Father who saw toddler daughter killed by runaway Range Rover fighting to close legal loophole – The Independent

‘The father of a one-year-old girl killed by a runaway car says he’ll never stop fighting for a change in the law after the driver was not prosecuted due to a “loophole” in the legal system.’

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The Independent, 29th November 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

High Court grants permission for legal challenge over lack of legal aid for school exclusion appeals – Local Government Lawyer

‘The High Court has granted permission for a claimant to challenge the lack of legal aid for appeals before an Independent Review Panel (IRP), the independent body that reviews the lawfulness of permanent exclusions.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 29th November 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Medics quitting jobs over ‘distress caused by rightwing Christian group’ – The Guardian

Posted November 29th, 2023 in appeals, children, Christianity, doctors, families, intimidation, medical treatment, news by sally

‘Medics treating critically ill babies are quitting their jobs owing to “considerable moral distress” caused by a rightwing Christian group behind a series of end-of-life court cases, the Guardian has been told.’

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The Guardian, 27th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Family of headteacher Ruth Perry refused legal aid for inquest into her death – The Guardian

Posted November 27th, 2023 in bereavement, costs, families, inquests, legal aid, mental health, news, ombudsmen, suicide, teachers by tracey

‘The family of the headteacher Ruth Perry, whose death after a critical Ofsted inspection will be the subject of a high-profile inquest this week, have been refused legal aid to fund their representation just days before the hearing is due to start.’

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The Guardian, 26th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

People smugglers ordered to pay over £280,000 from criminal profits in the Essex lorry deaths case – Crown Prosecution Service

‘A convicted people smuggler, responsible for the manslaughter of 39 people who died in the back of a lorry in Essex, has today (24 September 2023) been ordered to pay a total of £65,157.65 to victims’ families through a Confiscation Order made by the court today.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 24th November 2023

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Litigation friend ordered to pay £42,000 costs for ‘wholly inadequate’ performance – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A litigation friend who was said to be suffering from depression has been ordered to pay more than £42,000 in costs after a judge found his performance “wholly inadequate.”’

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Law Society's Gazette, 23rd November 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Family President signals need for “radical departure” from current model of how courts consider contact with birth family after adoption – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 23rd, 2023 in adoption, families, family courts, news, young persons by sally

‘The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, has outlined a “pressing need” for courts and those who advise them to modernise the approach that is taken to supporting young, adopted persons by “enhancing the degree to which they may maintain some form of relationship with their birth family after adoption”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 22nd November 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Workington parents jailed for death of baby Dallas Kelly – BBC News

‘A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his four-month-old son.’

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BBC News, 21st November 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Special Contributions in Family Law – 33 Bedford Row

‘How often do practitioners have a client insist that they have made a “greater” or a “special” contribution to the family’s finances? This is a regular occurrence in conference rooms up and down the country. This instruction from a lay client is often followed by a request to “ring fence” certain assets. What advice should be given to these adamant lay clients? Invariably, a lay client must be advised that it is extremely difficult to convince a court and that one party has made a “special contribution”. The court’s reluctance is rooted in the need to end discrimination between the breadwinner and a homemaker. Special contribution arguments are made by the breadwinners, usually in high net-worth cases and these arguments often lead nowhere.’

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33 Bedford Row, 17th October 2023

Source: www.33bedfordrow.co.uk

Family Law Update: October 2023 – 5SAH

Posted November 22nd, 2023 in chambers articles, families, family courts, news by sally

‘The update features the following articles:

– London’s reputation as divorce capital could be tested by legal shake-up: Jaqueline Julyan SC.​
– Niamh Wilkie Features in FT Adviser: Navigating Maintenance Order Rules Post-Brexit.
– Mark Smith features in Family Law Journal: Extradition and family proceedings: where does the balance lie?
– Maria Scotland Features in Spear’s: Divorcing In Dubai: Should Wealthy Expats Worry About New UAE Family Laws?’

