Curfews proposed for parents who fail to pay child maintenance
Parents who refuse to pay child maintenance could face curfews, as Ministers plan new powers for the Child Maintenance Service. Full story: Department for Work and Pensions.
Professionals working with child in deprivation of liberty cases need to have clear and comprehensive understanding of operational procedures of other agencies, says High Court judge
A Family Division judge has strongly criticised the lack of therapeutic care within a restrictive environment for young people who need this. Full story: Local Government Lawyer.
Resolution backs ‘one lawyer, two clients’ divorce model
Family justice body Resolution has said it will unveil a new model of working which allows a single lawyer to advise both parties in a divorce or separation. Full story: Law Society Gazette.
Grandmother secures fresh hearing after Court of Appeal finds process that led to placement order deficient
An appeal from the Family Court at Liverpool must be allowed even though it would leave a boy aged two in a foster placement where he has already spent all his life, the Court of Appeal has ruled. Full story: Local Government Lawyer.
Campaigner calls for secret family court judgments in Logan Mwangi case to be published
A campaigner wants the private family court judgments relating to teenage killer Craig Mulligan – who was allowed to live with the five-year-old boy he went on to murder – to be published. Full story: Care Appointments.
Financial Remedies Court Notice
Amendments have been made to one of the constitutional documents of the Financial Remedies Court. Full story: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary.
Women’s Aid publishes report into implementation of Harm Panel recommendations
Women’s Aid have published a report titled ‘Two years, too long: Mapping action on the Harm Panel’s findings’. Full story: Family Law Week.
Sir James Holman retires from the High Court
Sir (Edward) James Holman has retired from the High Court with effect from 28 June 2021. Full story: Family Law Week.
New Practice Guidance on remote observation of in-person hearings
The Lord Chief Justice has published Practice Guidance on the new judicial powers to allow remote observation of hearings by non-parties. Full story: Family Law Week.
Deprivation of liberty: rules helping authorities place children across border in Scotland come into force
Regulations set conditions on authorities wishing to place children in Scotland from elsewhere in the UK, but campaigners warn they are providing cover for lack of investment in England. Full story: Community Care.
A (A Child), Re (Enforcement of A Foreign Order) [2022] EWCA Civ 904 (01 July 2022)
Appeal by mother from dismissal of appeal against registration of parental responsibility order made in Réunion, and summary dismissal of application for child arrangements order. Appeal allowed. Full report: Bailii.
Final hearing of financial remedy proceedings, in which the wife also sought declarations that the husband had beneficial interests in two properties held in the names of others, and asserted that the husband had a controlling influence in a business operated by a company, the shares of which were owned by another third party. Full report: Bailii.
Contempt application by father alleging breach of disclosure order by mother’s solicitor. Application struck out, despite firm admitting breach. Full report: Bailii.
Appeal by mother against placement order in respect of a 3 year-old girl. Appeal allowed. Full report: National Archives.
AZ (A Child) (Recusal), Re [2022] EWCA Civ 911 (05 July 2022)
Appeal by mother from refusal of judge to recuse himself during a hearing in long-running private law proceedings. Appeal dismissed. Full report: Bailii.
VLAD v. ROMANIA – 1020/20 (Judgment : Article 8 – Right to respect for private and family life : Fourth Section Committee) [2022] ECHR 547 (05 July 2022)
Application by father concerning failure of authorities to enforce contact orders. Full report: Bailii.
Hearing considering whether court in England and Wales had jurisdiction in relation to child who was born in Antigua in November 2020 and had spent all but ten days of her life there. Full report: Bailii.
Final hearing of wife’s financial remedies application, in which the main issue was the value to be ascribed to the husband’s interest in his business. Full report: Bailii.
Paul v Paul & Ors [2022] EWHC 1638 (Fam) (14 June 2022)
Application by wife for reasonable financial provision from the estate of her late husband, and a declaration that their matrimonial home is held on a constructive trust for herself and her late husband’s estate, as to 50% each. Full report: Bailii.