Reporting from the Family Courts

In the light of Pathfinder courts being implemented nationwide, Lara Feigel visits Bournemouth family court, one of the pilot Pathfinder courts, to see how this new approach to family law proceedings really works. She observes a case where custody of a schoolgirl is in dispute…

Journalist Tess Reidy reports from a court case where a mother fights to remove the father’s surname from her five-year-old daughter’s name. The judge dismisses the allegations of child abuse and harassment, and despite years without contact, the case remains focused on…

Following the four years of proceedings covered in the previous blog post, Gavin Evans speaks with the mother involved in the case, who reflects on how the long court battle and abusive relationship deeply affected her life. She describes feeling controlled and undermined at home,…

Gavin Evans observes a case in London’s Central Family Court after four years of proceedings. Heard under new Transparency Orders allowing limited media reporting, the case involves the custody and contact arrangements for an eight-year-old boy amid allegations of domestic abuse, coercive control, and intense…

This is Part Four of a four-part blog series by Lara Feigel examining a contested family court case involving allegations of domestic abuse and parental alienation. This final instalment follows the parties back to court months after the child’s abrupt transfer of residence,…

This is Part Three of a four-part blog series by Lara Feigel examining a contested family court case involving allegations of domestic abuse and parental alienation. Focusing on the judge’s findings and final decision, ultimately leading to the child’s immediate removal from her mother’s care….

This is Part Two of a four-part blog series by Lara Feigel examining a contested family court case involving allegations of domestic abuse and parental alienation. Focusing on the father’s cross-examination, this instalment considers how recorded arguments, disputed threats and conflicting accounts are interpreted in…

This is Part One of a four-part blog series by Lara Feigel examining a contested West London family court case involving allegations of domestic abuse, sexual abuse and parental alienation, and the impact of those findings on a child’s living arrangements.

Jessica Bradley reports on her recent successful application to access the reports of an expert psychologist in family court.

Tess Reidy reports on a private law family case where the contact arrangements between a two year old girl and her father are being decided.

In this blog post, Emma Fielding, a criminal barrister, reflects on the difficulties faced by prosecutors when there have been parallel family and criminal court proceedings. Emma provides examples of scenarios where this could be problematic and makes suggestions for what actions prosecutors could take…

Tess Reidy reports on a mother cleared by professionals to care for her three sons, yet remains separated from them due to months of bureaucratic delays, leaving the children’s lives on hold in foster care.

Tess Reidy observes a case where a ten year old is refusing to see her father. The case involve abuses allegations, a court psychologist and a proposal of reunification between the girl and her father, despite potentially outstanding police matters.

Tess Reidy reports on how, after nearly two years in foster care, three young brothers are finally being reunited with their mother. In a system that offered little explanation and no clear path home, her determination and progress turned the tide in a quiet courtroom….

Tess Reidy reports on a case where the father is on bail for sexual assault, stalking, coercive and controlling behaviour, and the judge is being asked to decide if the mother is in contempt of court for failing to take her children to supervised contact…

In part two of this two part piece, Ruth Green shares the views of parents accused of sexually abusing their son, whilst also sharing the perspectives of social workers and professionals as to why they are concerned about the child’s welfare.

In the first part of a two-part blog, Ruth Green introduces us to a complex public law case, involving intergenerational trauma and abuse, where a young boy has been removed from his parents and placed in foster care after suspected sexual abuse.

In this article, Tess Reidy shares an experience of a private family law case which she ultimately chose not to observe in full. The article highlights some of the challenges faced by journalists and parents in relation to media attendance at family court cases.

In the final post of her four part series, Lara Feigel follows a case where a mother has been convicted for abusing the father and is seeking to increase the frequency of her supervised contact visits.

In part three of this four part series, Lara reports on a case which involves findings of domestic abuse against a father and allegations of parental alienation against a mother. Proceedings have been ongoing for ten years.

In part two of another four-part series by Lara Feigel on London family courts, Lara reports on a case where a father, who already has fifty-fifty contact applies for majority to increase his share of the contact because of the mothers hostility towards him.

In part one of another four-part series by Lara Feigel on London family courts, Lara encounters a case where a mother, who has experienced domestic abuse, objects to media coverage.

In the final part of a three-part series, Ruth Green writes on allegations of child retention, abduction abroad, and how the judge prioritises the children’s welfare.

In part two of her series about a week in Manchester Family Court, Ruth Green details various family law cases where some are fighting to hold onto contact with their children and others are applying to have it reinstated.

In part one of her three-part series about her week in Manchester Family Court, Ruth Green speaks with protesters, a barrister and a local authority solicitor.

Dr Gavin Evans shares his experience of a family court hearing concerning a nine month old baby whose mother died in childbirth.

In the final part of her four part blog series, Lara Feigel reports on a case hampered with delays, where a father is restricted to letter box contact.

In part three of her four part blog series, Lara Feigel reports on the harrowing experience of a domestic abuse survivor giving evidence in family court.

In part two of a four part blog series by Lara Feigel, we hear about a case where a father applies to drastically vary a contact order and make himself the primary parent.

Part one of a four part blog post series by journalist Lara Feigel. Lara shares her experience of a week spent in the London family courts as part of a new pilot scheme to improve transparency and reporting on family court cases.