Minister says family courts ‘not good enough’ as child-focused model set for nationwide rollout

Family courts in England and Wales have “not been good enough” for women and children, a justice minister has said, as the Government confirmed plans to expand a new child-focused, problem-solving model across the system.

Speaking as reforms are rolled out by the Ministry of Justice, Alison Levitt said the current system has, for decades, treated some victims unfairly and must be rebalanced to better protect those affected by domestic abuse.

The reforms will see traditional adversarial hearings in many private law cases replaced with a more investigative and child-centred approach. The model, already piloted in several areas, will become the standard for section 8 cases involving disputes over child arrangements, including where a child lives and how much time they spend with each parent.

Ministers say the new approach focuses on earlier intervention, with greater involvement from agencies such as Cafcass and specialist domestic abuse services before court hearings take place. The aim is to reduce delays, minimise conflict and ensure decisions are based more directly on the child’s welfare.

Levitt said the reforms are intended to address longstanding concerns about how victims of domestic abuse are treated in the family courts, including experiences of being retraumatised through adversarial proceedings such as extensive cross-examination during fact-finding hearings.

She also addressed controversy surrounding the proposed removal of the presumption that both parents should be involved in a child’s life, contained in the Courts and Tribunal Bill. Levitt argued that changes are necessary to correct existing imbalances and ensure the system prioritises safety and fairness.