With Brexit at the forefront of the national agenda, Coram, the country’s first children’s charity, is calling on the government to take pro-active steps to advance the rights of children now and in the future.
Full story: Family Law
Children in UK's poorest areas 10 times more likely to go into care
Study finds one in 60 children taken into care in most deprived areas compared with one in 660 in the wealthiest.
Full story: The Guardian
Full story: The Guardian
City trader who earned £10m in bonuses fights to slash her husband’s divorce payoff by £1.5m
A former City trader who made millions in bonuses working in the energy market is fighting to have her divorce settlement to her ex-husband cut by £1.5 million to £1.2 million.
Full story: Evening Standard
Full story: Evening Standard
Removal of harsh evidence tests will help domestic violence victims
The removal of a 5-year time limit on evidence of abuse which prevents vulnerable victims of domestic violence from obtaining legal aid for court hearings has been welcomed by the Law Society of England and Wales.
Full story: Family Law
Full story: Family Law
Tribute paid by Sir James Munby to Sir Nicholas Wall
The President of the Family Division, Sir James Munby, has paid tribute to the former President, Sir Nicholas Wall, who died last week.
Full story: Family Law Week
Full story: Family Law Week
High Court rules against sharia-only divorce claim
The Family Division of the High Court has ruled against a man who claimed his marriage could only be dissolved under sharia, and that his wife must travel to Pakistan for a divorce.
Full story: National Secular Society
Full story: National Secular Society
HRA claims and concurrent care proceedings
Third party costs orders, statutory charge guidance and an invitation to the Lord Chancellor.
Full story: Family Law Week
Full story: Family Law Week
Resolution response to Prisons and Courts Bill
Resolution, the biggest national organisation of family lawyers, has issued a response to today's Prisons and Courts Bill. The Bill was unveiled today by Justice Secretary Elizabeth Truss.
Full story: Family Law
Full story: Family Law
MOJ publishes research on the cross-examination of vulnerable and intimidated witnesses in private family law
The Ministry of Justice has today (23 February 2017) published a report on the cross-examination of vulnerable and intimidated witnesses in private family law.
Full story: Family Law
Full story: Family Law
Council criticised over death of child on special guardianship order
A children's services department has been criticised for a raft of failures in their handling of the case of an 18-month-old girl, who was murdered after being placed with a family member through a special guardianship order.
Full story: Children & Young People Now
Full story: Children & Young People Now
Courts to ban cross-examination of victims by abusers
Domestic abusers will no longer be able to cross-examine their former partners in family courts in England and Wales, the justice secretary is to announce.
Full story: BBC News
Full story: BBC News
Legal aid shakeup hands lifeline to domestic violence victims
Removal of five-year limit for applications follows vow by prime minister to increase domestic abuse prosecutions.
Full story: The Guardian
Full story: The Guardian
Relate puts pioneering online divorce project on hold
A project to create the first online dispute resolution system for divorcing and separating couples in the UK has been put on hold, Legal Futures has been told.
Full story: Legal Futures
Full story: Legal Futures
Social workers advised to visit homes for six months in suspected abuse cases
Social workers should consider home visits for at least six months if there are suspicions that a child is being abused or neglected, new guidance has suggested.
Full story: Children & Young People Now
Full story: Children & Young People Now
Businessman 'repeatedly lied' during evidence in cash battle with estranged wife
A High Court judge has concluded a businessman dubbed ''Africa's youngest billionaire'' by journalists lied during the latest stage of a cash battle with his estranged wife.
Full story: Aol.
Full story: Aol.
Judge describes man in divorce case as ‘unattractive witness’ who tried to ‘bully the court’
A businessman embroiled in a High Court cash fight with his estranged wife tried to ‘fall back on his dyslexia and Asperger’s’ when the going got tough during a trial, a judge has said.
Full report: Metro
Full report: Metro
Heterosexual couple lose civil partnership challenge
A heterosexual couple have lost their Court of Appeal battle for the right to enter into a civil partnership instead of a marriage.
Full story: BBC News
Full story: BBC News
Family judge condemns 2,000-page bundle
A family judge has expressed his disapproval at the ‘unwarranted expenditure’ in a case where a local authority breached Article 8 rights under the European Convention on Human Rights by taking an infant into care.
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Full story: Law Society Gazette
76 projects to share £20 million fund to support domestic violence victims
Seventy-six projects across the country will receive a share of £20 million to support victims of domestic abuse.
Full story: Family Law Week
Full story: Family Law Week
Prime Minister's plans to transform the way we tackle domestic violence and abuse
Prime Minister Theresa May announced plans for a major programme of work leading towards bringing forward a Domestic Violence and Abuse Act.
Full story: Ministry of Justice
Full story: Ministry of Justice
New research identifies impact of shortened care proceedings
Fewer care orders and placement orders made; more special guardianship and supervision orders.
Full story: Family Law Week
Full story: Family Law Week
Domestic abuse victims wait nearly two years for compensation
Criminal injuries payouts delayed by almost double the time advised by charter, Ministry of Justice data show.
Full story: The Guardian
Full story: The Guardian
Court of Protection holds first public hearing under transparency pilot
The Court of Protection has started its first public hearing under its transparency pilot.
Full story: Local Government Lawyer
Full story: Local Government Lawyer
Parliamentary Group on Children of Alcoholics launches manifesto
Group calls for national strategy to counter ‘Britain's biggest secret scandal’.
Full story: Family Law Week
Full story: Family Law Week
Kirkless council breached parents’ human rights by removing baby
Council ordered to pay £11,250 after removing week-old baby over father’s ‘unorthodox views’ about benefits of formula milk.
