Posts
The ‘Thatcherite’ VC and the Cake Maker
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 politicians and...
Stability and Siblinghood: Balancing primary attachment and biological bonds
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 balance that...
New resources for litigants in person
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 is of wider...
Family Court Reporting Watch Roundup: February 2026
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 from the family...
Can a Prenup survive English law?
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 working as a...
The repeal of the presumption of involvement of both parents
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, even though the...
Experts and Alienating Behaviour: The Modern Approach
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 court expert...
‘Undoing’ an adoption – 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 finds that it...
Trauma in the Family Courts: the 2026 Family Law Breakfast
Training and resources were the key themes to emerge at last month's fund-raising Family Law Breakfast, marking Support Through Court’s 25th anniversary, with a panel discussion about trauma in the family courts. The event on 21 January 2026 was hosted by Charles...
Family Court Reporting Watch Roundup: Dec 25 to Jan 2026
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 Financial Times (£) invited...