Without notice Part III applications must be rare and ‘exceptional’, Family Court reiterates
The Family Court has emphasised without notice Part III applications for leave should not be listed without notice “unless there is an exceptional reason”. The recap on procedure was included in the judgment of Mr Justice Peel, sitting in the Family Court at the Royal Courts of Justice, following an application under s13 of Part […]
Court of Appeal upholds finding that £38m trust was a sham
The Court of Appeal has endorsed the approach of the High Court to go beyond appearances when analysing finances and making financial remedy orders. In a decision handed down in December, the court heard the appeal of Mario Michael against a final financial remedy order made by the High Court on 1 July 2025, which […]
LawCare supported record numbers in 2025
In 2025, the legal sector mental health charity LawCare supported 753 people – more than any previous year, including during the pandemic. The charity’s online chat function – which is offered alongside a telephone helpline – also saw an increase in users, up 13% on the previous year. “The need for trusted, accessible and sector-specific […]
Family arbitration use doubles as court delays mount
Family arbitrations in England and Wales have doubled in the last two years, according to figures from the Institute of Family Law Arbitrators. In 2025 there were 178 arbitrations, up from 89 in 2023, with the option becoming more popular as the family court system continues to face significant resource pressures. The surge follows the […]
Litigants in person, AI and the changing dynamics of family proceedings
Litigants in person are increasingly using AI tools, online templates and digital communities when preparing for family court proceedings. McKenzie friend Gergely Fried draws on his practical experience of supporting self-represented parents to explore how these developments are affecting family practice and what they mean for lawyers and the future of access to justice. […]
Understanding trauma responses in family law – why behaviour isn’t always what it seems
Cognitive behaviour therapist Sonya Black explains how family lawyers can identify trauma responses and shares practical strategies to support clients who may be dealing with stress responses. As family lawyers, you are often the first professional point of contact for clients navigating separation and divorce. What many practitioners may not realise is that a […]
Stowe Family Law partners with Australian firm in first international deal
Stowe Family Law has completed an investment in Unified Lawyers (Unified), a specialist family law practice with offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Queensland. This agreement marks the first investment outside the UK for the technology focused firm, which was founded in Yorkshire in 1984 and has expanded into a national platform with over 90 offices and more […]
Napthens strengthens family team with Islamic divorce expert
Shakeela Bi has joined Lancashire firm Napthens as legal director, where she will provide advice to the members of the Muslim community going through divorce. Recognised as an expert in Islamic divorces, Bi (pictured right) is one of only a small number of solicitors in the country able to provide advice to divorcing couples relating […]
A social media ban for children in the UK? The implications for children’s rights
The government has launched a consultation on social media use by children, with the options being explored including an outright ban. Baljinder Bath, family law barrister at 4PB, explores what this could mean for the digital rights of children, and explains why legislation may fail to protect families. Once hailed as the ultimate tool for […]
Fledgeling family law podcast looks beyond the job
A new podcast presented by two family law partners celebrates the importance of staying connected for wellbeing. According to its co-founders, Family Law Friends focuses “less on the letter of the law and more on the challenges and rewards of the job and how to strike a balance between work and home life.” Co-hosts and […]
Court of Appeal reiterates need for ‘anxious scrutiny’ in interim separation cases
The Court of Appeal has found that when refusing a local authority’s application for separation of an eight month old baby girl from her parents, the circuit judge had not undertaken the necessary “anxious scrutiny”. The decision in C (A child) (Interim Separation: Residential Care) [2025] EWCA Civ 1618 underscores the importance of balanced and […]
Family Mediation Week 2026: 26th-30th January
Family Mediation Week 2026 was launched at the office of Family Law in Partnership in London yesterday (Wednesday), ahead of a week packed with on and offline events and learning opportunities for family lawyers, other professionals and the wider general public. The event, hosted by the Family Mediation Council (FMC), outlined the ambitions for the […]
Social purpose law firm launches divorce chatbot to improve early support
Social purpose specialist law firm Anthony Collins has launched a free AI support service to help clients navigate the first steps of the divorce process. The firm, which has offices across the Midlands and North West, developed Talk to Aida with experienced family lawyers to offer discreet guidance 24 hours a day. All conversations are […]
High Court rules WhatsApp messages are not legal signatures in divorce case
A High Court judge in a test case involving a dispute over the ownership of property belonging to a former husband and wife has ruled WhatsApp messages are not legally binding signatures in the transfer of property. In Maxine Reid-Roberts & Anor v Hsiao Mei-Lin & Anor, Mr Justice Cawson did not consider WhatsApp messages […]
New charity launches national directory of separated parenting programmes
A new charity, the Separated Parenting Programme Directory (SPPD), has launched in the UK with the aim of providing family law professionals and separating parents with a single, national directory of quality-assured separated parenting programmes. SPPD has been established to provide a practical solution to a long-standing issue within the family justice landscape. While courts, […]
mfg Solicitors appoints Richard Port MBE to expand family team
Midlands law firm mfg Solicitors has strengthened its family team with the appointment of Richard Port MBE as partner and head of family in Birmingham. A highly experienced family law specialist with expertise in providing legal services to victims of domestic abuse and managing complex proceedings, Port advises on the full range of family law […]
Legal GiGZ launches ‘world first’ global directory of business of law conferences and events
Legal GiGZ, which claims to be the world’s first comprehensive directory of ‘business of law’ conferences and events, has launched a platform bringing together over 260 legal industry events across more than 40 countries. Founded by Shaun Jardine, a former law firm CEO and managing partner with over 30 years’ experience in the legal sector, […]
Researchers call for UK banking industry to ‘design out’ economic abuse
Researchers from Northumbria University and the University of London have called for the UK banking industry to ‘design out’ economic abuse, after a six-month study identified how banking products, services and technologies are intentionally weaponised by abusers. The report published by the authors of the research – Designing Out Economic Abuse in the UK Banking […]
FMC hosts week of free webinars for Family Mediation Week 2026
The Family Mediation Council (FMC) is inviting family law professionals to take part in a series of free one-hour webinars during Family Mediation Week 2026, which will take place from 26-30 January. The annual awareness week, organised by the FMC, showcases how family mediation can support the work of solicitors, social workers, teachers and a […]
Senior appointments expand family teams for Jackson Lees and Harrogate Family Law
Jennifer Carr has joined the private family team at Jackson Lees as senior associate, while Harrogate Family Law has welcomed senior family lawyer Charlotte Davies to its team. Carr (main picture), who has more than 15 years’ experience as a solicitor across Merseyside and Cheshire, joins Jackson Lees from the Liverpool office of MSB Solicitors. […]