News & Guides

Negotiating relocation orders for a child

The High Court (HC) recently heard an appeal against a Family Court Order (FCO) permitting a mother to relocate with her child. Background: The father and mother met in 2015 and were married in

Selling your spouse’s property to fund your legal costs following a child abduction is not straightforward

The High Court was faced with this very unusual question when a mother did not seek to sequester the father’s property to pay the money she was owed, but rather to fund the costs of her litigation in

The welfare of the child is paramount in situations of non-therapeutic circumcision

The High Court rejected a father’s request for a non-therapeutic circumcision of his son who is subject to a care order. Background: G is a 16-month-old boy subject to a care order in favour of the

Can a step-parent legally acquire parental responsibility? 

The question is often raised as to whether a step-parent living with their partner’s child can acquire parental responsibility and, if so, how. The law is clear that a step-parent who is either

When is moving from supervised to unsupervised contact with children a red flag?

The High Court quashed a lower court decision due to serious procedural errors and the perception of potential harm to the children. Background: The parties had been married but, after they

Is parental consent required for the treatment of a minor child?

The High Court was faced with the delicate question of whether parental consent was sufficient for the treatment and restraint of a 12-year-old suffering from severe anorexia nervosa.

What is an ‘intolerable situation’ as defined under Article 13(b) of the Hague Convention?

The High Court considered the scope of the ‘intolerable situation’ that it must consider under Article 13(b) of the Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction

The immigration status of a child is of paramount importance in care proceedings

The High Court concluded that family proceedings cannot be used to influence the Home Office in making a decision, even if it is in the best interest of the child. Clarifying a child’s immigration

A sperm donor can be the legal father

The Court of Appeal (CoA) confirmed a High Court decision that a sperm donor can be the legal father of a child. Background: This case concerned an application by a biological mother (P) regarding

Do you need to notify wider family members of a child’s existence for their adoption? 

The question of whether the local authority (LA) can proceed with the adoption of a child without notifying the extended family lies at the heart of the case of CB. Having reviewed all the

How to Navigate Coparenting After Divorce When You’re Both From Different Cultures

Child bride to city champion – Episode 6 of Family Matters

In this episode, divorce lawyer Sarah talks to Inayah Sher about her divorce journey: from child bride to city champion.   This is the remarkable story of Inayah Sher. *Please be aware that this episode explores: forced marriage, child marriage, domestic abuse and suicide.*…don’t surrender your rights to someone that’s controlling you because someone who continuously tells you that you shouldn’t do this and you shouldn’t do that, they’re just insecure. Born and raised in Bradford, Inayah was married at five years old, sent to Pakistan at fourteen years old, released from two years’ house arrest at sixteen years old and became a mother at eighteen years old. After raising her daughter, Inayah made the decision to leave her husband at thirty-six years old. Finding humanity in strangers, Inayah returned to education, learned to drive a car, started a business, remarried, became a grandmother and led a city-wide campaign, Bradford4Better. She talks openly about the challenges she faced along the way and shares her advice for other women. This is the remarkable story of Inayah Sher.