The Factors and Guidance to make an application for Discharge of a Care Order pursuant to s. 39 of the Children Act 1989 – Becket Chambers

‘The combined effect of sections 1 and 39 of the Act is that on application of an entitled applicant the court may discharge a care order or replace it with a supervision order, in which case there is no requirement for the s 31(2) threshold to be crossed (the threshold for making a care or supervision order – significant harm). As the decision concerns a question of upbringing, the child’s welfare is the court’s paramount consideration, and particular regard is to be given to the factors in the welfare checklist in s1(3). The court shall not make the order unless to do so would be better for the child than making no order. Provisions of the Act must, so far as is possible to do so, be read and given effect in a way which is compatible with rights protected by Arts 3 and 8 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms 1950.’

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Becket Chambers, 20th August 2021

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk

Division of assets in a short childless marriage (E v L) – 1 GC: Family Law

‘In E v L, Mr Justice Mostyn considered an application for financial remedies following a short marriage. He concluded the fact that the marriage was childless was irrelevant to whether there should be a departure from the application of the equal sharing principle. Moreover, there was no reason to distinguish between an accrual (of assets) over a short marriage and an accrual over a longer marriage. The statutory factor of the duration of marriage was likely to be reflected in any event in that an acquest over a shorter period was likely to be less. Mostyn J also considered the approach to valuing businesses in this case where three accountants gave “hot-tub” evidence as to the value of one of the husband’s companies.’

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1 GC: Family Law, 10th August 2021

Source: 1gc.com

Harry Dunn: Civil damages deposition case postponed – BBC News

‘The deposition of Harry Dunn’s alleged killer has been postponed just days before it was due to take place.’

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BBC News, 19th August 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mother loses appeal over order that father should be informed of care proceedings – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 20th, 2021 in appeals, care orders, children, families, local government, news, rape, sexual offences by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal against an order that a child’s biological father should be informed of care proceedings concerning his daughter against the mother’s wishes.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 19th August 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Judge to decide if Covid patient should be allowed to die – BBC News

‘A judge has been asked to decide if a woman left brain damaged and paralysed from the neck down after contracting Covid-19 should be allowed to die.’

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BBC News, 18th August 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Coercive control: Male victims say they aren’t believed – BBC News

‘A man who reported his female partner to the police for coercive control has said not being taken seriously felt like another form of gaslighting.’

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BBC News, 17th August 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

A closed mind and a failed possession claim – Nearly Legal

‘Tower Hamlets LBC v Ali, County Court at Clerkenwell & Shoreditch. 21 July 2021. Tower Hamlets (“TH”) brought a claim for possession against Mr Ali after his mother, a secure tenant, died. His mother was herself a successor and, accordingly, he was not entitled to succeed under section 87 of the Housing Act 1985. He applied to succeed under TH’s discretionary policy for failed successors which stated that TH would grant a new tenancy to an occupant where they had lived with the tenant for 12 months before the tenant’s death, and they occupied the property as their only or principle home.’

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Nearly Legal, 16th August 2021

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Mark Chilman jailed for murdering ex’s new partner and setting body on fire – BBC News

Posted August 17th, 2021 in families, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘An “obsessed” man has been jailed for at least 22 years for murdering his former long-term girlfriend’s new partner, leaving him in a burning car.’

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BBC News, 16th August 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Coercive control: Male victims say they aren’t believed – BBC News

‘A man who reported his female partner to the police for coercive control has said not being taken seriously felt like another form of gaslighting.’

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BBC News, 17th August 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

How not to conduct a placement application (part 2) – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 13th, 2021 in adoption, appeals, children, families, local government, news, placement orders by sally

‘Rebecca Cross looks at a Court of Appeal ruling in a case where the ADM [agency decision maker] failed to carry out their duties properly.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th August 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Eight things you need to know: Personal Injury damages in divorce cases – Family Law

‘The “pre-acquired” or “non-matrimonial” argument is one which has taken up much commentary in family law circles over recent years. However, the conundrum can be even more challenging when considering personal injury damages that one party may have received in order to meet their specific needs arising from an accident or injury.’

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Family Law, 12th August 2021

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Reform of s 25 criteria for a divorce financial settlement: after 50 years it’s time for the Law Commission to propose a new law – Family Law

‘The statutory criteria to decide what is a fair financial settlement on divorce comes from the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, now almost 50 years old. In reality it derives from judge made law. This has the benefit of being responsive and able to change. It has the disadvantage that there is no public or policy input into the law or changes in the law. It has the significant difficulty that by reference to almost unfettered discretion with propensity for contradictions or nuances in the judge made law it encourages litigation and discourages early settlement. David Hodson has proposed to the Law Commission, in its request for topics for its 14th programme of reform, that there should be a review of the criteria for fair and appropriate financial settlements. This sets out his proposals for the need for reform. It is in a question-and-answer process as required by the Law Commission for any submissions. It would be very helpful to hear from other lawyers and members of the public with their opinions on whether reform is needed and, far more problematical, what that reform should be.’

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Family Law, 12th August 2021

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

The resolutions approach: misunderstood and under-used – Family Law Week

‘Patrick Gilmore, barrister of Deans Court Chambers, describes how the resolutions approach might assist cases in which a parent denies the harm caused to a child.’

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Family Law Week, 10th August 2021

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Rebalancing the Family Justice System – Family Law Week

Posted August 11th, 2021 in child abuse, children, domestic violence, families, family courts, news by sally

‘Syvil Lloyd Morris, Solicitor Advocate and co-founder of Bastian Lloyd Morris, challenges three precepts of the Family Justice System.’

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Family Law Week, 10th August 2021

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Wrong bodies released by NHS mortuaries dozens of times – The Independent

Posted August 9th, 2021 in bereavement, families, hospitals, news, statistics by sally

‘There have been more than 530 serious incidents where NHS trusts have released the wrong body to families or lost, damaged or kept the organs or bodies of babies without family permission, new figures reveal.’

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The Independent, 8th August 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Verphy Kudi: Mother jailed for leaving toddler alone for days to starve to death – The Independent

‘The teenage mother who left her 20-month-old daughter to starve to death while she partied in London and Coventry has been jailed for nine years.’

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The Independent, 7th August 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Is the public law family justice system failing those it is supposed to serve? – Family Law Week

Posted August 6th, 2021 in barristers, families, family courts, news by sally

‘Celestine Greenwood, barrister of Exchange Chambers, offers a personal observation as to the extent that the family justice system adequately and properly serves our society.’

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Family Law Week, 5th August 2021

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Pets and Divorce: Who keeps the dog? – Family Law

Posted August 6th, 2021 in animals, dispute resolution, divorce, families, news by sally

‘The coronavirus pandemic has seen a boom in the number of couples welcoming new pets into their homes. According to the Pet Food Manufactures Association, an estimated 3.2 million UK households have acquired a pet since the start of the pandemic. However, in instances where a relationship breaks down and a couple separates or divorces, who keeps the dog?’

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Family Law, 5th August 2021

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Alta Fixsler: European court says UK hospital can withdraw life support – The Guardian

‘A Manchester hospital may withdraw life support from a seriously brain-damaged child after the European court of human rights rejected an appeal by the girl’s family.’

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The Guardian, 4th August 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Seven men found guilty of murder of Blackburn student Aya Hachem – The Guardian

Posted August 4th, 2021 in bereavement, closed circuit television, families, homicide, murder, news, victims by sally

‘Seven men have been found guilty of murdering a law student, Aya Hachem, in Blackburn last year after a longstanding feud between two tyre firm owners.’

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The Guardian, 4th August 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com