The Practice Direction 25B came into force on 1st October 2014 and supplements Family Procedure Rules 2010 Part 25. It should also be read in conjunction with: Practice Direction 25A (Experts – Emergencies and Pre proceedings Instructions); Practice Direction 25C (Children Proceedings – The Use of Single Joint...
Read MoreFrom 3rd November 2014 more couples are to benefit from free mediation following an announcement by Simon Hughes, Minister of State for Justice and Civil Liberties. The first mediation session will be free provided at least one of the parties is already legally aided. The 'free sessions'...
Read MoreRe D (A Child) [2014] EWFC 39 On 31st October 2014 the President of the Family Division Sir James Munby delivered an approved judgment in the above case dealing specifically with the impact of the denial of legal aid to the parents in the case. Both...
Read MorePlease take note of the above case report - Re V (A Child:Identification of Perpetrator) (28th October 2014) The Judgment was handed down by His Honour Judge Bellamy. The court was asked by the local authority to identify which of the multiple injuries suffered by the...
Read MorePlease take note of the above case report- The judgment of His Honour Judge Bellamy in H (A Child - Breach of Convention Rights - Damages) [2014] EWFC 38 addresses the successful claim for damages in care proceedings for breach of the parents' human rights. The parents asserted that...
Read MorePlease take note of the above case report - M (A Child : Failure to Comply with Achieving Best Evidence) [2014] EWFC B141 (27 October 2014) The Judgment was handed down by His Honour Judge Bellamy and deals with, in particular, failure to comply with ABE...
Read MorePlease be aware of the latest Department for Education guidance for Local Authorities, Social Workers and Child Protection lawyers in relation to necessary steps and practical guidance in cases with a foreign element....
Read MoreThe Department of Education has produced the Government's response to a consultation it launched last year in respect of improving the prospects of permanence for children in care. The response entitled Consultation on looked-after children: improving permanence can be downloaded here....
Read MoreA recent – at first blush, seemingly relatively innocuous – Court of Appeal decision to refuse an appeal by a “resident” Father against a decision to refuse him permission to relocate with his two boys (11 and 7), new wife and their daughter (2) to...
Read MoreYou could be excused, as a practitioner in the field of child protection or family law, for balking at the suggestion of reading anything more than we have to already. What with the seemingly never-ending cascade of new legislation, practice notes and directions, statutory guidance,...
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