Blog

New rules to speed up the adoption system are due to come into force in July, the Government has announced.

The architect of the major reforms which put children at the heart of the family justice system has been reappointed as chair of the Family Justice Board (FJB), the Government has announced.

Recently released statistics have given an insight into the number of care applications received per 10,000 child population – the rate of care applications - by each local authority (LA) in England with children’s services responsibilities.

Two domestic violence charities have highlighted that local public sector commissioners of services for domestic violence victims are facing a more difficult decision making process because of financial cutbacks.

A new approach to care proceedings that tackles the substance misuse of parents has been successful in reducing the number of children taken into care and enabling more families to remain together safely, reports the Nuffield Foundation.

The largest family justice reforms for a generation came into effect on 22nd April this year, the Government has announced.

Separating couples are to be given clear new guidelines setting out what they should expect when property and income is distributed by the courts, the Government has announced.

The welfare of children has been brought closer to the family court system now that key safeguarding organisation the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service Cafcass has joined the Ministry of Justice.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has published new guidance explaining the changes introduced by the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 and how they relate to equality and human rights law.

A man who said he sacrificed his own career to become a “stay-at-home” husband to allow his wife to concentrate on her career as an investment banker has succeeded in his application to have his divorce heard in England, reports the Telegraph.

The Children and Families Act has been given Royal Assent, and as a result reforms to the family justice system will be introduced as part of the relaunched family court system.

Clare's Law – a scheme allowing police to disclose details of an abusive partners’ past – is to be rolled out across England and Wales.

The Government is currently carrying out a consultation exercise over the operation and future of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 in England and Wales. The consultation is seeking views on civil partnership and its continuing role when all couples – whether they are of the same sex or opposite sex – are now able to marry.

The Law Commission has published a report in which it makes recommendations regarding important aspects of the law relating to the financial aspects of divorce and of the dissolution of civil partnership.

The Ministry of Justice has published statistics on cases that are received and processed through the court system of England and Wales in the second quarter of 2013 (July to September).

Thousands of couples who separate each year have been urged to spurn confrontational court battles and instead to try mediation to sort out disputes over finances and children – as new figures show divorce rates increased last year.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published annual statistics on divorces that took place in England and Wales in 2012, following court orders. The statistics do not include divorces to couples usually resident in England and Wales which took place abroad.

The latest matrimonial survey from Grant Thornton has given some interesting insights into recent trends in divorce and other areas of family law across the UK.

A recent ruling by the Supreme Court has made the judgment that a child’s ‘state of mind’ is relevant when making assessments in cases where there is dispute over which country a child should live.

Family law organisation Resolution has welcomed the recent judgment from Sir James Munby, President of the Family Division, in the case of S v S, in which he upholds the decision (award) made through a private arbitration. This award was made under the scheme established in England and Wales by the Institute of Family Law Arbitrators (IFLA).