Senior judge calls on justice secretary Chris Grayling to attend hearing to answer how justice can be delivered.
Full story: The Guardian
First ever ‘families test’ for government published
All new laws or government policies will face a new ‘families test’ to make sure they support strong and stable families.
Full story: Family Law
Full story: Family Law
Children's social work to have new set of standards
The government has announced changes to children's social work in England, to restore confidence in the service.
Full story: BBC News
Full story: BBC News
Judge defends media blackout over death of Poppi Worthington
Secrecy over 13-month-old’s death in 2012 to protect siblings and avoid prejudicing possible future trial, says high court judge.
Full story: The Guardian
Full story: The Guardian
Referrals to children’s social care up by 10%
The Department for Education has published information as to the characteristics of children referred to and assessed by children's social services as children in need between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2014.
Full story: Family Law Week
Full story: Family Law Week
Care leaver strategy: 1 year on
A new report documents the progress that has been made 1 year since the Care Leaver Strategy was launched and sets out how the Government intends to further improve support for care leavers.
Full story: Family Law
Full story: Family Law
Troubled Families programme turning 117,000 lives around
Eric Pickles has welcomed the latest success of the Troubled Families programme, a crucial part of the government’s long-term economic plan to the turn the country around and help bring security and opportunity to families and communities.
Full story: Family Law
Full story: Family Law
Tiger charity director 'fabricated' divorce claims against husband, judge rules
A conservationist who falsely claimed her millionaire husband used donations to a tiger charity to fund their lavish lifestyle was “blinded by her desire for revenge”, a divorce judge has ruled.
Full story: The Telegraph
Full story: The Telegraph
Groundswell of support building for cohabitation law reform, says Resolution
In recent weeks there has been a groundswell of support for much needed reform of the law on how unmarried couples are treated when they separate.
Full story: Resolution
Full story: Resolution
English court refuses to enforce foreign custody order
Holman J refuses to enforce Turkish custody order because, in the circumstances, to do so would be incompatible with English family law principles.
Full story: Family Law Week
Full story: Family Law Week
Voice of the child not heard in transparency debate, claims Resolution
Resolution have published their response to Transparency - the next steps, claiming that the view of the individual child who is the subject of family proceedings is becoming lost in the debate.
Full story: Family Law
Full story: Family Law
Charity aiding male victims of DV supports proposed law change
The ManKind Initiative, a charity supporting male victims of domestic violence, is supporting the recommendation that there should be a specific offence of domestic abuse that sets out that coercive and controlling behaviour in an intimate relationship as a criminal offence.
Full story: Family Law Week
Full story: Family Law Week
Grayling shelves plan to double the fee for getting a divorce
The Secretary of State for Justice, Chris Grayling, has quietly shelved plans to nearly double the fee for filing a divorce petition.
Full story: The Independent
Full story: The Independent
New Government court support a ‘sticking plaster' for a wounded family justice system, says Resolution
Family law organisation Resolution believes that today’s announcement by Government for court support for litigants in person will help some people who have already reached the stage of litigation, but will not address the wider issues stemming from the loss of legal aid.
Full story: Resolution
Full story: Resolution
Initiative promises legal advice for those without lawyers in courts
Ministry of Justice scheme will cover family law and civil cases, and aims to fill the gap left following cuts in legal aid.
Full story: The Guardian
Full story: The Guardian
Judge rules pregnant paranoid schizophrenic woman must undergo Caesarean section
A judge has ruled a pregnant woman who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia will undergo a Caesarean section.
Full story: The Independent
Full story: The Independent
Government publishes response to consultation on looked-after children
The government has published its response to the Consultation on Looked-after Children: Improving Permanence, which took place from 30 September 2013 to 29 November 2013.
Full story: Family Law
Full story: Family Law
Breaking the cycle of repeat care proceedings
£3m has been set aside by the Government to fund projects aimed at breaking the cycle of births and repeat care proceedings.
