News Essentials: 6th March 2021

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

NEWS

Vulnerable London boy moved to Scotland after social services tried over 100 secure units
A vulnerable 15-year-old boy from London who needed to move into secure accommodation had to be taken to Scotland because no suitable unit could be found in England or Wales, a judge has heard. Full story: Care Appointments.

Message from the President of the Family Division: publication of the President’s Public Law Working Group report
The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, has welcomed and endorsed the publication of the President’s Public Law Working Group (PLWG) report. Full story: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary.

High Court rejects application by mother to prevent local authority from imposing vaccinations on child in foster care
A High Court judge has rejected a mother's application, supported by the father, to prevent a local authority from imposing a programme of vaccinations on a child in foster care without their consent. Full story: Local Government Lawyer.

New laws to protect victims added to Domestic Abuse Bill
A raft of new amendments to the Domestic Abuse Bill will be presented, providing greater protections for victims and further clamping down on perpetrators. Full story: Ministry of Justice.

CASES

BB (Care Proceedings) (Mid-Trial Dismissal and Withdrawal of Allegations) [2021] EWFC 20 (03 March 2021)
Fact-finding hearing in care proceedings concerning 6 children. Application by respondents to dismiss, while LA withdrew a number of allegations. Full report: Bailii.

H, Re (Children: Findings of Fact) [2021] EWCA Civ 319 (05 March 2021)
Appeal by father against findings of fact made in the course of care proceedings. Appeal dismissed, as to main issues. Full report: Bailii.

Kicinski v Pardi [2021] EWHC 499 (Fam) (05 March 2021)
Appeal by W from refusal to amend clean break financial remedies order, for H to provide indemnities in relation to a contingent liability. Appeal allowed. Full report: Bailii.

Horohoe v Horohoe [2020] EWFC 102 (24 November 2020)
Financial remedies application, in which the central issue was whether to give decisive weight and effect to an alleged post-separation agreement. Full report: Bailii. See also my post, here.

EM (A Child : return order) [2021] EWFC 19 (22 February 2021)
Application by father for return of child to Norway., Return ordered. Full report: Bailii.

X, Y and Z (Children : Agreed Transfer of Residence) [2021] EWFC 18 (26 February 2021)
Child arrangements proceedings, in which F found to have significantly alienated children from M unexpectedly changed position part way through final hearing & agreed to the children transferring to live with M. Full report: Bailii.

AA v AHM [2020] EWHC 3790 (Fam) (26 February 2020)
Application by H to set aside grant of permission to W to make an application for financial remedies following Kuwaiti divorce. Application dismissed. Full report: Bailii.

AA & BB [2021] EWFC 17 (01 March 2021)
Application by mother for stay of children proceedings issued by father, on the basis of ongoing applications relating to the children's welfare that she has issued in Russia. Full report: Bailii.

Hussain v Hussain [2021] EWFC 13 (03 February 2021)
Application by H for permission to appeal out of time an order made in financial remedy proceedings. Permission granted, as order based upon incorrect figure for mortgage on FMH. Full report: Bailii.

Ratcliffe v Ratcliffe [2021] EWCA Civ 247 (01 March 2021)
Appeal by husband from financial remedies order, on grounds that order was flawed because it was based in part on a flawed figure for the parties' capital resources advanced on behalf of the wife, which included double counting. Appeal allowed. Full report: Bailii.

B (Supervision Order), Re [2021] EWFC B8 (25 February 2021)
Care proceedings concerning 10 month old child. Child initially placed with foster carers, but then rehabilitated into care of parents, subject to supervision order. Full report: Bailii.