Fathers let down by courts which have ‘fallen short’, says new head of family division – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 26th, 2018 in families, family courts, judges, news, parental rights, speeches by sally

‘Fathers are being cut off from their children because the courts have “fallen short”, the incoming head of the family court has said.’

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Daily Telegraph, 25th June 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Surrogacy and parental orders for single parents – the ‘non-urgent’ road to change – Family Law

‘Since May 2016, prospective single applicants for parental orders for surrogate children have waited with bated breath for the change in the law that permits them to make their applications, independent of their relationship status. At the end of last year, it was announced that a remedial order to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (HFEA 2008) had been placed before Parliament. However, five months have now passed and the question remains whether we are any closer to change.’

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Family Law, 31st May 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

A Short Note on Habitual Residence: AB v CD [2018] EWHC 1021 (Fam) – Family Law Week

‘Alex Laing of Coram Chambers notes Mr Justice Keehan’s judgment in a ‘helpful template case’ for the determination of disputed habitual residence.’

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Family Law Week, 22nd May 2018

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Parents facing ‘unfair child abuse claims’ over bruising – BBC News

Posted April 24th, 2018 in child abuse, children, health, news, parental rights, social services by sally

‘Parents are being investigated for possible child abuse because of the misinterpretation of guidelines on bruising in babies, it’s claimed.’

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BBC News, 24th April 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Alfie Evans case: Court rules against parents again – BBC News

Posted April 17th, 2018 in appeals, children, detention, medical treatment, news, parental rights by tracey

‘The parents of terminally ill toddler Alfie Evans have lost their latest legal battle. Tom Evans and Kate James asked Court of Appeal judges to rule that the 23-month-old should be allowed to receive treatment in Italy.’

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BBC News, 16th April 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High court judge backs end-of-life care plan for toddler on life support – The Guardian

‘A high court judge has endorsed an end-of-life care plan for a 23-month-old boy who has been at the centre of a life-support treatment legal battle.’

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The Guardian, 11th April 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Parental consent to medical treatment – Family Law

Posted March 13th, 2018 in consent, medical treatment, news, parental rights, reports, vaccination by sally

‘Last month the Government published a report on how it makes decisions about which vaccines to fund. For a long time, charities and campaigners have been lobbying for this report to be published. It also follows calls for greater transparency about why a vaccine to protect children against Meningitis B was not made more widely available and an 820,000 signature petition calling for all children to be vaccinated following the death of 2-year-old Faye Burdett in 2016, who was not offered the vaccine because she was ‘too old’.’

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Family Law, 9th March 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Both parents’ names to be recognised in marriage – BBC News

Posted February 5th, 2018 in bills, documents, marriage, news, parental rights by sally

‘Ministers have backed calls for mothers’ names to be put on marriage certificates in England and Wales.’

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BBC News, 2nd February 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Life sustaining treatment – whose decision? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 1st, 2018 in children, doctors, human rights, medical treatment, news, parental rights by tracey

‘Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust v Thomas and others [2018] EWHC 127 (Fam). Parental love is to be cherished by society, particularly when a child is sick. But the “flattering voice of hope” is not always in best interests of the object of that love. So concluded MacDonald J in a recent ruling which has attracted considerable media attention.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 31st January 2018

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Doctors Can Stop Baby’s Life Support Against Parent’s Wishes – Rights Info

Posted January 30th, 2018 in children, doctors, human rights, medical treatment, news, parental rights by sally

‘A High Court judge has ruled that the life support of 11-month-old Isaiah Haastrup can be withdrawn by doctors, after being told further treatment would be “futile, burdensome and not in his best interests”.’

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Rights Info, 29th January 2018

Source: rightsinfo.org

Judge bans man from taking daughter out of the country for the next 11 years over FGM fears – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 30th, 2018 in children, female genital mutilation, news, parental rights by sally

‘A judge has banned a man from taking his six-year-old daughter out of the country for the next 11 years over fears she may be forced to undergo female genital mutilation (FGM).’

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Daily Telegraph, 29th January 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Parents with Learning Disabilities and a Local Authority’s Responsibilities – Family Law Week

‘Emma Harman, barrister of 3PB, explains the lessons that can be learned from A Local Authority v G (Parent with Learning Disability) [2017] EWFC B94.’

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Family Law Week, 18th January 2018

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Adoption a ‘runaway train often breaching rights of birth parents’ – The Guardian

Posted January 19th, 2018 in adoption, news, parental rights, social services by tracey

‘The British Association of Social Workers’s (BASW) independent adoption inquiry is the first to investigate the role of social workers in adoption with a focus on ethics and human rights and has called for a significant rethink and review of adoption law.’

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The Guardian, 18th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Local authorities and learning disabled parenting (A Local Authority v CG and others) – Family Law

‘A case concerning the parental suitability of two parents with mental health and learning difficulties offers a number of lessons that can help local authorities to better manage such challenging circumstances. Emma Harman, counsel for the mother, and Omar Malik, for the father, both of 3 Paper Buildings, outline the most salient issues for practitioners and local authorities to be aware of.’

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Family Law, 18th January 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

A fork in the road – Cafcass and their pathways – Transparency

Posted January 8th, 2018 in domestic violence, family courts, news, parental rights, social services by sally

‘A little while ago we wrote some about Cafcass’ new proposed High Conflict pathway, which had been hailed in the press as a big thing in terms of dealing effectively with parental alienation. We had been offered an interview with the Cafcass Principal Social Worker, which had cleared up some of our questions but which had raised others.’

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Transparency Project, 6th January 2018

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Court of Appeal Overturns Decision Denying Trans Parent Contact With Children – Rights Info

‘An ultra-Orthodox Jew who left her community to start a new life as a woman has been allowed an appeal by The Court of Appeal. This overturned an earlier ruling that she should have no direct contact with her five children.’

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Rights Info, 2nd January 2018

Source: rightsinfo.org

UK Laws Around Smacking Children Are Changing – Everything You Need to Know – The Independent

Posted November 23rd, 2017 in assault, children, corporal punishment, defences, news, parental rights by sally

‘Rules around smacking children across the UK are changing as a result of new laws coming into force.’

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The Independent, 22nd November 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The court’s role in sanctioning medical treatment and the withdrawal of medical treatment of children: “Parental autonomy and a child’s best interests: Should the courts have the final say?” – Transparency Project

Posted November 22nd, 2017 in children, family courts, medical treatment, news, parental rights by sally

‘This was the vexed question posed at the 11th Family Justice Council Annual Debate last night. (The discussion was chaired by the Right Honourable Sir James Munby, President of the Family Division of the High Court and Chairman of the Family Justice Council).’

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Transparency Project, 22nd November 2017

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

New right to paid leave for bereaved parents: A welcome move – Legal Futures

Posted November 21st, 2017 in bereavement, employment, news, parental rights by sally

‘This year, like many in recent years, has seen some key changes within the employment law field, with the government, trade unions and lobbyists remaining endlessly engaged in seeking to impose their interpretation of fair balance between employers and their respective workforces.’

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Legal Futures, 20th November 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Have We Created a Monster? Intractable Contact Disputes and Parental Alienation in Context – Family Law Week

Posted November 16th, 2017 in children, contact orders, divorce, family courts, news, parental rights, residence orders by tracey

‘Briony Palmer, barrister of 3 Dr Johnson’s Buildings, considers intractable contact disputes where the underlying dynamics are not obvious.’

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Family Law Week, 15th November 2017

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk