Latest updates
- In the midst of the Coronavirus outbreak (‘Covid-19’), there has been little guidance as to what social workers should do when they are refused entry into the home of a child in care (or ‘looked after child’), due to the parent’s arguments that they are self-isolating or claiming that they have contracted the virus. There is a real risk that families may be using Covid-19 as an excuse to avoid contact with the Local Authority and therefore, places any children involved at risk of further abuse. News, 03/04/2020, free
- In the midst of the Coronavirus outbreak (‘Covid-19’), there has been little guidance as to whether Local Authorities have the ability to suspend contact between a child in their care and parties who have a right to contact with that child, either by parental responsibility or by a Court order. News, 03/04/2020, free
- Summary of guidance relevant to financial remedies practitioners given by MacDonald J in The Remote Access Family Court (with an Appendix summarising guidance specific to the Central Family Court given by HHJ O’Dwyer on 30 March 2020) News, 03/04/2020, free
- Guidance issued by The Rt. Hon. Sir Andrew McFarlane News, 25/03/2020, free
- Document issued by Mr Justice MacDonald News, 23/03/2020, free
Latest know-how
- In a tweet: Names of the respondents made public in an attempt to shame them into returning children who had been removed from the jurisdiction in breach of a shared live with order. Case note, 04/11/2019, members only
- In a tweet: Child determined to have insufficient understanding to conduct an appeal independently of a child’s guardian. Case note, 04/11/2019, members only
- Hearing at which all allegations made by mother against father were held to be untrue and the judge stated that there ought to be an immediate resumption of direct contact. Case note, 04/11/2019, members only
- In a tweet: Competing jurisdiction case in which a father’s application for a stay of proceeding was dismissed. Case note, 04/11/2019, members only
- In a tweet: Mother’s appeal partially allowed to permit instruction of an expert child psychiatrist to assess contact as between M and the child. Case note, 04/11/2019, members only
Latest training
- Recording of live webinar, first broadcast on Wednesday 1st April 2020. Webcast, 02/04/2020, free
- Recording of webinar with Kelly Barnett, Senior Associate at Mills & Reeve & Helen Evans, Barrister at 4 New Square. This webinar was first broadcast on 29th January 2020. Webcast, 29/01/2020, members only
- Recording of talk given by HHJ Edward Hess at the At A Glance Conference, October 2019. Webcast, 09/12/2019, free
- Recording of webinar first broadcast on 29th November 2019. Webcast, 02/12/2019, members only
- Recording of webinar first broadcast on 3rd October 2019. Webcast, 03/10/2019, members only
Latest sources
- The text of guidance requiring orders in non-financial cases to be drafted on the day of the hearing in the Central Family Court. In force from 12 November 2018 Practice direction, 23/11/2018, free
- Use this form to ask the President of the Family Division to authorise individuals working for the named charity to attend and report on family proceedings. Form (external), 01/10/2018, free
- Use this form if you have authority to attend and report on a family proceedings hearing. A form is needed for each hearing you attend. Form (external), 01/10/2018, free
- Came into force on 23 July 2018 Practice direction, 27/07/2018, free
- New Practice Direction on bundles, supplementing FPR Part 27, will come into force on 23 July. Practice direction, 20/06/2018, free