Lawyers and Judges who deal with cases in the Family Court are very familiar with the kinds of controlling behaviours often used within abusive intimate relationships. Domestic abuse does not only mean physical violence; in fact, there are many cases where direct violence is never...
Read MoreFollowing January's divorce day, the Family Mediators Association is running Family Mediation Week again this year, from 11th-15th January. With the aim of increasing awareness of the benefits of using mediation to resolve separation issues, publicity and events will be taking place across the country. This has coincided...
Read MoreLeicester DFJ HHJ Bellamy has recently published the following judgment: Re D and R (Children) [2015] EWFC B198 Local practitioners should note the post-script in which HHJ Bellamy states his intention that from 1st January 2016 all lawyers responsible for filing a court bundle for any...
Read MoreThe President has recently published a Circular in relation to Arbitration in the Family Court, dealing with financial remedies in particular. The attached circular is detailed and will be of particular interest to ancillary relief practitioners, mediators and arbitrators....
Read MoreThe Child Law Advice Service - part of Coram Children's Legal Centre - has a new telephone number and website. The Child and Family Law line is 0300 330 5480 and the website is http://childlawadvice.org.uk ...
Read MorePlaces are at this moment still available on the upcoming conference of the Association of Lawyers for Children. Entitled "Are we nearly there yet?" A Child's Journey through the Family Justice System, the conference takes place this year at the Midland Hotel, Manchester on 19th-21st November....
Read MoreSir James Munby, President of the Family Division, has issued a stark warning to local authorities regarding the use - or in his words, the misuse - of parental agreements to children being accommodated by the local authority under section 20 of the Children Act...
Read MoreThe most recent newsletter from HHJ Bellamy can be downloaded here. As ever, the newsletter is essential reading for local practitioners and covers issues such as the establishment of the Court of Protection in Leicester, the importance of bundle compliance, (don't forget our "quick look" guide), radicalisation...
Read MoreAt our recent Family Justice Day Joseph O'Brien, of St John's Buildings Chambers, presented a thoroughly entertaining and informative seminar entitled "An Introduction to the Court of Protection". The slides are now available to download here....
Read MoreFollowing concerns shared with the national Family Justice Board about the making of Special Guardianship Orders, the Association of Directors of Children's Services and Cafcass have issued a joint note intended for local authorities, Cafcass, HMCTS and the judiciary and local children's safeguarding boards. The note is...
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