The Family Law newsletter provides you with all the latest news, judgments, articles and guidance to ensure you are up to date with the latest developments and their impact on practice.
News
PSL Essential Update - Madonna's March01 April 2016
We've been bracing ourselves for a deluge of FPR changes, guidance, draft standard orders and the like this month, in the run-up to year end. There's been a bit, but nowhere near a deluge, a few bits and pieces to catch up on. Here is a summary of some of the key developments in family law last month.
New single CAP order form comes into force today01 April 2016
The Family Division has released a new CAP order form that comes into force today, amalgamating all previous versions into one simple form, with a record nine sub-components.
Proportion of cases with unrepresented parties continue to rise31 March 2016
The latest Family Court statistics published today (31 March 2016) show that the proportion of cases with unrepresented parties is continuing to rise.
Number of MIAMs continue to fall31 March 2016
The latest legal aid statistics published today (31 March 2016) show that the number of MIAMs are continuing to fall.
Resolution and LAPG criticise decision to make CCMS compulsory30 March 2016
The Legal Aid Agency has today announced that all new civil Legal Aid applications must be made using the Client and Cost Management System from 1 April 2016.
Articles
Sex and the simple test?Alex Ruck Keene
04 April 2016
In
London Borough of Southwark v KA and Others [2016] EWHC 661 (Fam), Parker J had to grapple - again - with the question of whether a young person had capacity to consent to sexual relations and to marry.
Decoding divorceJo Carr-West
01 April 2016
For those adjusting to life after separation, thoughts might now be turning to the technical aspects of the divorce itself, and they may find themselves bewildered by the challenges this process presents.
Radicalisation cases in the family courts - Part 2: Practicalities and pitfallsJo Delahunty QC & Chris Barnes
30 March 2016
This is the second in a series of articles considering the impact of radicalisation and extremism on practice in the family courts. In this article we turn to consider the guidance provided by Hayden J and some of the specific practical challenges likely to have been countered - police co-operation and disclosure, publicity and reporting issues and the procedure for electronic tagging.
A day in the life of ... Piers Pressdee QCPiers Pressdee QC
30 March 2016
I am a children law silk at 29 Bedford Row, who on a day-to-day basis purports to provide high quality advice and representation in children law cases.
Do's and don'ts of committal application25 March 2016
Ashley Murray, Barrister, reviews the recent decision and related guidance provided to practitioners by Parker J in
W v H (No 2) (Contempt: Contents of Application Notice) [2015] EWHC 2436 (Fam) in relation to the contents of notices of application for committal for breach of orders/undertakings in financial remedy proceedings.