The latest Ministry of Justice figures show a 2% increase in the number of new cases in the family courts from July to September this year compared with the same period in 2024, with a total of 67,844 new cases. There was an increase in most case types, including domestic violence (11%), private law (11%), financial remedy (7%) and public law (1%). Matrimonial cases and adoption cases fell by 7% and 3% respectively.
There was also a 2% increase in the number of case disposals, which reached a total of 62,867 over the quarter, driven by increases in domestic violence (19%), financial remedy (6%) and matrimonial (2%) cases.
Imogen Nolan, senior associate in the Family Law team at Russell-Cooke LLP, said the figures provide “cause for cautious optimism” but “there is still much to be done”. “On average, care proceedings reduced by three weeks and private law children applications reduced by four weeks,” she said.
“Whilst there was a 4% increase in the number of care proceedings disposed of within the 26-week statutory limit, at only 39% of care cases meeting this target there is still much to be done to improve efficiency for families. It is hoped that the reduction in private family law sitting days in 2026 will have a meaningful impact on the timelines of public law cases.”
There were 12,634 financial remedy applications made in July to September 2025, up 7% from the same period in 2024, with 12,268 financial remedy disposals events (up 6%). Of the total applications, 74% were uncontested and 26% were contested.
The statistics suggest a “continuation of a longer-term trend and may indicate an increased awareness of the need for divorcing couples to resolve financial matters by way of a court order,” Nolan said. She added:
“The percentage of financial applications by consent has remained broadly steady at 74% (a reduction of 2% from the same period in 2024) showing that Non-Court Dispute Resolution (NCDR) methods remain an effective and essential tool for many divorcing couples. Constructive and accessible NCDR will become ever more important as financial remedy sitting days are reduced in 2026 and family lawyers will be watching the statistics closely to monitor the impact of that reduction.”
In the wake of the government’s Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, domestic violence protection orders continue to rise: the 9,849 DVPOs over the reporting period represent a 13% increase compared with the same quarter last year.
Commenting on the figures, Law Society of England and Wales president Mark Evans said:
“Almost four million people experienced domestic abuse in the year ending in March 2025. A significantly higher proportion of those are females, younger adults and people from a Black ethnic background.
“Survivors of domestic abuse need significant help to cover legal costs for protection orders and navigate a very complex legal landscape. Law Society research shows that increasing numbers of people are left without access to legal aid advice and are forced to represent themselves in court. The scale of the problem points to an urgent need for the government to invest more in civil legal aid.
“Although solicitors working in some legal aid practices will soon see their fees go up, following a recent cash injection by the UK government, this investment is just a drop in the ocean.
“The government has a golden opportunity to level the playing field for domestic abuse survivors and help them get justice. This can only be achieved through further investment in civil legal aid and court resources, which will provide vital legal support to our communities, help families secure safe arrangements for children to thrive and reduce court delays.”
The increase is concerning, Nolan added, and highlights the important role the family courts pay in protecting vulnerable parties. She concluded:
“However, with a court system which remains under significant pressure in terms of judicial availability and sitting days there remains an urgent need for effective, holistic services to address the root causes of domestic violence in the community.”
One Response
Presumably ” levelling the playing field” will mean that those accused of domestic abuse will also be entitled to non-means tested legal aid ?
Otherwise the playing field will be anything but level.