Full story: The Guardian
Full story: The Guardian
Guidance issued on DoLS and intensive care after landmark ruling
The judgment held that “in general” there could be no deprivation of liberty under human rights law when a person is receiving lifesaving treatment.
Full story: Community Care
Full story: Community Care
Work done by social workers ‘marginalised’ in court, council says
A council also reported that a rise in legal challenges to placement orders was contributing to adoption delays.
Full story: Community Care
Full story: Community Care
‘Helen Archer’ law must not forget alleged abusers
Barrister condemns routine use of terminology that fails to acknowledge presumption of innocence.
Full story: Solicitors Journal
Full story: Solicitors Journal
Government rebuffs latest calls for no-fault divorce
Widespread calls to reform divorce laws appear to be falling on deaf ears after the government confirmed it has no current plans to change existing legislation.
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Full story: Law Society Gazette
University professor’s challenge to the validity of his 16 year marriage fails
Court of Appeal applies ‘presumption of marriage’ to Syrian couple’s relationship.
Full story: Family Law Week
Full story: Family Law Week
Doctors can end life-support for baby 'with only weeks to live', judge rules
High court judge says stopping ‘invasive’ treatment is in baby’s best interests despite her parents’ objections.
Full story: The Guardian
Full story: The Guardian
ADCS and Cafcass agree on ways social workers can collaborate during proceedings
The Association of Directors of Children’s Services and Cafcass have struck an agreement on how social workers in both local authorities and those acting as guardians in family proceedings can better work together during care proceedings and pre-proceedings in the family courts.
Full story: Local Government Lawyer
Full story: Local Government Lawyer
Woman seeks to end 39-year marriage in Valentine's Day court appeal
Tini Owens is appealing against judge’s ‘extraordinarily unusual’ refusal to grant her a divorce last year.
Full story: The Guardian
Full story: The Guardian
Divorcees don't need to afford lifestyle they were accustomed to in marriage, Court of Appeal judge says as he rules against ex-wife
Divorcees do not need to be able to afford the lifestyle they were accustomed to in marriage, a Court of Appeal judge has suggested as he rejected an ex-wife’s bid to increase her settlement.
Full story: The Telegraph
Full story: The Telegraph
Divorced parents who pit children against former partners 'guilty of abuse'
Divorced parents who "brainwash" their children against ex-partners are guilty of “abuse”, the head of the agency that looks after youngsters' interests in family courts has said.
Full story: The Telegraph
Full story: The Telegraph
Violent abusers to be prevented from cross-examining ex-partners in court
Domestic violence victims will no longer face the threat of being interrogated by their former partners in court under proposed legislation.
Full story: The Observer
Full story: The Observer
Munby to step down next year
The most senior family judge in England and Wales, renowned among practitioners for his outspoken views, is to step down next year.
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Cafcass private law demand
In January 2017, Cafcass received a total of 3,356 new private law cases. This is a 17% increase on January 2016 levels.
Full story: Cafcass
Full story: Cafcass
Care applications in January 2017
In January 2017, Cafcass received a total of 1,119 care applications. This figure represents a 7% increase compared with those received in January 2016.
Full story: Cafcass
Full story: Cafcass
High demand requires exceptional collaboration between local authorities and Cafcass
New agreement launched by ADCS and Cafcass aims to strengthen working together for children facing the care system.
Full story: Family Law Week
Full story: Family Law Week
Munro withdraws backing for ‘dangerous’ social care exemptions plan
Leading child protection expert says she fears measures in Children and Social Work Bill will create more dangers than benefits.
Full story: Community Care
Full story: Community Care
Cohabiting partner wins pension fight in Supreme Court
Nomination requirement added nothing to evidential hurdle concerning cohabiting relationship.
Full story: Family Law Week
Full story: Family Law Week
High Court blocks deprivation of liberty damages claim
Judge refuses to grant extension to allow learning disabled man to launch claim relating to care placement that ended in 2013.
Full story: Community Care
Full story: Community Care
Separated parents working together on child maintenance arrangements
Thousands of children are benefiting from their separated parents working together on child maintenance arrangements, new figures show.
Full story: Department for Work and Pensions
Full story: Department for Work and Pensions
Court orders man to increase payments to wife who lost bulk of divorce settlement with 'poor financial decisions'
A wife who lost the bulk of her divorce settlement by making "poor financial decisions" has been awarded larger monthly payments from her ex-husband despite calls from his lawyer for maintenance limits to reflect "social change".
Full story: The Telegraph
Full story: The Telegraph
Court of Appeal applies Wyatt v Vince in 'delay' case
Husband’s claim that court had paid insufficient regard to wife's delay rejected.
Full post: Family Law Week
Full post: Family Law Week
‘Honour killing’ Bill to have second reading on 24 March 2017
The Crime (Aggravated Murder of and Violence Against Women) Bill was introduced to Parliament on Tuesday 31 January 2017 under the Ten Minute Rule.
Full story: Family Law Week
ALC writes to Liz Truss about the ‘most shameful consequence of the LASPO Act’
Association offers to assist to end cross-examination of victims by alleged abusers.
Full story: Family Law Week
Full story: Family Law Week
Consent ‘not required’ for section 20 accommodation, judge says
The Court of Appeal has said good practice guidance set out by Sir James Munby should still be followed, but not meeting it doesn't necessarily mean there is an 'actionable wrong'.
Full story: Community Care
Full story: Community Care
Munby: court did not ‘cave in’ over release of jailed 71-year-old
The senior family judge has insisted the Court of Appeal has not ‘caved in’ at the ‘first sign of obduracy’ following the release of a 71-year-old jailed for contempt.
Full story: Law Society Gazette
Full story: Law Society Gazette
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