpe: Relocation - the search for common principles
The head of international family justice, Lord Justice Thorpe, on what the law says about what happens to children when parents relocate. Speech to London Metropolitan University 30th June 2010.
Full story: The Guardian (recommend view Fullscreen)
Full story: The Guardian (recommend view Fullscreen)
Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims (Amendment) Bill 2010-11
A Bill to amend section 5 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 to include serious harm to a child or vulnerable adult; to make consequential amendments to the Act; and for connected purposes.
Progress of the Bill: Parliament UK
Progress of the Bill: Parliament UK
Baby P social worker wins libel compensation
A Haringey social worker today accepted undisclosed compensation over the authority's false claim that she did not raise concerns about returning Baby P to his mother.
Full story: The Independent
Full story: The Independent
Cuts on the agenda of family justice review
The Ministry of Justice has launched a ‘comprehensive review’ of the family justice system, appointing a panel of experts to hear evidence on how the system can improve. However, the panel chair has admitted a principal catalyst for the review is the government’s desire to make spending cuts.
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Lawyers warn that court closures could threaten access to justice
Lawyers have warned that government proposals to close nearly a third of the courts in England and Wales could threaten access to justice and increase pressure on legal aid practitioners.
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Specialist unit reports more male forced marriages
The government unit dealing with forced marriages received 65% more calls about male victims last year than the previous year, figures show.
Full story: BBC News
Full story: BBC News
Baby Peter clinic 'did not heed doctors' concerns'
A doctor who worked at the north London clinic where Baby Peter was seen days before his death said managers failed to heed his concerns.
Full story: BBC News
Full story: BBC News
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