Full story: Family Law
Full story: Family Law
Parental involvement must be about what is best for the child, not what parents see as their ‘rights', says Resolution
Resolution today welcomed the launch of the new parental involvement clause of the Children and Families Act 2014, but said professionals and the public needed to be clear about what this means in practice.
Full story: Resolution
Full story: Resolution
A wider definition of domestic abuse will help social workers safeguard more adult victims
Social work organisations respond to a Home Office consultation on strengthening the law around domestic abuse.
Full story: Community Care
Full story: Community Care
Female genital mutilation: proposal to introduce a civil protection order
Following the consultation ‘Female genital mutilation: proposal to introduce a civil protection order’ launched by the Prime Minister at the Girl Summit on 22 July 2014, the government is taking forward provisions in the Serious Crime Bill to implement this proposal.
Full story: Family Law
Full story: Family Law
Marriage is no better than cohabiting and legal rights should be abolished, says judge
Sir Nicholas Mostyn said that there was no difference between the relationships of married and unmarried couples, and condemned the divorce system that gives special protection to wives.
Full story: Daily Mail
Full story: Daily Mail
Government rejects calls by MPs for a ban on B&Bs for care leavers
The Department for Education tells the Education Committee that a total ban on bed and breakfasts risks leaving young people with nowhere to go in emergencies.
Full story: Community Care
Full story: Community Care
Child witnesses of domestic violence need better support, claim
Not enough support is being offered to the one in four children experts say will witness domestic violence by the age of 18, it is claimed.
Full story: BBC News
Full story: BBC News
Multi-million pound divorce 'can be heard in England'
A multi-million pound divorce between a wealthy Malaysian couple can be heard in an English court, a judge has ruled.
Full story: BBC News
Full story: BBC News
Fewer than one in four couples seeking counselling to save marriage
Survey reveals women more open to seeking specialist help to avoid divorce.
Full story: Family Law Week
Full story: Family Law Week
Munby urges radical reform of family courts
The president of the Family Division has publicly questioned whether divorce should remain subject to judicial supervision.
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Revised regulations set out the process for the conversion of civil partnerships into marriages, giving couples more choice
Couples in a civil partnership will have the option to convert it into a marriage before Christmas once regulations laid before Parliament yesterday are approved.
Full story: Family Law
Full story: Family Law
The Children and Families Act 2014 (Commencement No. 5 and Transitional Provision) Order 2014
This Order brings into force section 11 (welfare of the child: parental involvement) of the Children and Families Act 2014 on 22nd October 2014 subject to the transitional provision set out in Article 4.
Statutory Instrument
Statutory Instrument
High-flying housewife seeks larger slice of ex's £11m fortune in divorce courts
Julia Hammans says she "sacrficed" her career during marriage to husband Nicholas, who went on to become a partner in Price Waterhouse Coopers while she is being forced to sell the family home.
Full story: The Telegraph
Full story: The Telegraph
Care leavers' 'emotional needs unmet'
The emotional needs of children who have been in care are not being well looked after, a charity suggests.
Full story: BBC News
Full story: BBC News
Presumption of parental involvement to come into force on 22 October 2014
The President of the Family Division has today announced that the presumption of parental involvement at section 11 of the Children and Families Act 2014 (which inserts new sections 1(2)A, 1(2)B, 1(6) and 1(7) into the Children Act 1989) will come into force on 22 October 2014.
Full story: Family Law
Full story: Family Law
Practice Guidance: Family Court – Duration of ex-parte (without notice) orders
Practice guidance issued by the President of the Family Division on 13 October 2014.
Full story: Family Law Hub
Full story: Family Law Hub
Over 60% of parents unrepresented in private children proceedings
Over sixty percent of parents are now without a lawyer when going to court to contest arrangements for their children, new government figures reveal.
Full story: Family Law Week
Full story: Family Law Week
Gingerbread welcomes Public Accounts Committee’s child maintenance warnings
Charity pleased to see single parents’ concerns about the impact of new charges to use the Child Maintenance Service taken up by the Public Accounts Committee.
Full story: Gingerbread
Full story: Gingerbread
Care applications in September 2014
In September 2014, Cafcass received a total of 902 applications. This figure represents an 7% increase compared to those received in September 2013.