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5SAH, 2nd October 2023

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

High court to consider whether universities owe students legal duty of care – The Guardian

‘The high court is to consider for the first time whether universities owe a legal duty of care to their students, which campaigners argue would save lives and bring England and Wales in line with other countries.’

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The Guardian, 20th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘I paid £30k to protect my child from her paedophile dad’ – BBC News

‘When her daughter’s father was sent to prison for child sexual abuse, Bethan was horrified to discover he could still be allowed access to their child after he was released. It was a risk she wasn’t willing to take. Outside a Cardiff courtroom, a smartly dressed young woman sits waiting, anxiously. Bethan has never been inside a family court before, but she is here to try to protect her child – whose father has been convicted of paedophile offences and is currently in jail.’

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BBC News, 20th November 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Delay for children as result of longer case durations is “single most pressing issue” for family justice system, warns Cafcass in new strategic plan – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 16th, 2023 in children, delay, families, family courts, news by sally

‘The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) has published its strategic plan for 2023-26, in which it warns that delay for children as a result of longer case durations is now the “single most pressing issue” for the family justice system.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 14th November 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Council granted leave to make application for change in forename of child, subject to outcome of care order application – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 16th, 2023 in care orders, children, families, local government, names, news by sally

‘The High Court has granted leave to a local authority to make an application to change an eight-month old’s registered forename.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th November 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Deaths, daughters-in-law, and delay in 1975 Act claims – Archibald v Stewart & Another [2023] EWHC 2515 (CH) – New Square Chambers

Posted November 14th, 2023 in chambers articles, families, news, wills by sally

‘In this article, Millie Rai, discusses the recent High Court decision in Archibald v Stewart & Another [2023]. She delves into the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, focusing on key issues such as the survival of 1975 Act claims after the claimant’s death, the eligibility of claimants, and the permission to bring claims out of time. The case clarifies important aspects of 1975 Act claims and provides valuable insights for legal practitioners.’

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New Square Chambers, 30th October 2023

Source: www.newsquarechambers.co.uk

Critically-ill baby’s parents take end-of-life care fight to appeal court – The Independent

Posted November 10th, 2023 in appeals, children, citizenship, doctors, families, family courts, Italy, medical treatment, news by tracey

‘The parents of a critically ill baby who has been at the centre of a life-support fight are preparing to mount an appeal after failing to persuade a High Court judge to let the little girl receive end-of-life care at home.’

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The Independent, 10th November 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Woman found guilty of murdering toddler she was adopting decade ago – The Independent

‘A woman has been found guilty of murdering a one-year-old child she was in the process of adopting.’

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The Independent, 9th November 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Court of Appeal allows appeal by father over interim care order – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 9th, 2023 in appeals, care orders, children, drug abuse, families, local government, mental health, news by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has allowed a father’s appeal against interim care orders made in respect of his three children.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 8th November 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

SP v DM [2023] EWHC 2089 (Fam): Important ruling on giving evidence in Family Court proceedings – Pallant Chambers

Posted November 9th, 2023 in appeals, chambers articles, evidence, families, family courts, news, pregnancy by sally

‘Eve Anstey for Respondent Father – Giving evidence at a fact-finding hearing is, at the best of times, a stressful and emotional experience. Add to that a pregnancy in its third trimester and an important issue on principle is raised about the parameters of the court’s duty to ensure that a trial is conducted fairly whilst ensuring that the mother’s vulnerability is properly protected. In SP v DM, Sir Jonathan Cohen considered that very issue and the Appellant mother’s arguments which significantly attacked the court for purported procedural irregularity in the way that it conducted the fact-finding hearing in respect of mother’s evidence in light of her pregnancy. The appeal was dismissed on all grounds.’

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Pallant Chambers, 14th October 2023

Source: www.pallantchambers.co.uk

Frank McKeever: Couple convicted of murder after forced ‘confession’ – BBC News

Posted November 8th, 2023 in child abuse, families, murder, news, sexual offences, video recordings by sally

‘A woman and her partner have been found guilty of killing her step-father and dumping his body after they forced him to make a “video confession”.’

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BBC News, 7th November 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk