The number of private law, financial remedy, domestic violence and adoption cases brought before the family courts in the final quarter of 2025 was 4% up on the same quarter in 2024, with 64,336 new cases started. Overall there were 270,474 new cases started in family courts throughout 2025, up 3% from 2024.
The numbers have prompted the Law Society of England and Wales and family professionals to call for more funding for family courts to cope with the increase in demand, against a backdrop of continued delays.
The figures published by the Ministry of Justice in the Family Court Statistics Quarterly: October to December 2025 release show a 5% fall in the number of divorce applications between October to December 2025 compared with the same period in 2024. Annually this meant there were 109,184 divorce applications made and 105,704 final orders granted throughout 2025, down 1% and similar to 2024 respectively.
Over the course of 2025 the average time for annual Children Act private law cases to be disposed was 37 weeks during 2025, down around four weeks compared to 2024.
Practitioners have pointed to 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 and 37,410 orders made throughout 2025, up 5% and similar to 2024 respectively.
The Law Society of England and Wales said the figure highlighted the need for more investment in family justice. “These figures tell a clear story,” the organisation said.
“As more families turn to the courts, the need for this vital public service is more apparent than ever. However, too many people are left to navigate complex and emotional court processes alone because of a persistent lack of government investment. While the recent roll out of child-focused courts aim to ensure better outcomes, we are deeply concerned that ongoing administrative problems with legal aid means that survivors of abuse are being left without support in hearings that determine their children’s futures. These issues must be resolved urgently to ensure every child and parent at risk can access justice and receive the protection they need.
“The government must invest in civil legal aid and court resources to provide essential legal support for all communities. That is why we are campaigning to bring family legal aid back from the brink.
“Investing now would ease the immediate pressure on the civil justice system and ensure families can access timely legal advice. This is crucial to delivering fair outcomes and upholding the integrity of our justice system.”
In 2025, in almost half (47%) of private family law cases, both parties appeared without a lawyer.
Harriet Collins, senior associate in the family and children team at law firm Russell-Cooke LLP, said the data highlights the “the sustained pressure on an already overstretched family court system, particularly in private law and domestic abuse matters.”
However, there has been some improvement. The average duration of care or supervision proceedings between October and December 2025 fell by two weeks compared with the same quarter in 2024. A similar pattern is seen in private law children cases. A fall in the number of uncontested financial remedy applications “reinforces the ongoing shift toward resolving financial issues outside the court”, said Collins, adding the trend “emphasises the importance of family practitioners continuing to promote and support Non-Court Dispute Resolution (NCDR) for separating couples”.
She concluded:
“While the family justice system remains under considerable strain, the latest MoJ figures show areas of improvement with a continued need to focus on efficiency, innovation and early dispute resolution to assist families in need of support.”
