The Law Commission of England and Wales has officially launched its review of the laws which determine how finances are divided among couples after divorce. Commissioned by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), the new law

His Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) has published a new report highlighting the flaws in the Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) handling of domestic abuse cases. HMCPSI inspectors noted there were “areas for improvement” to

Ofsted has set out the process of registration for supported accommodation providers following the news that it will begin offering “essential oversight” of these services for children in care and care leavers aged 16 to

The organisers of January’s Family Mediation Week have declared the event a success with plans for next year’s corresponding event “already underway”. Family Mediation Week saw family mediators run numerous events in January which reached

Newly proposed surrogacy reforms which could see intended parents automatically recognised as legal parents from birth have been welcomed with open arms by family lawyers. Wednesday saw the Law Commission of England and Wales and

Mediation is set to become mandatory in thousands of suitable low-level family court cases in what has been described as a “major shake-up to the family justice system”. This will mean separating couples have to

Domestic abuse and rape victims are set to be given the right to challenge the police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on the dropping of their case as part of a slew of new reforms

All supported accommodation providers for 16 and 17-year-olds in care will be required to register with Ofsted and meet quality standards from October 2023 onwards, the Department for Education has announced. This aims to put

The Access to Justice Foundation has been awarded funding to administer the “Improving Outcomes Through Legal Support” grant. The Ministry of Justice says the grant “will help thousands more people get access to early legal

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has announced over 100,000 more families are set to receive support under the government’s “flagship” Supporting Families scheme. Up to £233.5 million has been allocated to

The Legal Services Board (LSB) has announced it will not be conducting a review of the list of reserved legal activities in the imminent future. Certain legal activities are restricted – or reserved – by

The Industry Working Group’s final report on the electronic execution of documents has failed to agree on a way forward for eSignatures following “mixed views both internally and externally” regarding the certification and accreditation of

A legal case challenging the “persistent failure” of the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) to take “proper or effective steps” to recover maintenance payments from absent parents has been given the green light to go ahead

Families are failed by the Home Office’s current migration policies and practice, according to a recently published report from the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee. The report – “All families matter: An

Access to means-free legal aid has been extended for both parents and those with parental responsibilities as well as domestic abuse victims, the Legal Aid Agency has announced. The changes, which have been welcomed by

President of the Family Division Sir Andrew McFarlane has considered the practice that should be adopted when court orders need to be served upon a parent residing in refuge. The need for guidance stems from

Every pound invested in domestic abuse support services represents a £9 saving to the public purse, according to a report published by leading domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid. The report – Investing to save: the

A House of Commons briefing paper has been released looking at with when polygamous marriages might be legally recognised in England and Wales, immigration issues, social security benefits, and state pension entitlement. Home Office guidance

A woman has been awarded £97,000 in damages as part of a civil case following the covert recording and subsequent sharing of naked images by her former partner. In FGX v Stuart Gaunt [2023] EWHC

Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that the proportion of the population choosing to marry – especially in younger age groups – has plummeted. The proportion of adults who have

The government has announced the creation of thousands of new “family hubs” that will offer local support to families with issues including relationship building and mental health. The hubs will act as a “one-stop shop”

The Public Law Project (PLP) has launched legal action against the Home Office over its “potentially discriminatory” algorithm which targets people for “sham marriage” investigations. It’s said the Home Office’s automated triage tool is used

The President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) has criticised the profiteering within the children’s placements market, describing the cost of placements as “very worrying”. “The children in our care deserve to

The government is set to add a “failure to prevent fraud” offence to the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill which is currently going through Parliament. The new offence could put white collar professionals –

Workers across the country are set to be given greater rights and protections regarding several aspects of their employment as part of a new Bill supported by the government. Blackpool South MP Scott Benton’s Workers