No.18 Chambers News Page 5

Robing pilot begins at Central Family Court

From Monday 15 April 2024, in a pilot intended to explore the impact of increased formality in family courts, judges sitting at Central Family Court will wear robes during proceedings. This follows concern about incidents of violent and threatening behaviour experienced by judges and court users. Unlike in criminal proceedings, robes are...

The government has had a change of heart on raising divorce fees by 10% after being told higher fees could force couples to remain in unhappy or abusive relationships. After announcing plans to raise up to £42m extra a year by increasing 202 court fees by 10%, the Ministry of Justice...

Amelia King (2016)

This case concerned a final order of divorce applied for and granted in the wrong case. Mrs Williams (the “wife”) issued an application for divorce on 17th January 2023 and a conditional order was made on 9th August 2023. On 3rd October 2023 a final order of divorce was made however,...

Helen Moizer (2018)

“How much sorrow and cost might these parties have spared themselves if they had each been willing to approach things differently?” [269] In a case where both parties failed to provide full and frank disclosure, Recorder Rhys Taylor delivers a considered and structured judgment in which he makes an order for...

Thomas Wheddon (2022)

Thomas joined Chambers as a Pupil in 2023. Before joining Chambers, Thomas worked full-time as a Solicitors Agent, representing both lay and professional clients in Civil cases on a daily basis at County Courts throughout the Western and South Eastern Circuits. Thomas’ experience extends to the Court of Appeal where...

Rachel Chapman (2017)

The substantial facts of this case are not really known within the judgment of this case and, are not really relevant. These were proceedings that concerned 4 children, aged between 4 and 15. The Mother ‘has a history of drug misuse and mental health instability, and has been diagnosed with...

John Franklin (2016)

No.18 Chambers’ John Franklin represented the Applicant Wife (‘W’) in this reported case before District Judge Hatvany. Factual Summary The parties had an 18-year marriage producing three children, one now living independently. The Respondent Husband (‘H’) resided in and discharged the mortgage on the former matrimonial home (‘FMH’). The H ran his business...

Laura Baines (2007)

This was an application by the Peterborough City Council (“LA”) for a deprivation of liberty order (“DOLS order”) in respect of SM who is 12 years old with profound and enduring disabilities. Mrs Justice Lieven’s judgment set out that this case raises an important issue about the requirement for such...

Laura Baines (2007)

This case concerned two children aged 16 and 11 with the Applicant Father seeking an order to spend time with them specifically that the children travel to Ukraine for a holiday visit with him at Easter and/or Summer 2024. The Father lives in Kyiv, Ukraine, and the Mother lives in England. The...

The Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol comes into effect on 1 March 2024. It replaces the 2013 Protocol and Good Practice Model: disclosure of information in cases of alleged child abuse and care directions hearings. A group comprised of representatives from the judiciary, local...

No.18 are delighted to announce that Katherine Henry has been reported in M v F & Anor [2024] EWFC 34 (14 February 2024) Katherine represented Father in this reported case, in which it was concluded there was no justification for the child's time with Father to continue to be supervised...

Claire Hook (2010)

As the Family Court opens more of its doors to reporters and legal bloggers being able to sit in and report on our cases, with the expansion of the Transparency Project, this is a case whereby, reporting restrictions have also been put in place at it’s conclusion. The Local Authority in...

Sara Chalk (2018)

Appeal by M against finding that injuries to child were caused by one of 6 relatives who were present, rather than accident. Appeal allowed & proceedings withdrawn. This Judgment was handed down by Lord Justice Peter Jackson on 22nd February 2024 and relates to an appeal which challenges a 'pool finding'...

Public Law Care: Case law update

Sarah Barber (2018)

Re UDTQ (No Adequate Care Planning) [2024] EWFC 19 (B) This case has sparked recent discussion over the meaning of the words “nothing else will do” in relation to Placement Order applications and adequate care planning. In this case, HHJ Middleton Roy dismissed applications for Placement Orders finding that adoption was “neither...

Rachel Chapman (2017)

It’s not often that an article on a judgment is longer than the judgment itself, but this may be one of those times! This case concerned a child, F, who was 11 years old. Parties agreed that F should live with her Mother and spend time with her Father. The issue...

Divorces in England and Wales: 2022

Annual divorce and civil partnership dissolution numbers and rates, partnership type, to whom granted and duration of marriage. Main points There were 80,057 divorces granted in England and Wales in 2022; a 29.5% decrease compared with 2021 (113,505 divorces) and the lowest number of divorces since 1971. In 2022, the median duration of...

Issued :26th February 2024 To: Family Presiding Judges and Designated Family Judges The Guidance on Electronic Bundles, will be suspended in relation to public law, with immediate effect. The guidance will continue to apply to private law and financial remedy proceedings. The guidance will be referred to the Family Procedure Rule Committee...

Amelia King (2016)

This case concerned a child, aged 5 years old, and an application by the mother (“M”) for permission to take the child to Pakistan for a holiday. The father (“F”) opposed the application. The M was represented but the F was a litigant in person. Findings had been made against...

Parents who wilfully refuse to pay maintenance for their children will face swifter enforcement action £20 CMS application fee will be scrapped from 26 February so no child misses out  The government is reforming the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) to crack down on parents who refuse to pay and ensure children get the support...

Family Rights Group has announced Dorset as the local family justice pilot area to help “safely avert the need for care proceedings”, by providing early partnership working for children and families. The pilot, set to last 15 months, will bring together families, Dorset Council, partner agencies, local services, and the Dorset...

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