Munby P: Government support for LiPs ‘sadly inadequate’

Family court procedures and rules are unintelligible to litigants in person.

Full story: Solicitors Journal

Care proceedings in asylum cases often not justifiable, says judge

Accommodation under section 20 'more appropriate' in many cases involving older unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

Full story: Community Care

Judge criticises ‘egregious’ errors in child sexual abuse interview

Failure to report disclosures by child among ‘serious professional errors’ made by solicitor and children's guardian, court hears.

Full story: Community Care

Jonathan Cohen QC appointed to the High Court bench

Jonathan Cohen QC has been appointed to be a Justice of the High Court with effect from 2 October 2017, assigned to the Family Division.

Full story: Family Law Week

Legal talent of the future recognised by Resolution

A student has been awarded the prestigious Resolution Prize for her outstanding achievement in family law studies.

Full story: Resolution

Girl at centre of fostering row should live with grandmother, says judge

Judge Khatun Sapnara ends placement of five-year-old with Muslim family in case seized on by far-right activists.

Full story: The Guardian

Child Support Agency arrears transitioned to the Child Maintenance Service system: November 2014 to June 2017

The number of non-resident parents with Child Support Agency arrears transitioned to the 2012 IT system, and the associated value.

Full story: Department for Work and Pensions

Iain Duncan Smith warns government over cuts to relationship counselling

Ex-cabinet minister says plan to scrap the £10m available to help prevent couples splitting up would be ‘retrograde step’.

Full story: The Guardian

Council to be questioned after placing Christian girl with Muslim foster carers

Children’s commissioner to investigate decision by Tower Hamlets, as campaigner hits out at ‘demonisation of the foreigner’.

Full story: The Guardian

No secure care place available for 'dangerous' teenager, UK judge told

Interim judgment sent to education secretary as search continues for secure accommodation for 14-year-old boy.

Full story: The Guardian

Huge rise in UK child neglect prompts call for urgent action

Reports of problems rise 60% in five years with nearly nine in 10 serious enough to refer to social services or police.

Full story: The Guardian

Brexit: Government wants continuing judicial relationship

A continuing formal reciprocal judicial relationship with the EU will be essential after March 2019, the government conceded today.

Full story: Law Society Gazette

Court approves £10k settlement over delays in providing sex education

The Court of Protection has approved a £10,000 damages settlement plus costs to a man with Down's Syndrome and an associated learning difficulty over delays in the provision of sex education.

Full story: Local Government Lawyer

New victim and witness rooms to improve court experience

Victims and witnesses will have their experience of going to court made easier through a number of new waiting rooms.

Full story: Family Law

Abducted UK children at greater risk if legal ties cut, Brexit officials say

Appealing to foreign courts for help could become harder if Britain fails to persuade union to continue legal cooperation.

Full story: The Guardian

Heterosexual couple take civil partnership case to Supreme Court

A heterosexual couple who want to enter a civil partnership instead of getting married have been granted the right to take their case to the Supreme Court.

Full story: BBC News

‘Legal aid cuts and soaring fees leave vulnerable migrant children with nowhere to turn’

Children’s Society publishes Cut off from Justice report.

Full story: Family Law Week

Recent reports ‘all suggest that under-investment is putting children at risk’

BASW CEO highlights findings by Children’s Commissioner, LGA and Action for Children.

Full story: Family Law Week

Gwynneth Knowles QC appointed to High Court Family Bench

Appointment with effect from 2nd October 2017.

Full story: Family Law Hub

Report calls for young children to have an independent right to privacy

The rise of ‘sharenting’, YouTube families and ‘science entertainment’ television programmes adversely affects the privacy of children, according to a new report.

Full story: Family Law

Children: surrogacy, and single people and parental orders: House of Commons Briefing Paper

Published in anticipation of changes expected in new session of Parliament.

Full story: Family Law Hub

'Unlawful' family court agreement axed

A joint agreement aimed at tackling delays in care proceedings has been ditched amid concerns it is unlawful and could lead to collusion between social workers and family court guardians.

Full story: Children & Young People Now

Counselling domestic abusers cuts offending by third, say researchers

A radical counselling scheme for some domestic abusers cuts offending by a third, researchers say.

Full story: BBC News

Some children stuck in a' revolving door' of referral and assessment

Action for Children says vulnerable children are increasingly receiving help only at crisis point.

Full story: Family Law Week

Supreme Court to consider applications to vary periodical payments orders under MCA s31(7)

Permission given to husband to appeal by Mills v Mills.

Full story: Family Law Week

DIY divorce form could lead to more adultery accusations, lawyers warn

A new "DIY" divorce form designed to speed up the process could lead to thousands more people being accused of adultery, lawyers warn.

Full story: The Telegraph

Children's social care at breaking point, council leaders warn

Analysis by the Local Government Association reveals pressure on budgets.

Full story: Family Law Week

‘Every government department should have ministerial family leads to boost family stability’

Report on prison reform calls for wider support for positive family relationships.

Full story: Family Law Week

Cafcass private law demand

In July 2017, Cafcass received a total of 3,709 new private law cases. This is a 10% increase compared with those received in July 2016.

Full story: Cafcass

Care applications in July 2017

In July 2017, Cafcass received a total of 1,238 care applications. This figure represents a 5% decrease compared with those received in July 2016.

Full story: Cafcass

Supreme Court to hear argument that 'unreasonable behaviour' in divorce is a 'linguistic trap'

Supreme Court grants permission to appeal in Owens case.

Full story: Family Law Hub

Judge approves suicidal girl care plan

A judge who said society should be "ashamed" for not protecting a suicidal girl has approved a care plan for her.

Full story: BBC News

Family Procedure Rules amended as of today

New divorce form D8 may be used from today.

Full story: Family Law Week

Senior judge: Fathers with valuable homes should pay more child support

Estranged fathers with expensive homes should be forced to pay more towards the upbringing of their children, one of Britain's most senior family judges has said.

Full story: The Telegraph

Proposal to extend Child Support Agency case closure programme

The government is  proposing to extend the Child Support Agency case closure programme.

Full story: Family Law

Judge warns of 'blood on our hands' if suicidal girl is forced out of secure care

Sir James Munby, head of high court’s family division, says he is ‘ashamed and embarrassed’ that no hospital place has been found for 17-year-old.

Full story: The Guardian

12% rise in Childline counselling sessions about forced marriage

Recent figures from Childline show growing concern over forced marriage among young people.

Full story: Family Law Week

Multi-million fund reaches record number of adoptive families

Over £52 million has now been released through the Adoption Support Fund, which has helped 22,000 children.

Full story: Department for Education

Government updates child maintenance application fee guidance

The Department for Work and Pensions has updated its guidance which sets out how it will decide if a victim of domestic violence or abuse is exempt from the Child Maintenance Service application fee.

Full story: Family Law

Judge dismisses council’s bid to block parents’ adoption petition

Parents' right to campaign outweighs risk to children, court finds.

Full story: Community Care

Effective family-based child maintenance arrangements: data to March 2017

Children benefiting from effective family-based maintenance arrangements after contacting the Child Maintenance Options service.

Full story: Department for Work and Pensions