News Essentials: 5th December 2020

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

NEWS

Addendum to Practice Guidance: Placements in unregistered children’s homes in England or unregistered care home services in Wales
This document is an addendum to the 2019 Practice Guidance. Full story: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary.

Court of Appeal highlights need for early legal advice where adoption placements near point of breakdown
The first reported occasion on which the courts have had to consider whether prospective adopters gave notice of their wish to return the child highlights the need for early legal advice, the Court of Appeal has said. Full story: Local Government Lawyer.

Judge issues ruling on deprivation of liberty for boy with behavioural problems to cover move to new residential school
Mrs Justice Knowles has issued a short judgment explaining how she came to agree a deprivation of liberty order against a 14-year-old boy with behavioural problems who was to be moved to a residential school. Full story: Local Government Lawyer.

Most expensive family feud in history to take the stage at London court
Acrimonious fight between Tatiana Akhmedova and her ex-husband and son centres on a £453m fortune. Full story: The Guardian.

Vulnerable ‘invisible children’ in England are being locked away without legal protection: Children’s Commissioner
Anne Longfield, Children's Commissioner for England, has published a report shining a light on those children who are living 'behind closed doors', including those locked up in secure hospitals, prisons or children's homes. Full story: Family Law Week.

Urgent change needed to stem femicides, says new domestic abuse tsar
The commissioner for England and Wales attacks ‘postcode’ lottery on response to killing of women. Full story: The Observer.

‘Lawyers aren’t a charity’: Family judge awards £60k incurred costs
The High Court has awarded five-figure costs midway through family litigation and made the point that the lawyers involved should not be expected to wait for payment. Full story: Law Society Gazette.

CASES

F v M [2020] EWHC 2676 (Fam) (20 July 2020)
Application by father for permission to relocate children from the UAE to England. Full report: Bailii.

D v E [2020] EWHC 3257 (Fam) (31 July 2020)
Application by father for summary return of 3 children to Australia. Return ordered. Full report: Bailii.

Emoni v Atabo [2020] EWHC 3322 (Fam) (01 December 2020)
Application by father for finding that mother in contempt in relation to 4 orders, following removal of child to Nigeria by mother. Full report: Bailii.

V v W [2020] EWFC 84 (02 December 2020)
Application by husband for transcript of FDR, for use in other litigation. Application dismissed. Full report: Bailii. See also my post, here.

Lancashire County Council v G (No3) (Continuing Unavailability of Secure Accommodation) [2020] EWHC 3280 (Fam) (02 December 2020)
Further judgment in deprivation of liberty and secure placement applications in relation to 16 year-old girl, where only unregistered placement available. Full report: Bailii.

A Local Authority v M & Ors [2020] EWFC B28 (23 October 2020)
Final hearing of care and placement proceedings in relation to one year-old child. Full report: Bailii.