Family Court decisions published in the week commencing 13 September. If you’d like to share commentary on any of the cases shared here, email press@todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk.
E (A Child) (Special Guardianship Order: Public Law Proceedings) [2026] EWCA Civ 1167 (10 September 2026): Special guardianship. Appeal by mother and maternal grandmother from an order granting a Special Guardianship Order to a foster carer. Appeal allowed.
SB (A Child) (Alienating Behaviour: Application to Reopen Findings) [2026] EWFC 264 (04 September 2026): Parental alienation. Application by mother to set aside findings of alienating behaviour and redetermine evidence admissibility. Application dismissed.
CBM v MBS (Choice of Secondary School) [2026] EWFC 265 (B) (7 September 2026): Education. Dispute between parents over choice of secondary school for child with additional needs. Order made that child attend state secondary school.
F v M [2026] EWHC 2371 (Fam) (7 September 2026): Child abduction. Application by father for summary return of child to Spain under the 1980 Hague Convention. Application refused.
Re Q (A child born April 2023) [2026] EWFC 266 (B) (8 September 2026): Child arrangements. Application by father to increase contact and step down supervision. Contact hours increased, but requirement for external supervision maintained pending father’s completion of a Domestic Abuse Perpetrators Programme.
F v M [2026] EWFC 268 (B) (11 September 2026): Child arrangements. Application by father to progress daytime contact to overnight stays. Order made granting limited overnight contact subject to grandparental supervision and rehabilitation conditions.
SH v KH [2026] EWHC 2391 (Fam) (17 September 2026): Child abduction. Application by father for summary return of child to Portugal under the 1980 Hague Convention. Application granted.
CDG (A Child) (Article 13(b): Refugee Status and Safe Third Country) [2026] EWHC 2425 (Fam) (16 September 2026): Child abduction. Application by father for summary return of child to Germany under the 1980 Hague Convention. Application granted.
A Local Authority v The Mother & Ors [2026] EWFC 274 (B) (03 July 2026): Child arrangements. Fact-finding hearing regarding three siblings. Findings made that children suffered significant physical and emotional harm.
TR v ST (Letters of Request) EWHC 1785 (Fam) (09 July 2026): Financial remedies. Application by wife for the High Court to issue a letter of request to an EU member state for offshore trust disclosure. Application granted.
Prospective Adopters v A [2026] EWFC 273 (B) (06 August 2026): Post-adoption contact. Application by mother for an order for face-to-face contact four times per year. Application refused (order for alternative contact structure made instead).
EC v EC [2026] EWFC 275 (23 September 2026): Financial remedies. Preliminary issue hearing regarding the validity of a pre-nuptial agreement. Declaration made that the pre-nuptial agreement is valid and not vitiated.
Previously published cases:
Guardianship case remitted for rehearing after judge’s approach found to be ‘flawed’
Supreme Court rules child’s views can be taken into account in Hague defence
