Family lawyers react as government confirms Courts and Tribunal Bill will repeal presumption of parental involvement
Family lawyers have reacted to the government’s confirmation that the new Courts and Tribunal Bill will repeal the presumption of parental involvement. The “landmark repeal” is in honour of Claire Throssel MBE “and her remarkable campaign to keep children safe,” the Ministry of Justice said in a statement confirming the change. Throssell’s two sons – […]
Economic abuse ‘has role in more than half of domestic abuse deaths’
Economic abuse plays a role in more than half of domestic abuse–related deaths but is routinely overlooked by the agencies, according to a new report. Surviving Economic Abuse analysed 454 domestic homicide reviews (DHR) for its Hidden Risk, Fatal Consequences report. It found that 51% (231 out 454) of abuse-related deaths between 2012 and 2024 […]
Family lawyers warn crypto assets are being concealed
Family lawyers are reporting a rise in cryptocurrency assets featuring in divorce proceedings and how, in some cases, these assets have been concealed by spouses. Digital assets, including cryptocurrency, are a growing part of many financial portfolios. They have also become one of the most complex and contentious elements of modern financial settlements which, if […]
Briefing paper spotlights AI benefits and risks in family justice system
An updated briefing paper from the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory aims to promote discussion about how artificial intelligence could improve the experiences of both professionals and families in the family justice system in the UK. AI in the family justice system – 2026 concludes that “as the capabilities of general-purpose AI continue to evolve at a lightning […]
Government launches independent legal advice service for rape victims
Rape victims will have access to dedicated legal advice throughout the criminal justice process in a new independent legal adviser (ILA) service launched by the government. The ILA service will be launched later this year as part of Operation Soteria, an initiative launched in 2021 to place the suspect’s behaviour at the centre of cases […]
New Youth Justice Board resource highlights ‘complex factors’ shaping harmful behaviour among children
The Youth Justice Board (YJB) has published a new Evidence and Insights Pack examining harmful sexual behaviour, misogyny and violence carried out by children, bringing together the latest research, data and practice examples from across England and Wales. Proven sexual offences by children rose by 47% in 2023-24 and a further 6% in the latest year. While […]
Understanding complaints and early resolution opportunities
The latest episode of the Today’s Family Lawyer podcast welcomes Senior Ombudsman at the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) Clair Daniel to explore the current landscape of legal complaints handling, the challenges facing firms, and the strategic work underway to improve first‑tier resolution across the legal sector. The backdrop to the discussion is the increase in the […]
Understanding Pathfinder through the Centre for Justice Innovation Report
Ashley Le-Core examines the Pathfinder pilot through the lens of research from the Centre for Justice Innovation, which has important implications for family lawyers. Most family law professionals will by now have had some form of contact with the Pathfinder scheme. Pathfinder was developed directly from a report released in June 2020 by the […]