Japan’s new joint custody legislation will make ‘significant difference’ to nationals divorcing in UK
Landmark legislation in Japan has enabled separating parents to be jointly responsible in custody proceedings, in a move which is set to benefit UK divorce cases with an international element involving the country. Until the change, Japan was the only G7 country that did not recognise the legal concept of joint custody. The amendment now […]
Deprivation of liberty applications up 12.5% in 2025
Ministry of Justice figures have revealed a high of 1,440 deprivation of liberty (DoL) applications in 2025, up 12.5% since the previous year. Quarter four data in the Family Court Statistics Quarterly release reveals 379 children were subject to DoL applications, up from 321 in the same period in 2024. The 2025 figures were higher than 2024 in […]
Awards, acquisitions, launches and promotions in the latest round-up of family law news
Family lawyers are celebrating a raft of successes this month, with award wins, new service launches, acquisitions and promotions across the country. UK Top 150 law firm Trethowans has won the Innovative Marketing Award at the Legal Growth Awards for its The Candid Divorce Lawyer podcast, which aims to make discussions about divorce, separation and […]
Shortage of refuge places as demand outstrips supply – Women’s Aid
The latest Family Court Statistics Quarterly for October to December 2025 shows a “concerning” rise in the number of domestic violence remedy orders applied for, up 5% in the final quarter of 2025 compared with Q4 2024. The number of orders made increased by 2% to 9,260 over the same period. There were 36,376 applications […]
Family mediation voucher scheme ‘extended to March 2027’
The Ministry of Justice has committed to extending the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme into 2027, the Family Mediation Council (FMC) has confirmed. In a statement welcoming the news, Helen Anthony, CEO of FMC, said: “The continuation of the successful family mediation voucher scheme is important, as it will ensure that many more families on low […]
Landmark case on parental responsibility: Lessons from the Court of Appeal in Re J, Re M, and Re P (Loss of Responsibility)
The Court of Appeal has handed down its judgment in the landmark case of Re J (Loss of Parental Responsibility), [2026] EWCA Civ 344. The International Family Law Group LLP represents the lead appellant in three conjoined appeals relating to the issue of parental responsibility; this judgment is without doubt a ‘must-read’ for family practitioners […]
High Court to decide whether home on aristocrat’s family estate forms part of ex-wife’s £1.2m trust
An aristocrat is engaged in a complex High Court battle to prevent trustees of his ex-wife’s £1.2 million income fund from selling a cottage on his family’s 11th century rural estate in Somerset. Sir Benjamin Slade, 7th Baronet of Maunsel, was married to Lady Pauline Slade for 12 years before their divorce in 1994. As […]
Court of Appeal rules on ‘extraordinary’ Copinger-Symes case
The Court of Appeal has ruled on the case of the former manager of the rock band INXS and her £14 million legal battle with her ex-husband and multimillionaire mother, in a case described as “extraordinary” by family professionals. The former European manager of 80’s band INXS, Maria-Christina Copinger-Symes, an estranged member of a hugely […]
Nuffield FJO calls for outcomes-based measures in family justice
The Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (Nuffield FJO) is calling for the introduction of shared measures of success across the family justice system, arguing that current metrics – focused on system efficiencies such as the length of proceedings – do not capture the outcomes that matter to children and families. In a briefing document published this […]
‘Property Act removes uncertainty over digital assets’ – Sir Geoffrey Vos
The Property (Digital Assets etc) Act 2025 has removed legal uncertainty and resolved private law impediments to new technology, Master of the Rolls Sir Geoffrey Vos (pictured) says. Speaking at a reception on 12 March to mark the passing of the Property Act 2025, Sir Vos explained: “The Property (Digital Assets etc) Act 2025 must […]
Family Solutions Group report calls for children to be at heart of provision
A new report calls for the creation of a Commissioner for Separated Families to represent families in government consultations, coordinate “fragmented” policy and keep the welfare of children at the heart of provision. Currently, four million children are growing up in separated families in the UK. The Family Solutions Group (FSG)’s Putting Children First report says the […]
SRA pays out £9m to ‘most urgent’ PM Law transactions after receiving 250 applications to compensation fund
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has provided £9 million in compensation to clients of PM Law, which closed unexpectedly at the start of February. The money has been largely used to facilitate property transactions which have been delayed as a result of the closure of the Sheffield law firm and its 20-plus affiliate firms. The […]
Domestic abuse crisis ‘hiding in plain sight’ – Refuge
New data from Refuge shows that more than half of UK adults (57%) questioned by the charity acknowledge that the home is where women are most at risk of abuse, even though 85% believe most people feel safe in their own home. The figures suggest “a domestic abuse crisis happening in plain sight”, Refuge said. […]
Mother fabricated abuse claims, court finds in Hague Convention application
In F v M, a fact-finding hearing within an application by a father for access to his son under article 21 of the Hague Convention, the court found that the mother’s allegations of abuse against the father were not proved and that the mother had exaggerated and fabricated details to intentionally obstruct the child’s paternal […]
Government launches consultation on children’s digital wellbeing
The government has launched a public consultation on children’s digital wellbeing and is seeking feedback on measures to protect children on social media, gaming platforms and in the use of AI chatbots. The consultation, announced jointly by technology secretary Liz Kendall and education secretary Bridget Phillipson on Monday, covers platform features associated with children’s prolonged […]
Family lawyer questions effectiveness of domestic abuse legislation
The effectiveness of new government legislation meant to protect domestic abuse victims has been called into question by a family lawyer, who says the new orders are simply a “rehash” of previous legislation which police officers are not trained to use properly. Richard Port MBE, partner at mfg Solicitors with expertise in providing advise to […]
UK legal services sector grew by 6.1% last year, with family law worth £3.6bn
The UK legal services sector grew by 6.1% last year, according to the latest legal services market report from IRN Legal Reports. The total estimated value of the market last year was £55.5 billion, with family law accounting for £3.6 billion – the third largest sector. The largest segment in the consumer legal services market […]
Family Executive Team launches consultation on short notice application guidance
A consultation has been launched to gather feedback on the guidance for short notice applications in the family courts, published by the Family Executive Team (FET). The FET is consulting on five documents aimed at reducing the number of short notice applications, which have been drafted by the Short Notice Applications Working Group. Short notice […]
Referral scheme aims to put clients in touch with non-UK legal professionals
A new referral scheme aims to provide lawyers with access to vetted expertise in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The scheme – known as J-Law – has been launched by Judicare Law International, a UK-based, SRA-regulated law firm. The model is similar to that used by Connect2Law, the popular referral scheme launched by Simon […]
Court refuses application to return children to Türkiye after planned abduction
A High Court judge has denied a father’s application under the Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985 to return his children to Türkiye following their mother’s planned abduction, prioritising the welfare of the girls who are said to be “basking in the stability” of their UK home. Mr Justice Hayden, sitting in the Family Division […]