News Essentials: 26th September 2020

A brief summary of the essential family law news and cases from the last week: 

NEWS

Family Court Statistics Quarterly: April to June 2020
Quarterly data on the volume of cases dealt with by family courts over time, with statistics also broken down for the main types of case involved. Full story: Ministry of Justice.

Legal aid statistics quarterly: April to June 2020
Activity in the legal aid system for England and Wales, including criminal and civil legal aid and family mediation. Full story: Ministry of Justice.

Proposed changes to children in need and children looked after by local authorities outcome statistics
The Department for Education has launched a consultation on proposals to change the annual children in children in need and children looked after by local authorities outcomes statistics. Full story: Family Law Week.

Revised expert witness guidance issued by Legal Aid Agency
The Legal Aid Agency has made changes to its guidance on applying for prior authority for an expert witness in family cases. Full story: Family Law Week.

Male domestic abuse victims 'sleeping in cars and tents'
Charities dealing with men who suffer domestic abuse have seen pleas for help jump by up to 60% during the lockdown. Full story: BBC News.

Parents 'generally bear their own costs' in family proceedings
A judge has explained the family court’s approach to costs orders after rejecting a mother’s application in a case where her children were not returned to her by the father on time due to welfare concerns. Full story: Law Society Gazette.

Family lawyers “losing connection” with colleagues since lockdown
Family law specialist are feeling more isolated and less connected to their peers and colleagues within the legal community since the UK went into lockdown, a survey of Resolution members has found. Full story: Legal Futures.

Judge orders placement for adoption for three children amid extreme over-reaction of parents to involvement of professionals
A High Court judge has ordered that three children be placed for adoption after calling their mother “the most egregious liar I have ever encountered”. Full report: Local Government Lawyer.

167 opposite-sex civil partnerships formed on first day permitted by law
There were 167 opposite-sex civil partnerships formed in England and Wales on 31 December 2019. Full story: Family Law Week.

CASES

CO v YZ [2020] EWFC 62 (25 June 2020)
Final hearing of financial remedies application involving substantial business assets. Full report: Bailii.

Lancashire County Court v Khan (Contempt Sentence for Non-Return of Children From Afghanistan) [2020] EWHC 2510 (Fam) (03 September 2020)
Committal proceedings against father for breach of order requiring him to return children from Afghanistan. Father sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. Full report: Bailii.

A (A Child) [2020] EWCA Civ 1230 (22 September 2020)
Appeal by father against findings of fact in private law proceedings, including that he had poisoned his partner and members of her family. Appeal allowed. Full report: Bailii.

JKL (Children : Transnational Abandonment : Interim Order) [2020] EWHC 2509 (Fam) (18 September 2020)
Wardship proceedings concerning three children alleged by the mother to have been victims of transnational abandonment. Full report: Bailii.

MH v KF [2020] EWFC B43 (21 September 2020)
Application by mother for specific issue order requiring the father to return the children immediately to her care. Application granted. Full report: Bailii.

AL v SM [2020] EWHC 2479 (Fam) (04 June 2020)
Application by father for summary return of child to Slovakia, the mother having moved to the UK in 2017. return refused, on ground that the child is settled in the UK. Full report: Bailii.