The Secret Family Court Fact Or Fiction

For approaching two decades, family courts have been accused of making life changing decisions about children and who they live with made in secret, away from the scrutiny of the public gaze. Recognising the force of these accusations, senior family courts judges have, over that time, implemented a raft of rule changes, pilot projects and judicial guidance aimed at making the family justice more accountable and transparent. But has any progress been made? Are there still suspicions that family judges make irrevocable, unaccountable decisions in private hearings? And if so, are those suspicions justified and what can be done to dispel them? In this important and timely new book, Clifford Bellamy, a recently retired family judge who has been at the sharp end of family justice during all these changes, attempts to answer those questions and more. He has spoken to leading journalists, judges and academic researchers to find out what the obstacles to open reporting are – be they legal, economic or cultural - and interweaves their insights with informed analysis on how the laws regulating family court reporting operate. Along the way he provides a comprehensive review of the raft of initiatives he has seen come and go, summarises the position now and uses this experience to suggest how this fundamental aspect of our justice system could adapt in the face of this criticism. Every professional working in the family justice system – lawyers, social workers, court staff and judges - as well as those who job it is to report on legal affairs, should read this informative, nuanced exposition of what open justice means and why it matters so much to those whose lives are upended by the family justice system.

'Bromley's Family Law' is a well-established and popular textbook with students and practitioners alike. This edition has been updated to take into account recent developments in family law.

TV presenter, bestselling author and psychologist Nigel Latta gives common-sense and amusing answers to the complex issues surrounding today's family in its many and varied forms. Utilising both the best current research about stepfamilies and over two decades of clinical experience, Nigel traverses the dilemmas and questions that modern family life presents. The shape of the modern family has changed hugely in the last twenty years. Once upon a time mum, dad, and a three or four kids used to be the norm, but that type of family is almost an anomaly now. Stepfamilies, separated families, single parents, grandparents raising their children’s children, bitter family court battles, and complicated access arrangements . . . it’s a new world full of complicated family arrangements and conundrums. The Modern Family Survival Guide covers many key topics such as separation and divorce; surviving family court; sharing custody; co-parenting when your ex is difficult; step parenting; adoption issues; parenting the ‘only child’; gay and lesbian parents; grandparents raising grandchildren, and much more.

The Impact of Institutions and Organisations on European Family Law looks at the impact that institutions and organisations have had, and continue to have, on European family law. In many ways the chapters in this volume provide the easiest explanation for the existence of a European family law. While there is no European body that could actually legislate definitively on family law – even the European Union has no such mandate – there are still some obvious institutions that have a very direct impact on European family law. These can be divided into two groups; namely those that have a direct impact, such as the European Court of Human Rights and the European Union, and those that have an indirect impact, such as the Commission on European Family Law (CEFL), the Council of Europe and the International Commission on Civil Status (ICCL/CIEC) as well as the private international law instruments of the Hague Conference (HCCH) and the EU. Together, with religion, all of these institutions are contributing to the creation of a European family law. This book, and the others in the set, will serve as an invaluable resource for anyone interested in family law. It will be of particular use to students and scholars of comparative and international family law, as well as family law practitioners.

Are you concerned about promoting transparency whilst protecting the privacy of vulnerable clients? With a foreword by Sir Andrew McFarlane, the incoming President of the Family Division, and an author team from The Transparency Project, Transparency in the Family Courts: Publicity and Privacy in Practice clarifies what transparency means in practice for professionals and families involved in the family courts, and provides guidance on privacy in family law cases and their reporting in the media. This new title provides full coverage of the implications of the 2014 Guidance on publication of judgments and looks at: Section 12 of the Administration of Justice Act 1960 Section 97 of the Children Act 1989 ECHR Articles 8 and 10 Rules and Practice Directions covering all family proceedings Appendices include key legislation and case studies and the topic will be kept up-to-date on the Bloomsbury Family Law online service. This new title is essential reading for family law practitioners in private practice, local authorities and other public bodies, as well as media lawyers, journalists and social workers. Julie Doughty is a Lecturer in Law in the School of Law and Politics at Cardiff University Lucy Reed is a Barrister at St John's Chambers Paul Magrath is a Barrister with the Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales

A powerful expose of the family court system's prejudice against mothers trying to protect their sexually abused children.

Forensic Mental Health Professionals have entered the fray of child custody litigation in ways that could not have been predicted even a decade ago. Traditionally engaged as neutral court appointed evaluators or mediators, or as treatment providers for children, parents or families, FMHPs are assuming a range of consulting functions. Services span a wide range, including providing expert testimony on specific content areas; reviewing and critiquing colleague’s work product; providing behind the scenes consultation to attorneys, and even help attorneys manage difficult cases and clients. These more recent services raise questions about sound professional practice. This volume tackles these thorny issues head on, and discusses questions how consultants can work creatively and ethically to make a positive contribution in the challenging world of family law. This book was originally published as a special issue of Journal of Child Custody.

Additional written evidence is contained in Volume 3, available on the Committee website at www.parliament.uk/justicecttee