When Two Worlds Collide – the interplay of SGOs and care orders in light of F v G [2021] EWCA Civ 622 – Family Law Week

Posted June 11th, 2021 in appeals, care orders, children, families, guardianship, local government, news by tracey

‘Madeleine Whelan, barrister of Fourteen, analyses a recent Court of Appeal case that highlights the flexibility of the Children Act.’

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Family Law Week, 9th June 2021

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Ex-police officer who tracked wife with GPS spared same fate Published14 hours ago – BBC News

‘A controlling husband who planted a GPS device in his wife’s car objected to being tracked himself as punishment.’

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BBC News, 10th June 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Christopher Kapessa: Family wins legal bid to review decision not to prosecute teen over river death – The Independent

‘The family of 13-year-old Christopher Kapessa, who died after being pushed into the River Cynon in South Wales in July 2019, have won a High Court bid for a review of the decision not to prosecute the teenager accused of being responsible.’

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The Independent, 11th June 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Costs orders – litigate at your peril – Family Law

‘It seems there has been a never-ending line of costs commentary flowing through the reported decisions from financial remedy courts as of late. There is a clear trend of encouraging the making of costs orders; something that was far from the norm of no costs orders in contested financial remedy proceedings a few years ago. The reasons for this encouragement are many and possibly speculative; perhaps a by-product of the cuts to Legal Aid and therefore the lack of access to legal representation inevitably leading to extensive, unnecessary, and unmeritorious litigation, perhaps a consequence of the continued backlog in the family courts, perhaps an ancillary product of the widening parameters of judicial discretion and uncertainty?’

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Family Law, 3rd June 2021

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Newborn care report sparks judicial response – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Judges are to investigate the use of urgent hearings in proceedings involving babies, after a study found that 85% of mothers in cases involving newborns being taken into care were given less than seven days’ formal notice.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 4th June 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Narcissism and Family Law – a practitioner’s guide – Family Law Week

Posted June 7th, 2021 in barristers, divorce, families, legal profession, mental health, news, solicitors by tracey

‘Karin Walker, Founder of KGW Family Law, provides a guide to help family lawyers identify and manage narcissistic behaviour in any divorce or separation.’

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Family Law Week, 4th June 2021

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

‘Overwhelming and emotionally traumatic’: 1 in 6 new mothers only given a day’s notice of care proceedings, research says – The Independent

‘One in six mothers involved in care proceedings over the last year were given just a day’s notice of a court hearing to decide whether their newborn child would be taken into care, according to research. The vast majority of such women in England and Wales receive less than one week’s notice, new analysis shows.’

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The Independent, 5th June 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Hillsborough disaster: Police forces agree compensation money after cover-up – The Independent

‘Two police forces have agreed to pay damages to more than 600 people after a cover-up following the Hillsborough disaster, lawyers have said. The South Yorkshire and West Midlands forces agreed the settlement following a civil claim for misfeasance in a public office on behalf of 601 claimants, solicitors representing the victims said.’

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The Independent, 5th June 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Christopher Kapessa: Mum plans legal action over river death – BBC News

‘A mother plans to launch her own legal action if the decision not to prosecute the boy reportedly involved in her son’s death is not reversed.’

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BBC News, 7th June 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Judicial’ Hillsborough inquiry questionnaires cast doubt on trial ruling – The Guardian

‘Further doubt has been cast on the ruling that stopped the trial of two former South Yorkshire police officers and the force’s ex-lawyer on charges of perverting the course of public justice, for amending police statements after the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.’

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The Guardian, 3rd June 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Postcode lottery for baby care orders – judge – BBC News

‘Care order applications are usually made when social workers decide a mother is unable to look after her child on her own. The baby will probably go into foster care and it may be adopted.’

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BBC News, 4th June 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Withdrawal of life sustaining treatment v profound religious beliefs in sanctity of life – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Alta Fixsler was born with catastrophic brain injury. She now two years old, currently a patient at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Paediatric Intensive Care Unit on intensive life sustaining treatment. In this case the court was asked to decide whether it would be in Alta’s best interests for that life-sustaining treatment to be continued. The inevitable consequence of it being discontinued will be the death of Alta.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 3rd June 2021

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Baby and mother win right to access Healthy Start food scheme – The Guardian

‘A one-year-old baby and her mother have won a high court challenge granting her the right to access a healthy food and vitamins scheme from which she was previously barred. Thousands of babies and toddlers similarly denied access to the scheme will now be able to benefit from it.’

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The Guardian, 3rd June 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Welwyn Garden City murder: Alex Staines jailed for life – BBC News

‘An abusive and controlling man who stabbed his former partner to death in her home while her three children were in the house has been jailed for life.’

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BBC News, 1st June 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Girl, 10, refused EU settled status in UK despite all family members being accepted – The Independent

Posted May 28th, 2021 in brexit, children, EC law, families, government departments, immigration, news, visas by tracey

‘A 10-year-old girl has been refused EU settled status despite the fact that all of her immediate family members have been granted it.’

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The Independent, 28th May 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Too soon for a reasonable preference – Nearly Legal

‘This was a judicial review of LB Lewisham’s allocation scheme, and specifically of the operation of the 5 year residence requirement for eligibility to join the housing register and its relation to the ‘reasonable preference’ given to overcrowded households.’

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Nearly Legal, 25th May 2021

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

‘Unjust’ six-month time limit for reporting domestic abuse to police must be extended, MPs urge – The Independent

‘The government must urgently extend the “unjust” six-month time limit for domestic abuse victims to report domestic physical violence to the police, according to MPs who are to raise the issue in parliament.’

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The Independent, 22nd May 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Retention of data on alleged rapist lawful despite acquittal in criminal proceedings – UK Human Rights Blog

‘YZ, R (on the application of) v Chief Constable of South Wales Police (Rev 1) [2021] EWHC 1060 (30 April 2021). The claimant YZ had been acquitted on three counts raping his former wife but details concerning these matters remain on the Police National Computer (PNC). These proceedings concerned whether such retention was lawful.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 21st May 2021

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

A Sigh of Relief: Elkundi & Ors v Birmingham City Council – Nearly legal

‘Hot on the heels of the decision in R (Imam) v London Borough of Croydon (2021) EWHC 739 (Admin) comes this altogether more satisfying decision, Elkundi & Ors, R (On the Application Of) v Birmingham City Council (2021) EWHC 1024 (Admin), on the nature and enforceability of the duty under s. 193(2) Housing Act 1996.’

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Nearly legal, 20th May 2021

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

High Court judge clarifies position on adoption for co-parenting families where relationship has ended – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 21st, 2021 in adoption, children, families, family courts, news by tracey

‘The Family Court has ruled that in co-parenting families one parent may adopt a child born to the other even if they are no longer partners.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st May 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk