News Essentials: 5th March 2022

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

NEWS

Child Maintenance - National Audit Office
This report looks at whether the government is achieving value for money in its management of child maintenance. Full story: National Audit Office.

Appointments: National Lead Judge of the Financial Remedies Court and Judge-in-Charge of Standard Family Orders
The President of the Family Division is pleased to announce that, following an Expressions of Interest exercise, Mr Justice Peel will be appointed as the National Lead Judge of the Financial Remedies Court and Judge-in-Charge of Standard Family Orders. Full story: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary.

Multi-million pound boost for new families as adoptions increase
Funding will help children find permanent homes faster, as research shows more adoptive parents are being recruited and children are waiting less time in care. Full story: Department for Education.

Message from Mr Justice Mostyn: amendments to standard orders
Changes to standard orders necessitated by the coming into force of the Divorce Dissolution and Separation Act 2020. Full story: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary.

Law Commission welcomes new steps to gather financial data on divorce
The Law Commission has welcomed the publication of a revised version of Form D81 in February 2022. Full story: Family Law Week.

Nuffield Family Justice Observatory publishes strategy for 2022-26
The Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (Nuffield FJO) has published its strategy for 2022 to 2026. Full story: Family Law Week.

Mental capacity and protection of human rights in care examined
The Joint Committee on Human Rights continued its inquiry into the protection of human rights in care settings with a session focusing on capacity, mental health, and human rights concerns for people with dementia, with learning disabilities and autism. Full story: Family Law Week.

Draft guidelines published to help improve practice when the state acts to safeguard a baby at birth
Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (Nuffield FJO) has published draft guidelines to help improve practice when the state acts to safeguard a baby at birth. Full story: Family Law Week.

Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Bill receives third reading
The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Bill received an unopposed third reading in the House of Commons on Friday, 25 February 2020. Full story: Family Law Week.

Suicide by domestic violence: call to count the hidden toll of women’s lives
Hundreds of suicides a year could be linked to abuse at home. Experts want to collect better data to bring about real change. Full story: The Observer.

CASES

A v R (Financial Remedy: Pension Offsetting) [2021] EWFC B102 (08 December 2021)
Final hearing of wife's financial remedies application, in which the key issue was how equal division of the assets should be achieved. Full report: Bailii.

Dorset Council v M & Ors (Inflicted Injuries) [2022] EWFC 9 (03 March 2022)
Care proceedings relating to 3 children. Judgment considering what if any harm the children had suffered. Full report: Bailii.

B, R & G (a Child) [2022] EWHC 320 (Fam) (28 January 2022)
Care proceedings concerning child whose parents were charged with the murder of her sibling. Application by local authority for a reporting restrictions order. Full report: Bailii.

RA v MA (Fact Finding) [2022] EWFC B14 (10 February 2022)
Judgment concerning a fact-finding hearing which served to determine an application under the Family Law Act 1996, and to inform the welfare disposal concerning child in proceedings under the Children Act 1989. Full report: Bailii.

L (A Child : Fact Finding) [2022] EWFC B13 (9 February 2022)
Final hearing of care proceedings, incorporating a significant fact-finding element. Full report: Bailii.

MG v GM (MPS LSPO) [2022] EWFC 8 (01 March 2022)
Application by wife for Maintenance Pending Suit and a Legal Services Payment Order. Full report: Bailii.

Staley v SSWP (CMS appeal; relief form sanctions; extend time limit) [2022] EWFC B12 (09 January 2022)
Appeal against liability order. Application by respondent for appeal to be struck out due to being out of time. Held that there were exceptional circumstances allowing an extension of time. Full report: Bailii.