Court

The UK Family Court System Is Under Immense Pressure — But Is Meaningful Reform Politically Attractive? The UK family court system is struggling under the weight of rising caseloads, limited resources and persistent delays. Families seeking decisions about child arrangements, divorce, domestic abuse,[...]

Family Lawyer Burnout: Is the Cost of Family Justice Becoming Unsustainable? Family lawyers are increasingly questioning whether they have a sustainable future in the profession. A Guardian Australia investigation reported that experienced family lawyers were leaving private practice—or considering[...]

In a recent case in the family court, the ‘millionaire’s defence’ was considered in the midst of proceedings relating to child maintenance between unmarried partners. The term describes circumstances in which a party is so exceptionally wealthy that they can argue the claim can be[...]

Navigating the Legal Landscape of Covert Recordings in Family Proceedings in England and Wales In an age where technology allows anyone with a mobile device to covertly record conversations, the use of such recordings in family proceedings is a growing concern in England and Wales. While the law permits[...]

Court delays leave tens of thousands of kids in limbo after parents split Data shows that children removed from their parents were having to wait an average of 46 weeks to get a final decision on where they would live. In 25% of areas, the wait was double the recommended government target of 26 weeks,[...]

Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) – This is an organisation which works with children and young people and their families, and then advises the family court on what it considers to be in the best interests of each child. Cafcass worker – Depending on what the family[...]

In April 2022, the way you are able to divorce your partner changed in the UK. The new rules meant that there was no need to cast blame or even have a specific reason, such as adultery or unreasonable behaviour, to justify the divorce. The new process requires only a statement from one spouse that[...]

AI McKenzie Friend to help fight a speeding case in court Later this month, an artificial intelligence from the company DoNotPay will assist a defendant in court with their speeding case. The AI will run on a phone, listen to everything said in the courtroom, and then instruct the defendant via an[...]

Norfolk MP takes the family court backlog into the Commons… Duncan Baker, MP for North Norfolk, highlighted the impact of the backlogs in the House of Commons recently saying that significant backlogs were having “real knock-on effects on families, single parents and children”. Family[...]

Parental Alienation or Implacable Hostility: The Language of the Family Court Content warnings – this article discusses paedophilia and other paraphilias. It also mentions child suicide and rape. We believe it is important to be aware of the history behind the terms ‘parental alienation’[...]

Family court reporting to be allowed for the first time Until now, reporters have been able to observe hearings, but only report what was specifically allowed by a judge. From the end of January 2023, journalists in Leeds, Cardiff, and Carlisle will be able to report on what they see and hear during[...]