Breaking Point
No area of our local government draws as much ire and mistrust as family courts. Seemingly countless blogs, YouTube channels, and Facebook groups are
Tag : Family Courts
3 min read
National DoLs court launched to handle children’s deprivation of liberty cases
Story updated 23 June 2022 The leading family judge has launched a National DoLs (deprivation of liberty) Court to handle applications to deprive
6 min read
Cafcass ‘in serious jeopardy’ regarding social work staffing due to pay constraints
Story updated 20 May 2022 Cafcass is in “serious jeopardy” in relation to its social work staffing due to government pay constraints, its chief
7 min read
TV investigation aims to highlight trauma faced by families from wrongful child protection action
Story updated 17 May 2022 A BBC Panorama investigation aimed to highlight the “traumatic” effect on families when the state intervenes badly in
5 min read
‘Vital but not fit for purpose’: parents’ views on supervision orders
By Professor Judith Harwin and Lily Golding ‘Not worth the paper they are written on’; ‘lack teeth’; ‘thresholds confusing’ – these
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Social worker pay ‘becoming uncompetitive’ at Cafcass, warns chief
Social worker pay at Cafcass will be “uncompetitive” in many places unless the government gives the family courts body more freedom to set
4 min read
Cafcass awarded further £2.3m to tackle case backlog
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has increased Cafcass’s funding for the current financial year by £2.3m to help it tackle staff shortages and a case
4 min read
Cafcass awarded further £2.3m to tackle case backlog
Article amended to clarify Cafcass’ policy on public law cases The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has increased Cafcass’s funding for the current
1 min read
Councils can arrange Covid vaccines for children in care despite parent opposition, High Court rules
The High Court has ruled that local authorities can usually arrange for children in their care to have Covid-19 and flu vaccines even when parents
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Family court rejects 41-year-old solicitor’s attempt to sue parents for financial support
An ‘unedifying and really rather sad dispute’ A baffled judge has rejected a 41-year-old solicitor’s attempt to sue his parents for financial
6 min read
Case Law: Newman v Southampton City Council; Child, Mother, journalist, Whose rights win out? – Michael White
The High Court handed down judgment on Friday in Newman v Southampton City Council & Ors [2020] EWHC 2103 (Fam), the first recorded judgment
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Overhaul of family courts announced
Report a major step forward in exposing what victims of domestic abuse have been saying for decades. The government has announced an overhaul of the
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IPSO: 296 days to correct a factual inaccuracy, effective press regulation? – FCReportingWatch
296 days ago, on 27 August 2019, the Daily Express published an inaccurate article in the print edition of their paper. On 18 June 2020 they have
9 min read
Reporting the Family Courts: the President’s New Clothes – FC Reporting Watch
This week has seen reports in the legal press of a speech in which the President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, set out an idea for
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Court Reporting: President of Family Division issues new guidance on reporting the Family Courts
The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, has issued new Guidance as to “Reporting in the Family Courts” [pdf]. The guidance