Insights
Pathfinder Rollout: A New Era for Private Children Cases
Over the next few weeks, the Pathfinder programme is to be rolled out within the Midlands after successful pilots. The Private Law Pathfinder pilot is reshaping how the Family Court manages private children law disputes in England and Wales, with the Midlands and now...
Understanding Your Options: Court-Based FDR, Private FDR, and Arbitration
When you’re going through a divorce or separation and need to sort out finances, it can feel overwhelming. There are different ways to reach an agreement, and it’s important to know what each option means for you and your family. Here’s a simple guide to the three...
Transparency in Family Proceedings: The Changing Face of Family Justice
For many years, family courts in England and Wales have operated largely behind closed doors. The intention has always been to protect the privacy of children and families at the heart of sensitive disputes. However, this necessary confidentiality has also led to...
Can I Share Information from the Family Court?
What You Need to Know If you’re involved in a family court case—maybe about your children, divorce, or another family issue—you might be wondering what you can talk about outside of court. The rules are strict, and sharing the wrong information can get you into...
What the New Cafcass Domestic Abuse Policy Means for You and Your Family
Cafcass (the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) has recently introduced a new policy on how it deals with domestic abuse in family court cases. This is important for anyone involved in disputes about children, where there are concerns about abuse...
Shining a Light on Recurrent Care Proceedings: What the Nuffield Report Tells Us
The Nuffield Family Justice Observatory has published an important report called Spotlight on Recurrent Care Proceedings. It looks at why some mothers end up in the family courts more than once, often facing the heartbreak of having more than one child removed from...
Full Disclosure: Why Financial Honesty Matters When You Split
In the recent judgement of VTY v GDB, a wife has been awarded more than £1.2 million after a judge harshly criticised the husband for failing to be open in the financial information he provided to the Court. Describing his disclosure as “woeful”, the judge said he had...
How pets are treated on divorce
Currently, under English divorce law, pets are defined as ‘chattels’ meaning they are considered the same as any other possessions owned by a married couple, like the contents of the house. However, this clearly does not reflect the emotional bonds a lot of people...
Express Financial Remedy Procedure Pilot Scheme – April 2025
What It Means for You? Anyone who has been through a financial dispute following a divorce, where the court have been asked to help resolve matters, will tell you that the process is slow and frustrating. A new Pilot Scheme is being trialled in Birmingham and other...
How to divorce well!
Is there such a thing as a good divorce? Undoubtedly, divorce is a difficult process, even in the most amicable of cases. Not only are you grieving the end of the relationship, but there are also a number of uncertainties to face; What does the future hold? Will the...