News Essentials: 20th November 2021

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

NEWS

Children looked after in England including adoption: 2020 to 2021
Information on looked-after children at both national and local authority levels for the financial year 2020 to 2021. Full story: Department for Education.

Parliament to vote on bill to ban child marriage in England and Wales
Marriage of under-18s associated with risk of domestic, sexual and ‘honour’-based violence, say MPs, who will vote on Friday. Full story: The Guardian.

Two-year-old girl who suffered ‘appalling injuries’ probably killed by adoptive father, judge rules
A two-year-old girl who died weeks into lockdown after suffering a serious brain injury was probably killed by her adoptive father, a High Court judge has ruled. Full story: Care Appointments.

Costs in pension divorce case a ‘shaming indictment’ of our legal system
A family court judge has landed a man with a costs bill of £100,000 after an application to vary a post-divorce pension sharing order that was ‘hopeless from the outset’. Full story: Law Society Gazette.

Charities respond to Supreme Court ruling on children’s privacy and data rights
Coram Children's Legal Centre has joined with Liberty and Inclusion London to call for privacy rights, data protection and access to justice to be equally available to everyone, after a landmark court ruling. Full story: Family Law Week.

Justice Committee examines the future of court reporting in changing media landscape
The Justice Committee examined the future of court reporting in a session on Tuesday, 9 November 2021, as it continued its inquiry into open justice. Full story: Family Law Week.

Education Committee examines adequacy of children’s homes for children with special educational needs
The House of Commons Education Committee is continuing its inquiry into Children's Homes with an evidence session examining education, support and outcomes of children in children's homes with special educational needs or disabilities, and the sufficiency of children's home places across England. Full story: Family Law Week.

Ofsted: Lack of foster carers mean children missing out on support
A continued lack of capacity in the foster care sector is leading to vulnerable children missing out on the care and support they need, Ofsted says. Full story: Family Law Week.

CASES

TH (A Child)(Hague Convention: Habitual Residence) [2021] EWHC 3110 (Fam) (20 October 2021)
Application by mother for summary return of child to USA. Return ordered. Full report: Bailii.

V v N (Exercise of Jurisdiction Based on Nationality) [2021] EWHC 3109 (Fam) (02 August 2021)
Application by mother for return of children from Pakistan. Return ordered. Full report: Bailii.

Re P (Presumption of Death) [2021] EWHC 3099 (Fam) (19 November 2021)
Application by child for presumption of death in respect of his father. Full report: Bailii.

Aldoukhi v Abdullah [2021] EWHC 3086 (Fam) (18 November 2021)
Hearing of wife's applications under TOLATA and Part III MFPA 1984, following Kuwaiti divorce. Full report: Bailii.

MG v AR [2021] EWHC 3063 (Fam) (16 November 2021)
Application by father for return of child to Dubai. Judgment concerning mother's application for security for costs. Includes discussion of law in relation to security for costs. Full report: Bailii.

G (Adoption; Notice Under s35 ACA 2002; Revocation of Placement Order) [2021] EWFC 93 (25 October 2021)
Proceedings concerning two sisters. Application by adopters to adopt one sister, and by local authority to revoke placement order in respect of other sister. Full report: Bailii.