confused by all the talk of removing parental rights from abusive fathers? We explain the new laws and what will change (and possibly when) in this new post

You’ll often see this topic described as ‘stripping’ or ‘removing' an abusive father’s parental rights but parental responsibility (PR) can’t often simply be taken away – although where the circumstances justify it, PR can be restricted... https://transparencyproject.org.uk/?p=30736

Parallel family and criminal court proceedings 'confusing for parties', judge notes www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/paralle... #FamilyLaw

news about the expansion of Child Focused Courts (formerly Pathfinder) in this farewell View by 'top family judge' Sir Andrew McFarlane

The most senior judge in family courts is the President of the Family Division and Court of Protection, inevitably known in the media as 'top family judge'. Shortly after Sir James Munby was appointed President, from April 2014, he began an innovative... https://transparencyproject.org.uk/?p=30728

our Roundup of March family court & transparency news is out

Welcome to the Roundup, where we correct, clarify and comment on media reports of family law, explain and comment on published family court judgments, and highlight other transparency news. MEDIA COVERAGE OF FAMILY LAW, TRANSPARENCY etc The Sunday... https://transparencyproject.org.uk/?p=30681

we have responded with a letter to the Guardian -

On 30 March, The Guardian published this editorial: 'The Guardian view on family justice: transparency should help a flawed system to improve. Increased openness is a change for the better. But cuts have made the courts’ work far harder' We have... https://transparencyproject.org.uk/?p=30684

This happens all to often with legal decisions in England and Wales. Some need to realise that summarising and explaining a legal decisions is not endorsing them. Equally, a legal decision is not an endorsement of the policy behind it. The Supreme Court’s role is to interpret the law, not policy

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... editorial in today's Guardian. But are they sending reporters into court?

BBC News - Child focus is biggest change to family courts in 30 years, senior judge says www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

This is an update on the post we wrote on 18 March about family court and defamation proceedings relating to a high profile couple, Professor James Tooley and Ms Cynthia Tooley/Stroud MBE. Two new judgments in Ms Tooley’s defamation case have been... https://transparencyproject.org.uk/?p=30663

Earlier this week, the Court of Appeal heard an argument that the Open Justice Principle does not apply to the Court of Protection (CoP) and that an 'urban myth' had wrongly grown that any attempt to restrict public access to CoP proceedings was 'a... https://transparencyproject.org.uk/?p=30649

the appeal is brought by a family & the OS against a decision by Poole J to order docs be provided to @kitzingercelia.bsky.social who is an intervener in the case. There are 195 people watching online!

we are watching the Court of Appeal today. Important case on open justice in the Court of Protection. So far, interesting points made on how much better the rules are in Family Court. CoP hearings are held in public but can observers be sent documents with highly personal info. in them?

when a 'transparency' order does the opposite to what it says on the tin - we explain Pringle v Nervo - Find Case Law - The National Archives share.google/OYJ2Kk3fgEck...

This story by the Good Law Project on 19 March - Liv Nervo: Court calls Pringle’s ‘shameful’ conduct ‘abuse’- is about a mother who wanted to publicise her family court case but then found that the decision that allowed the media into court... https://transparencyproject.org.uk/?p=30637

many congratulations to TP member, Chris Barnes KC of 4PB chambers who is taking silk today

hey ho, went to court for a case we've been following for 6 months, as a family court legal blogger, to find the hearing vacated, although we checked last week. No one thought to tell us. #OpenJustice

www.gov.uk/government/p... new Working Together guidance in England

JUSTICE are running a survey on the use of AI in the legal system forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/respon...

The 'Thatcherite' VC and the Cake Maker - open justice in the family court and protection of journalist's sources

A family court case has hit the headlines over the past year, not so much for anything remarkable about the Family Law Act 1996 dispute in front of the judges, but because the husband (according to press reports) is friendly with prominent right wing... https://transparencyproject.org.uk/?p=30612

The Pathfinder Courts are renamed 'Child Focused Courts' - Children to get swifter justice as new family court approach expands nationally - GOV.UK share.google/NoGnJkHbab2B...

What does the President's 'Re Y' judgment mean for the family courts? My analysis for @tbij.bsky.social tinyurl.com/mr36v98k

non agency adoption by foster carers with an order for post adoption contact between sisters - family court judgment explained in this new post by Harriet Humberstone

the hitherto anonymised 'reproductive coercion' case - costs judgment from the CA - Matthew James Pringle v Olivia Margaret Nervo - Find Case Law - The National Archives share.google/mnGQaNtqz6GJ...

This is a guest post by Harriet Humberstone, a law student who begins her Bar professional course this September. Harriet has a particular interest in representing children in both private and public law. This post will highlight the complex judicial... https://transparencyproject.org.uk/?p=30600

new guide published for litigants in person on court bundles - to accompany a revised practice direction aimed at consistency in compiling documents, across all family courts

Two recent publications are relevant to litigants in person (LiPs) in family courts who are conducting their own case without being represented by a lawyer. The first one is important because it is guidance that a LiP will need to follow. The second... https://transparencyproject.org.uk/?p=30582

QLRs - what do the published judgments tell us? pinktape.co.uk/uncategorize...

new Family Court Reporting Watch for February

Welcome to the Roundup, where we correct, clarify and comment on media reports of family law, explain and comment on published family court judgments, and highlight other transparency news. MEDIA COVERAGE OF FAMILY LAW, TRANSPARENCY etc The big story... https://transparencyproject.org.uk/?p=30546

A family who uncovered evidence of racism, misogyny and potential corruption at Gwent Police have criticised plans for a gross misconduct hearing to be held partly in secret. "Anything the force does not want broadcast is kept out of the public eye." www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-n...

Spider-Man, Zendaya and the Prenup that might not save them This is a guest post by Salomé Ashenden. Salomé is a law graduate preparing for practice at the Bar. She holds a MSc in Science Communication from Imperial College London and has experience... https://transparencyproject.org.uk/?p=30533

This was a case I very much wanted to see publicly discussed. The young person I acted for had been failed by the family court system at every stage. He suffered avoidable harm as a result & wanted his experiences to be listened to. He worried about other children trapped by systemic flaws.

new Courts Bill includes the repeal of the statutory presumption that it's in children's welfare to maintain relationships with both parents when courts consider post-separation disputes

We last wrote on this topic in October 2025 when Parliament had announced the intention to repeal the controversial presumption when time could be found. A review of the presumption found that it contributed to a perception of a pro-contact culture,... https://transparencyproject.org.uk/?p=30519

Analysis of the implications of Re Y (Experts and Alienating Behaviour) by @familoo.pinktape.co.uk

Last week saw publication of an important judgment from the President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, in a case called Re Y (Experts and Alienating Behaviour: The Modern Approach) [2026] EWFC 38. The case involves now notorious family... https://transparencyproject.org.uk/?p=30489

MoJ scraps policy of destroying court records after seven years: MoJ confirms to academic Brian Thornton that trial records will be kept as long as the prison sentence – possibly indefinitely. A surprising (and belated) victory for the Open Justice Charter thejusticegap.com/open-justice...

Family judges should not normally grant permission for expert evidence to be given in children proceedings by an expert ‘psychologist’ who is neither registered not chartered, the president of the High Court family division ruled in a judgment on Friday. rozenberg.substack.com/p/a-busy-few...

caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewfc/2026/38 Important new judgment on "parental alienation". The President says that every agency was at fault in separating a boy from his mother based on the views of an unqualified "expert"

we watched the Supreme Court hearing on X & Y (setting aside an adoption order) Here's an update

We've written before, (13 May 2021; 12 August 2021) about the very limited circumstances in which an adoption order can be set aside (sometimes described as 'revoked'). The current law is that it is possible for an order to be set aside if the court... https://transparencyproject.org.uk/?p=30430

Having finally caught up with the need to do a story about Inheritance Tax the scriptwriters are making a total mess of it! Don’t seem to have made any attempt to understand the issues. Disappointing #thearchers

UK Gov Legal Dept has written to courtsdesk on behalf of HMCTS/MOJ asking them to pause deletion of their archive