Judge wrong to let 14-year-old boy instruct solicitor
A family court judge was wrong to order that a 14-year-old boy be allowed to instruct his own solicitor in care proceedings, the Court of Appeal has ruled. Full story: Legal Futures.
Media entitled to name lay justices and advisers, court rules
There is no case for lay justices’ names not to be in the public domain when decisions are made, a High Court judge has said. Full report: Law Society Gazette.
Councils selected to test specialist child protection social workers
Dorset, Lincolnshire and Wolverhampton will also trial merging targeted early help and child in need provision within family help teams, as part of government social care reform programme. Full story: Community Care.
Court of Appeal finds material irregularity in childcare proceedings was “of no practical effect”
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal brought by a mother against a fact-finding hearing which found she was the perpetrator of injuries inflicted on her child. Full story: Local Government Lawyer.
‘Quickie’ divorces and will writing to be investigated
Firms offering “quickie” divorces and will writing are to be investigated by the UK’s competition watchdog. Full story: BBC News.
Re A and B (Children: ‘Parental Alienation’) (No. 5) [2023] EWHC 1864 (Fam) (27 July 2023)
Fact-finding in long-running child arrangements proceedings, concerning serious allegations by the father against the mother, who had previously been found to have alienated the children against him. Full report: National Archives.
LKM v NPM [2023] EWFC 118 (18 May 2023)
Final hearing of child arrangement proceedings, following fact-finding in which the court made serious and extensive findings of abusive behaviour by the father. Full report: National Archives.
C, Re (Parental Alienation: Permanent Removal to Germany) [2023] EWHC 1955 (Fam) (27 July 2023)
Applications by father for a CAO and by mother for permission permanently to remove child to Germany. Father’s allegation of parental alienation not made out and mother’s application granted. Full report: Bailii.
Care proceedings, in which the issue was whether the court should authorise child’s continued placement in foster care under a care order, or authorise a plan for adoption by also making a placement order. Full report: National Archives.
Re MLD (Summary Dismissal of Child Arrangements Application) [2023] EWFC 129 (4 July 2023)
Summary dismissal of father’s contact application, where he is serving a life sentence for murder, and the family is in fear of reprisals. Full report: National Archives.
KRD v PTL [2023] EWHC 1952 (Fam) (16 June 2023)
Applications in private law proceedings by mother for a RRO and by father to permit him to disclose information from the proceedings. Full report: National Archives.
Re S (Children: Parentage and Jurisdiction) [2023] EWCA Civ 897
Application for child arrangements order by former civil partner of mother of children born by artificial insemination. Appeal concerning jurisdiction and whether she is the legal parent. Full report: National Archives.
BD v BJ [2023] EWHC 1613 (Fam) (29 June 2023)
Application by father for summary return of child to Canada. Held that the Convention did not apply as by the relevant date the child was habitually resident in England. Full report: National Archives.
SR & Anor v AE [2023] EWFC 127 (26 July 2023)
Application for an adoption of an 18 year-old, by her uncle and aunt who have cared for her since the death of her parents in 2018. Adoption order made. Full report: Bailii.
Lloyd-Bagrationi & Anor, Re [2023] EWFC 128 (26 July 2023)
Application for a declaration that the first applicant is the son of The Right Honourable Lord Stephen Henry Lloyd, born on 22nd November 1939 and Her Royal Highness Kate Erekle Bagrationi. Application found to be totally without merit and struck out. Full report: Bailii.
C (Child: Ability to Instruct Solicitor) [2023] EWCA Civ 889 (26 July 2023)
Appeal by mother against order allowing 14-year-old boy to instruct his own solicitor in proceedings brought by the parents to discharge care orders. Appeal allowed. Full report: Bailii.
K & S (Article 13(b)), Re [2023] EWHC 1883 (Fam) (21 July 2023)
Application by father for the summary return of children to the USA. Return ordered, after mother’s Article 13(b) defence not made out. Full report: Bailii.
N & A (1996 Hague Convention: Costs) [2023] EWCA Civ 887 (25 July 2023)
Application for costs by father following successful appeal against an order made in proceedings brought by mother seeking return of children to this country. Full report: Bailii.
London Borough of Barking & Dagenham v RM & Ors [2023] EWHC 777 (Fam) (17 March 2023)
Care proceedings. Judgment concerning issue of whether the mother’s HIV positive status should be disclosed to the father. Full report: Bailii.
A Local Authority v X & Ors (Need for Finding of Fact Hearing) [2023] EWFC 121 (24 July 2023)
Care proceedings concerning 11 year old boy. Judgment considering whether a fact finding hearing was required to determine the cause of death of the boy’s niece, with whom he lived. Full report: National Archives.
Re H (A Child) (Recusal) [2023] EWCA Civ 860 (24 July 2023)
Appeal by mother in private law proceedings against decision to allow an appeal by the father against the refusal by the judge allocated to the case to recuse himself from the proceedings. Appeal allowed. Full report: National Archives.