The government has confirmed that Child Focused Courts, formerly Pathfinder Courts, will be rolled out across England and Wales, affecting children's cases heard in the family court.
Key facts
- Who: Families and children whose cases are heard in the family court in England and Wales, including cases involving domestic abuse
- From: 17 March 2026 (announcement); first new areas to follow, with the rest of England and Wales over the upcoming financial years
- Source: Children to get swifter justice as new family court approach expands nationally
On 17 March 2026 the Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, David Lammy, confirmed that Child Focused Courts will be expanded across the whole of England and Wales.
Background. The model was previously known as Pathfinder Courts. It currently operates in 10 of the 43 court areas in England and Wales. These include all of Wales, Birmingham, the West Midlands, Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and West Yorkshire.
What the government says the trial showed. The government reports that, in the trial areas, family court backlogs halved and cases were resolved up to seven and a half months faster.
How the approach works. The government says the courts will identify risks to a child's welfare more quickly, for example where a child is experiencing domestic abuse, and will streamline court processes to reduce delay. The model also aims to improve coordination between the family court and agencies such as local authorities and the police, particularly where domestic abuse and other harms are alleged. The government says this should reduce the number of returning cases.
Rollout. The government is providing £17m in funding for the next financial year. The model will initially be rolled out across:
- Northumbria and North Durham
- Cleveland and South Durham
- Lancashire
- Cumbria
- York and North Yorkshire
- Cheshire and Merseyside
- Northamptonshire
- Coventry and Warwickshire
It will then expand across the rest of England and Wales over the upcoming financial years.
Related measures. The announcement follows other changes. Through the Courts and Tribunal Bill, the government will repeal the presumption of parental involvement from the Children Act 1989. Courts will no longer start from an assumption that parental involvement is always in a child's best interests, and will instead adopt an open-minded inquiry into what is in the child's best interests. The government will also restrict parental responsibility for people convicted of a serious sexual offence against any child, and where a child is born of rape. A new Victims Code will include the first child-friendly version. The government is also improving GOV.UK content to help parents going through divorce reach agreement on child arrangements outside court.
What this means for parents and carers in children's cases
Child Focused Courts currently operate in 10 of the 43 court areas. Whether the model applies to a case depends on the court area where it is heard.
The first new areas are those listed above, and the remaining areas will follow over the upcoming financial years. Parents and carers with a case in the family court can check which court area their case falls under, and should get legal advice before any deadline in their case passes.
Sources
- Children to get swifter justice as new family court approach expands nationally, GOV.UK, 17 March 2026