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Researching Reform: Interveners in public family law cases - an overview
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Third party interventions have been relatively rare in the UK but are steadily on the increase in various legal sectors including the family justice system. It is unclear where the term ‘third party intervention’ originates from however it has been suggested that its roots lie in ecclesiastical law (Chitty 1834 'The Practice of Law' at 497-498). An early explanation of the practice can be found in Dalrymple v Dalrymple (1811):
‘The principle of the law of intervention is that if any third person consider that his interest will be affected by a cause which is depending he is not bound to leave the care of his interest to either of the litigants but has a right to intervene or be made a party to the cause and take on himself the defence of his own rights provided he does not disturb the order of the...
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