High Court orders return of a five-year-old to Spain despite mental health defence
High Court refuses appeal over Recorder’s order moving a 9-year-old’s home
Court of Appeal: later CMS decisions are variations of one continuing child maintenance calculationWednesday 21 October 2026
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Family Law · Change
Parentage declaration form: one parent, made before an authorised person
The statutory declaration of acknowledgement of parentage form is for unmarried parents where only one can attend a register office, and it must be made before an authorised person.
Tuesday 20 October 2026
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Family Law · Report
Social Housing Bill amendment: protective order enough for court to consider action
The government announced on 20 October 2026 an amendment to the Social Housing Bill under which a relevant protective order would be sufficient for a court to consider taking action, affecting domestic abuse survivors…
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Family Law · Judgment
Family Court refuses wife’s accountant’s report in Potanina v Potanin pre-trial ruling
In a pre-trial review judgment on 20 October 2026, the Family Court refused the wife permission to rely on a forensic accountant's report in her Part III financial remedy claim against her husband.
Thursday 15 October 2026
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Family Law · Report
Domestic abuse safe accommodation: 67,750 people supported in 2025 to 2026
Government figures for England show 67,750 people were supported in domestic abuse safe accommodation in 2025 to 2026, with fewer households turned away for lack of capacity but more with unmet needs.
Wednesday 14 October 2026
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Family Law · Judgment
Family Court rules on cross-allegations of abuse and alienation between parents
The Family Court held a three-day fact-finding hearing on a father's allegations of abuse by a mother and her allegation that he alienated the children, and heard the case on 12 to 14 October…
Friday 9 October 2026
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Family Law · Judgment
Family Court adjourns care fact-finding hearing a third time over missing medical records
The Family Court adjourned a care case fact-finding hearing for the third time after late-disclosed foster care logs and hospital records revealed further medical investigations, and examined Medway Council's information sharing.
Monday 5 October 2026
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Family Law · Report
Courts must now record when an offence involved domestic abuse
From 5 October 2026, criminal courts must formally record when domestic abuse was a factor in an offence, creating a single court record shared across police, prisons and probation.
Thursday 1 October 2026
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Family Law · Judgment
High Court examines Hague return defence based on a parent’s mental health
The High Court (Family Division) considered whether a parent's mental health could amount to a grave risk to a child under Article 13(b) of the 1980 Hague Convention, in an application for a child's…
Tuesday 29 September 2026
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Family Law · Judgment
Court of Appeal sets out how Child Focused Courts must handle domestic abuse
In Re C, the Court of Appeal held that the Child Focused Court model does not dilute Practice Direction 12J, and that fact-finding on domestic abuse is needed only where it bears on the…
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Family Law · Judgment
Family Court makes parental order for child born through surrogacy arrangement in China
In D & Anor v K, the Family Court made a parental order for a child born in China through a surrogacy arrangement that is illegal there, after hearing expert evidence on Chinese law.