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Demand on the family courts in England and Wales increased during 2025, with new figures showing a 3% rise in overall cases compared with the previous year, prompting renewed calls for greater investment in the justice system.
Data published by the Ministry of Justice in its latest Family Court Statistics Quarterly release shows that 270,474 new cases were started in 2025. In the final quarter alone, 64,336 cases were issued—up 4% on the same period in 2024.
The figures cover a range of matters including private law children cases, financial remedies, domestic abuse applications and adoption proceedings. Despite the overall increase in demand, divorce applications fell slightly, with 109,184 applications made in 2025, down 1% on the previous year, while final orders remained broadly stable.
The rise in cases has led the Law Society of England and Wales and family law practitioners to warn of mounting pressure on courts already dealing with delays and limited resources. The organisation said the figures demonstrate a growing need for family justice services, while highlighting concerns that insufficient legal aid provision is leaving many individuals without representation.
In 2025, both parties were unrepresented in 47% of private family law cases, underlining the scale of the issue. The Law Society said administrative problems with legal aid are continuing to affect access to justice, particularly for survivors of domestic abuse involved in proceedings concerning children.
Domestic abuse-related applications also increased. Applications for domestic violence remedy orders rose by 5% in the final quarter of 2025 compared with the same period the previous year, with 36,376 applications made across the year. The number of orders granted remained broadly consistent, with a slight increase in quarterly figures.
There were some signs of improvement in case timeliness. The average duration of private law children cases under the Children Act 1989 fell to 37 weeks in 2025, around four weeks shorter than in 2024. Similarly, care and supervision proceedings saw modest reductions in duration in the final quarter of the year.
Practitioners have also pointed to a decline in uncontested financial remedy applications as evidence of a growing shift towards resolving disputes outside the court system. This trend has reinforced the importance of non-court dispute resolution methods in easing pressure on the courts and improving outcomes for families.
Commenting on the figures, Harriet Collins of Russell-Cooke LLP said the data reflects sustained pressure on an already stretched system, particularly in private law and domestic abuse cases. She added that while improvements in efficiency are emerging, continued focus on early resolution and innovation will be essential to support families effectively.
The Law Society has called on the Government to increase funding for civil legal aid and court resources, warning that without further investment, delays and access to justice issues are likely to persist as demand for family court services continues to grow.
