Designated Family Judge HHJ Bellamy, in consultation with Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council, has issued an updated Pre-Proceedings Protocol for child protection cases which may be brought under s.31 Children Act 1989. Social workers and lawyers alike should familiarise themselves with the protocol,...
Read MoreIn the light of recent developments in case law in respect of the use (and misuse) of s.20 Children Act 1989 by local authorities when children are voluntarily accommodated in their care, Leicester Designated Family Judge HHJ Bellamy has issued local Section 20 Practice Guidance. The...
Read MoreHis Honour Judge Bellamy, Designated Family Judge, has issued a Judicial Guidance document in relation to the case management of care proceedings heard before Lay Justices and Legal Advisors. All care practitioners are strongly invited to read this Guidance....
Read MoreThe President of the Family Division has issued a statement announcing the release of new standard orders to be used under the Child Arrangements Programme with immediate effect. The intention is to shorten the orders and make them easier and more accessible for court users. The...
Read MoreWomen's Aid have released Nineteen Child Homicides, a report into children killed by domestically abusive fathers when subject to contact orders. The report proposes significant change in the family justice system to ensure that such tragedies are not repeated....
Read MorePresident of the Family Division, Sir James Munby, has issued two consultation documents in respect of which he invites responses to andrew.shaw@judiciary.gsi.gov.uk before 1st March. The first, in respect of proposals to curtail the length of certain case management and evidential documents in order to aid compliance with...
Read MoreWe previously reported on the launch of the How Many Times…? campaign, a joint initiative between Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council, Rutland County Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner to provide domestic violence support services across the county. How Many Times…? is also working...
Read MoreWednesday 3rd February is a chance to get some early CPD points in this year with the Birmingham Local Family Justice Board annual conference. The packed programme features many prominent local speakers covering the issues of the day, including FGM, CSE and direct testimony from children...
Read MoreLawyers 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 More