Our articles are written by experts in their field and include barristers, solicitors, judges, mediators, academics and professionals from a range of related disciplines. Family Law provides a platform for debate for all the important topics, from divorce and care proceedings to transparency and access to justice. If you would like to contribute please email emma.reitano@lexisnexis.co.uk.
Spotlight
Children and Same Sex Families
Children and Same Sex Families
Children and Same Sex Families: A Legal Handbook
More info
Mental Capacity
Mental Capacity
Mental Capacity: Law and Practice
More info
Evidence in Family Proceedings
Evidence in Family Proceedings
Evidence in Family Proceedings
More info
View All

A Duty But Not a Right: Child Support after R (Kehoe) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

© Copyright LexisNexis 2026. All rights reserved.
Date:2 MAY 2006

Nick Wikeley, John Wilson Chair in Law, School of Law, University of Southampton. This commentary examines the decision of the House of Lords in R (Kehoe) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2005] UKHL 48, [2005] 2 FLR 1249, in which the majority of their Lordships held that, in relation to the enforcement provisions in the Child Support Act 1991, a parent with care has no civil right within the meaning of Art 6 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms 1950. As a result, only the Child Support Agency can enforce a child support maintenance assessment, the parent with care has no standing to do so. See Child and Family Law Quarterly, Vol 18, No 2, 2006 for the full article.

Read the full article in Family Law Journal on L+UK® (subject to subscription) here.

Subscribe to Family Law Journal print here.

Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis