Judge allows girl of 10 to be Baptised
This week’s legal story is the decision by Judge Platt in the Romford County Court to permit a 10 year old girl to convert to Christianity in the face of her Jewish mother's objections. The…
Expert Witnesses in Children Proceedings – An Update
On 24 May 2012 the Minister for Justice Jonathan Djanogly, announced: "We are introducing early changes to the court rules through secondary legislation. The main elements are raising the threshold…
A bad week for CMEC
A BAD WEEK FOR CMEC It has been reported that the Comptroller and Auditor General, who deals with the accounts of government agencies and quangos, has been unable to…
Shared Custody of Children; a Rethink & Some Tips
Shared custody or equal time parenting is a hot topic in England at the moment with the announcement in the Queen’s speech last week that the Government will be bringing out a new Children…
Government U-Turn on Expert Witnesses in Children Proceedings
In a rather amazing u-turn, I read today in The Times that the government finally accepts the need to reform the use of expert witnesses in care proceedings. In a previous blog…
Children and the Family Court – Is it time to open up the System to Public Scrutiny?
Children and the Family Court - Is it time to open up the System to Public Scrutiny? As a solicitor of too many years' experience than I would like to admit, I have represented many clients. Most of…
Children: How do you enforce a Contact/Access Order?
How do you enforce a Contact/Access Order? The Children and Adoption Act 2006 In brief It has always been difficult to enforce contact orders, as judges have been reluctant to do so for fear of…
Children’s happiness and The Good Childhood Report 2012. How can we shield our children from the worst of our divorce?
Children’s happiness and The Good Childhood Report 2012. How can we shield our children from the worst of our divorce? Today’s report by the Children’s Society: “The Good Childhood Report 2012”…
Equal Rights for Parents on Divorce
I read in today's Telegraph about the Government's plan to introduce legislation and force courts to give equal rights of contact (formerly access) to both parents. I as surprised as the…
Jail Time for Child Abductors?
Jail Time for Child Abductors? On 13 December 2011, in the criminal case of R v Kayani; R v Solliman ([2011 EWCA Crim 2871]), Lord Justice Judge refused to reduce custodial terms of three years and…
