A Barring order under Section 91(14) of the Children Act 1989 is a powerful tool that allows family courts in England and Wales to protect children and their families from harm. It enables the court to issue a barring order, which prevents an individual from making further specified applications under the Children Act 1989 without…
If you are a parent who is separated from your partner, you may find that you are unable to take your child on holiday because your ex-partner will not allow it. This can be a frustrating and stressful situation, especially if you have already booked a holiday and made plans for your child’s care. The…
Parental alienation is a term that refers to one parent attempting to manipulate or brainwash a child against the other parent. This can involve undermining the other parent’s authority, manipulating the child’s feelings and beliefs about the other parent, or even encouraging the child to reject the other parent entirely. In England and Wales, both…
Divorce can be a difficult and emotional time for everyone involved. It can be especially hard for children, who may feel confused and unsure about what is happening. As a family solicitor, I have seen firsthand the impact that divorce can have on mental health and emotional wellbeing. If you are going through a divorce,…
Since the introduction of the new divorce laws in April 2022, you are now able to make a joint application for divorce with your spouse. The law has moved away from a fault based system, so the decision you will need to make is whether you want to apply for a divorce with your spouse,…
These rules apply to divorces in England and Wales. The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act (2020) allows couples to divorce without having to prove fault. You will need to have been married for a year to be able to apply for a divorce. You need to decide whether you are going to make a joint…
A Section 7 report is a report written by either a CAFCASS worker or a local authority social worker. This type of report is used in court cases issued by one of the child’s parents, where they have been unable to reach an agreement with the other parent on an important issue. The court will…
An appeal is a complex process, and is therefore relatively rare. The first step is to establish whether you need to obtain permission to launch an appeal. If your case was heard by lay magistrates, you do not need permission to appeal. Magistrates are volunteers, advised in court on legal points by a professional legal…
A court hearing in the Family Court will usually be recorded by the court. A court transcript is a written version of the recording. As a party to those court proceedings, you can pay to obtain a typed version of the audio recording. This may be useful if there is a dispute about what occurred…
There is a possibility that you will be sent to prison if you are rude to the Family Court judge as this behaviour may be a contempt in the face of the court. During a telephone hearing in the Family Court in May 2022, a defendant insulted and verbally abused the judge. Court hearings are…