News Essentials: 18th November 2023

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

NEWS

Thousands more people benefit from free legal support
More than 33,000 people have been helped to tackle family, debt and housing issues thanks to over £3 million of government investment in legal support. Full story: Ministry of Justice.

Council granted leave to make application for change in forename of child, subject to outcome of care order application
The High Court has granted leave to a local authority to make an application to change an eight-month old’s registered forename. Full story: Local Government Lawyer.

Delay for children as result of longer case durations is “single most pressing issue” for family justice system, warns Cafcass in new strategic plan
Delay for children as result of longer case durations is “single most pressing issue” for family justice system, warns Cafcass in new strategic plan. Full story: Local Government Lawyer.

Children looked after in England including adoption: 2022 to 2023
Information on looked-after children at both national and local authority levels for the financial year 2022 to 2023. Full story: Department for Education.

Ministry of Justice announces plans to raise up to £42m extra a year by increasing some court fees by 10%
The Ministry of Justice has announced plans to raise up to £42m extra a year by increasing some court fees by 10%. Full story: Law Society Gazette.

Psychology body says costs ruling ‘unfair’ in appeal on use of unregulated experts in England and Wales
Association of Clinical Psychologists must pay £20,000 after intervening in family justice case where it mounted ‘critique of expert’. Full story: The Guardian.

CASES

Father v Maternal Aunt [2023] EWFC 204 (22 September 2023)
Judgment in proceedings concerning whether child should live with father or maternal aunt, the mother having taken her own life. Full report: National Archives.

N (Children: Revocation of Placement Orders), Re [2023] EWCA Civ 1352 (17 November 2023)
Appeal by mother from the dismissal of applications to discharge placement orders and for the instruction of an independent social worker. Appeal dismissed. Full report: National Archives.

K v K & Ors [2023] EWFC 202 (31 October 2023)
Final hearing of child arrangements proceedings, in which the father had been found to be coercive and controlling. Indirect contact only ordered. Full report: National Archives.

K v E [2023] EWHC 2890 (Fam) (16 October 2023)
Application by father for summary return of child to Germany. Defences of consent and harm made out and application dismissed. Full report: Bailii.

London Borough of Ealing v Mother & Ors [2023] EWFC 201 (15 November 2023)
Final hearing of care proceedings concerning 13 year old child, issued following concerns around physical chastisement, emotional abuse and difficulties in the relationship with his mother. Full report: Bailii.

A Wife v A Husband [2023] EWFC 200 (9 November 2023)
Final hearing of wife's financial remedies application, in which the main issue was the wife's housing need, and how it should be funded. Full report: National Archives.

TJ v RC & Anor [2023] EWFC 189 (2 November 2023)
Fact-finding in private law proceedings concerning, inter alia, mother's allegations that the father had made threats to kill her and the maternal grandparents. Full report: National Archives.

George & Ors, Re [2023] EWFC 191 (03 November 2023)
Final hearing of father's child arrangements application seeking joint care of 4 children, in which he exhibited challenging and abusive behaviours. Application dismissed, and supervised contact ordered. Full report: Bailii.

S and T (care - final hearing – s91(14)), Re [2023] EWFC 194 (29 September 2023)
Final hearing of care proceedings concerning 2 children, following fact-finding hearing. Older child to live at placement pursuant to care order and younger child placed with father. Full report: Bailii.

S and T (care - fact finding - FII - emotional abuse) [2023] EWFC 195 (24 March 2023)
Fact-finding in care proceedings concerning 2 children, aged 13 and 9. Found that throughout their childhoods, older child had suffered chronic emotional, verbal, physical abuse and neglect from her mother, and younger child had suffered emotional harm and neglect whilst in the care of her mother. Full report: Bailii.