Inspectorates warn children are not being recognised as domestic abuse victims
Children who are affected by domestic abuse are not being consistently recognised as victims despite it being a requirement of the Domestic Abuse Act, according to a new joint report by Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, and HM Inspectorate of Probation. The inspectorates have called for […]
Family Mediation Week 2026: 26th-30th January
Family Mediation Week 2026 was launched at the office of Family Law in Partnership in London yesterday (Wednesday), ahead of a week packed with on and offline events and learning opportunities for family lawyers, other professionals and the wider general public. The event, hosted by the Family Mediation Council (FMC), outlined the ambitions for the […]
Most mortgage lending now covered by Financial Abuse Code
The Financial Abuse Code implemented by UK Finance, the trade association for the UK banking and financial services sector, has been adopted by almost 90% of the UK’s mortgage providers. Yesterday, eight more institutions signed the code: Coventry Building Society, Cumberland Building Society, Fleet Mortgages, Ikano Bank, Monzo, Principality Building Society, Progressive Building Society, and […]
Senior Manchester family lawyer struck off for misleading unrepresented opposing party
A senior Manchester solicitor has been struck off after “knowingly” and “recklessly” misleading an unrepresented opposing party and attempting to involve a junior colleague. The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal heard that in September 2023, Kirsten Tomlinson, then a senior associate solicitor in the family law department of Irwin Mitchell LLP, falsely led her client’s estranged partner […]
Government ‘will launch consultation on children’s social media use’
The government says it will launch a consultation on children’s social media use, with restrictions on ‘addictive’ features, an outright ban on social media access for children, and better age checks among the measures to be considered. The consultation will identify the next steps in the government’s plan to boost children’s wellbeing online, to ensure they have a […]
MoJ to give victims free access to Crown Court sentencing remarks
All victims going through the Crown Court will have free access to judges’ sentencing remarks in their case, the Ministry of Justice has announced. The move is the latest measure to improve transparency and victims’ experiences in the courts, consistent with the recommendations of the Leveson Review. Victims typically have to pay £40 to access […]
Neurodiversity, hidden vulnerability and ground rules: Lessons from Re JX (A Child)
Does the family court system accommodate neurodivergent parents fairly? Ciara Coleman and Cleo Perry KC, barristers for the applicant in JX (A Child), examine how neurodivergence intersects with child arrangements, parental responsibility and welfare decisions, and offer a practical checklist for legal practitioners to ensure inclusivity. The family court has only relatively recently developed […]