The Case of X: A Wake Up Call – Family Law Week

‘Michael Jones, barrister, Deans Court Chambers, Manchester, considers the lessons to be learned from the case of X which attracted considerable attention in the mainstream media.’

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Family Law Week, 15th August 2017

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Ellie Butler’s parents appear at inquest hearing via video from prisons – The Guardian

‘The parents of murdered six-year-old Ellie Butler have appeared via video link from their respective prisons at an inquest hearing into the death of their daughter, and interrupted the proceedings several times.’

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The Guardian, 11th August 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

DIY divorce form could lead to more adultery accusations, lawyers warn – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 14th, 2017 in divorce, documents, family courts, news by sally

‘A new “DIY” divorce form designed to speed up the process could lead to thousands more people being accused of adultery, lawyers warn.’

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Daily Telegraph, 10th August 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Judge attacks mental health provision after approving care plan for suicidal girl – The Guardian

Posted August 8th, 2017 in family courts, judges, mental health, news, young persons by sally

‘A suicidal 17-year-old girl is to be moved to a secure unit on Thursday after a senior judge warned that plans to release her because of a shortage of secure beds for mental health patients would leave “blood on our hands”.’

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The Guardian, 7th August 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Finance and Divorce Update, August 2017 – Family Law Week

‘Naomi Shelton, Associate with Mills & Reeve LLP, analyses the news and case law relating to financial remedies and divorce during July 2017.’

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Family Law Week, 2nd August 2017

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Binding agreements in TOLATA claims – Family Law Week

‘Alexander Chandler, barrister, 1 King’s Bench Walk, considers the law and practice of agreements to settle TOLATA claims.’

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Family Law Week, 28th July 2017

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Mother wins court battle to change child’s ‘tainted’ middle name – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 31st, 2017 in appeals, change of name, children, family courts, legal aid, names, news by sally

‘A mother who no longer liked her child’s middle name has won the right to have it removed in a legal challenge costing thousands of pounds in legal aid.’

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Daily Telegraph, 29th July 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

The cost of resisting disclosure of sensitive police material in family proceedings – UK Police Law Blog

‘Who pays the costs of Special Advocates where closed material procedures are required to consider sensitive police documents in family proceedings? The police, according to Cobb J in Re R (Closed Material Procedure: Special Advocates: Funding) [2017] EWHC 1793 (Fam).’

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UK Police Law Blog, 30th July 2017

Source: ukpolicelawblog.com

Family court delay risking lives, says charity – BBC News

Posted July 27th, 2017 in children, delay, domestic violence, family courts, news by tracey

‘Domestic violence campaigners say they are very concerned plans to protect children from violent parents during custody battles have been delayed. Changes to family court guidelines were announced in January, but still have not been signed off by the government.’

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BBC News, 27th July 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Wonder of mobile internet means I can deal with cases on the move, top family court judge says – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 19th, 2017 in adoption, appeals, electronic mail, family courts, internet, judges, news by sally

‘England’s most senior family court judge has told how he kept up to speed with a case via the internet while travelling home for a Bank Holiday weekend on a train.’

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Daily Telegraph, 18th July 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Police and not council must pay for special advocates in family case, says judge – Local Government Lawyer

‘The police and not a local authority must pay for the provision of special advocates in a rare example of them being required for a Family Court case, Cobb J has ruled.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 17th July 2017

Source: localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Barristers are serving family law clients well, says new BSB research – Bar Standards Board

Posted July 13th, 2017 in barristers, family courts, news, press releases, reports by tracey

‘The BSB has today published the findings of its research with people who have used barristers’ services during family legal proceedings. The findings show that most of those who took part in the research were positive about the service they received from their barrister.’

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Bar Standards Board, 11th July 2017

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

“Perception” of high cost discouraging family law clients from going direct to barristers – Legal Futures

Posted July 12th, 2017 in barristers, family courts, fees, news, solicitors by sally

‘There is a “clear perception” among most family law clients that barristers are more expensive than solicitors and other legal services providers, major research commissioned by the Bar Standards Board has found.’

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Legal Futures, 12th July 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lawyers ‘overly cautious’ anonymising family judgments – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 12th, 2017 in anonymity, family courts, news by sally

‘Lawyers erring too much on the side of caution when anonymising family judgments could undermine judicial efforts to increase transparency in the family courts, a campaign group has warned.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th July 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Charity issues guidance on publication of judgments about family matters – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 11th, 2017 in family courts, judgments, law centres, news by sally

‘The Transparency Project has published a new guide designed to help parties in the family justice system “navigate the complicated issue of publishing judgments about private family matters”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 10th July 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

The New Cafcass Guidance on the Use of Professional Time – Family Law Week

Posted July 7th, 2017 in children, family courts, legal services, news, working time by tracey

‘Gabrielle Jan Posner, Barrister and Recorder, Trinity Chambers Chelmsford, considers Cafcass’s response to the record levels of demand for its services.’

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Family Law Week, 4th July 2017

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Drawing the Line: case management and allegations of judicial bias in the family courts – Family Law Week

‘Jennifer Youngs and Vondez Phipps, pupil barristers at 42 Bedford Row, summarise the circumstances in which judicial conduct at a case management hearing might form the basis of an application for recusal, and provide guidance to practitioners as to the manner in which such an application might be made.’

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Family Law Week, 22nd June 2017

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

FHDRAs: what should and shouldn’t happen – Family Law Week

‘Marie Crawford, barrister of Becket Chambers, considers the orders a court might make at first hearing and dispute resolution appointment.’

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Family Law Week, 9th June 2017

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

In re Y (A Child) (Wardship: Assistance on Transition to Adulthood) – WLR Daily

In re Y (A Child) (Wardship: Assistance on Transition to Adulthood) [2017] EWHC 968 (Fam)

Approving a package of support suggested by the local authority, the court identified the range and scope of support available for a radicalised child approaching the end of their wardship, compared with that available to a child who was instead leaving care, before observing that this may be one of many factors to be bourne in mind when considering which legal framework is most appropriate to protect a young person in danger of radicalisation (paras 12–64, 65–68).

WLR Daily, 27th April 2017

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Judge agrees natural father should not be given notice of care proceedings – Local Government Lawyer

‘A natural father need not be given a copy of a notice of care proceedings where this would create a risk for the mother, HHJ Bellamy has ruled in the Family Court.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 6th June 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk