Posts
Stumbling across a paradigm case – part 3 (how I did it)
PART 3 : HOW DID YOU DO IT? This is the third part of a four part blog series. Part 1 is here, and links to parts 2 and 4. Reminder : To ensure that the child and family are not identified I am not allowed to reveal whether the child is a boy or a girl, but to make...
Stumbling across a paradigm case – part 2 (the case itself)
PART 2 : THE CASE This is the second part of a four part blog series. Part 1 is here, and links to parts 3 and 4. A reminder: To ensure that the child and family are not identified I am not allowed to reveal whether the child is a boy or a girl, but to make the posts...
Stumbling across a paradigm case – the hardest legal blogging expedition so far…
PART 1 : INTRODUCTION This series of posts is about a case dealt with in the Family Court at Hull in August, in which a judge ordered a transfer of residence of a young child from the mother’s care into the father’s care, following long running proceedings and...
![When a case is described finely balanced, how important are the children’s expressed wishes and feelings? Dorset Council v M & Ors (Removal : Balance of Harm) [2021] EWFC B43](https://transparencyproject.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2019-10-04-at-10.06.58-1080x675.png)
When a case is described finely balanced, how important are the children’s expressed wishes and feelings? Dorset Council v M & Ors (Removal : Balance of Harm) [2021] EWFC B43
This is a post by Sophie Smith-Holland. Sophie is a family law barrister at St John’s Chambers, Bristol. She tweets as @SSmithHolland. In my last post I wrote about a case where the Judge disagreed with all the professionals and refused to approve a care plan of...
Parental alienation in practice
This is a guest post by Madeleine Whelan. Madeleine is a family law barrister at 14 Grays Inn Square Chambers. She co-hosts the family law podcast, Professionally Embarassing, and tweets as @Maddie__Whelan2 X, Y and Z (Children: Agreed Transfer of Residence) [2021]...
Do a fifth of marrying couples sign a pre-nup?
This is a guest post by Tony Roe, divorce and family law solicitor and arbitrator, and visiting fellow in family law, University of Reading. Tony tweets as @TonyRoeDivorce The Marriage Foundation has hit the headlines with its research paper entitled “One in five...
‘Childless’ marriage and the impact on your financial settlement following a divorce
INTRODUCTION This is a guest post by Teena Dhanota-Jones. Teena is a consultant family law solicitor at Simons Muirhead Burton. She tweets as @DhanotaJones I read with interest, in the matter of E v L [2021] EWFC 60 (13 July 2021) Mr Justice Mostyn’s rejection of an...
KEEPING MUM
This is a guest post by Laura Vickers. Laura is a specialist children law barrister and mediator practising at No5 Barristers’ Chambers. She tweets as @LauraVickersNo5 When the social services department of a local authority believes that a child is likely...
‘Agony of fighting for my child in the courts… by a family lawyer: In a candid account, a lawyer reveals how – when she found herself in her clients’ shoes – it almost destroyed her’
Earlier this week, the Daily Mail published a story with the headline above, written by Michelle Goodman, a mother who had been in dispute with her child’s father about contact arrangements. (Michelle Goodman is not the author’s real name). We quickly recognised...
Apostasy, co-parenting and parens patriae: A round-up of recent UK/Middle East cases
This is a guest post by Laura Vickers. Laura is a specialist children law barrister and mediator practising at No5 Barristers’ Chambers. She tweets as @LauraVickersNo5 Sometimes, English courts need to deal with families living overseas. They gain the...