Private Children Law Update - Key Areas Explored

Introduction

There continue to be key developments in the area of private children law.

This ranges from matters surrounding parental responsibility, specific issue order matters, such as change of surname, child arrangements and enforcement, as well as matters surrounding domestic abuse and contact.

This webinar will consider some of the key areas. In particular, there will be a consideration of the interrelationship between child arrangements and domestic abuse in so far as fact-finding hearings are concerned and conducting and planning these.

The developments surrounding alienating behaviours will be explored, as well as developments surrounding the Pathfinder pilots in various parts of England and Wales, which will ultimately replace the running of private children law cases across England and Wales.

There will also be consideration of the area surrounding family reporting and its development, as well as a caselaw update.

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

• Online pilots - ongoing developments of the Pathfinder courts and implications
• Proposed changes to Bundle Practice Direction - PD27A
• Change of first and surname following Re C (Change of name given) [2024]
• Developments in Family Mediation Voucher Scheme into 2025
• Non molestation injunctions and private children law - guidance by the President on fact-finding hearings and domestic abuse in private law children proceedings
• Cross-examination and children law cases - impact of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021
• Current position of qualified legal representatives and limitations following Re Z (Prohibition on Cross-examination: No QLR) [2024]
• Disclosure of information between family and criminal agencies and jurisdictions: 2024 protocol - private children law
• Developments in fact-finding hearings and private children law
• Restriction of parental responsibility in cases of Homicide - consideration of Victims and Prisoners Act 2024
• Use of experts in children proceedings - the effect of Re C (Parental Alienation: Instruction of Expert) in running private law cases where parental alienation is raised as an issue
• Case involving parental alienation and enforcing child arrangements
• Developments surrounding Domestic Abuse Protection Orders and Pilots into 2025
• FJC Council guidance of December 2024 on alienating behaviours and child arrangements
• The Family Reporting Pilot and private law - ongoing developments
• Transparency in the Family Courts - publication of Judgments Practice Guidance of 2024

This pre-recorded webinar will be available to view from Monday 16th June 2025

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