Full story: Cafcass
Full story: Cafcass
Cafcass private law demand
In September 2014, Cafcass received a total of 2,858 new private law cases. This is a 25% decrease on September 2013 levels.
Full story: Cafcass
Full story: Cafcass
The Adoption Information and Intermediary Services (Pre-Commencement Adoptions) (Amendment) Regulations 2014
These Regulations amend the Adoption Information and Intermediary Services (Pre-Commencement Adoptions) Regulations 2005, which make provision under section 98 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 for the purposes of assisting persons adopted before the 30th December 2005 to obtain information about their adoption and to facilitate contact between those persons and their birth relatives.
Statutory Instrument
Statutory Instrument
Legal aid cuts are biggest problem for solicitors in Wales
The latest Law Society annual firm survey shows that almost half of law firms in Wales are experiencing problems as a result of changes to the legal aid system.
Full story: Family Law Week
Full story: Family Law Week
Civil news: updated family mediation guidance available
Draft amendments to guidance to prepare for changes to family mediation funding.
Full story: Legal Aid Agency
Full story: Legal Aid Agency
Denial of legal aid in Court of Protection cases "a false economy", says judge
Denying individuals legal aid for complex Court of Protection cases is a false economy, a High Court judge has warned.
Full story: Local Government Lawyer
Full story: Local Government Lawyer
Hughes promises action on litigants in person
Justice minister Simon Hughes has said the government will make an announcement within weeks on tackling the issues raised by the growing number of litigants in person.
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Couples converting from civil partnerships will get backdated marriage certificates
The government has confirmed that backdated marriage certificates will be issued to couples converting their civil partnerships to marriages.
Full story: Pink News
Full story: Pink News
TACT concerned at sharp rise in special guardianship orders
Charity believes that Government reforms are helping only younger children.
Full story: Family Law Week
Full story: Family Law Week
Victims of domestic violence forced to face abusers in court ordeal
Growing numbers of domestic violence victims are being quizzed by their former partners in court due to cuts in legal aid which have led to a rise in litigation-in-person cases, family law specialists are warning.
Full story: The Independent
Full story: The Independent
Government adoption reforms only impacting younger children, says charity
TACT’s chief executive Andy Elvin also voiced concerns about the number of special guardianship orders being issued by local authorities.
Full story: Community Care
Full story: Community Care
75% of foster carers expected to make use of “staying put” arrangements
Nearly three quarter of foster carers looking after young people aged over 16 expect them to stay for more than a year, with four out of ten expecting them to stay for more than three years according to The Fostering Network.
Full story: Community Care
Full story: Community Care
Dramatic drop in parents applying for child maintenance help as charges begin
New government figures indicate thousands of parents are choosing not to seek help from the new government Child Maintenance Service because of new charges brought in this summer, warns Gingerbread.
Full story: Gingerbread
Full story: Gingerbread
Multi-millionaire mathematician faces an 'astronomical' £19m legal bill
Dr Martin Coward is set to incur what could be the most expensive divorce bill in Britain after losing his appeal over control of the hedge fund founded with his ex-wife.
Full story: The Telegraph
Full story: The Telegraph
Thousands of families shut out from justice since Government cuts
The Bar Council has warned that families across England and Wales have felt the full brunt of the Government’s civil legal aid cuts.
Full story: Family Law
Full story: Family Law
Family mediation tender 2015 opens
The Legal Aid Agency has today opened the tender process for new organisations wanting to deliver family mediation from February 2015 and for current providers seeking to undertake work at extra outreach locations.
Full story: Family Law
Full story: Family Law
Councils could save £150m on foster care services, says report
Local authorities would be able to save a total of £150m a year by improving the way they work with prospective foster parents, a report has claimed.
Full story: Children & Young People Now
Full story: Children & Young People Now
New national standards for family court experts
New national standards designed to raise the quality of expert witness evidence in family court cases and speed up proceedings become law.
Full story: Ministry of Justice
Full story: Ministry of Justice
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