Today is the day that the family justice system’s long-awaited revamp comes into effect. The system has been revamped before, but not quite to this extent. These changes came about due to a review which took place in 2011 and which concluded that significant changes should take place inside the system. Sir James Munby, the current President of the Family Division, has been responsible for overseeing these changes.
But what do they mean in practice and will they make a difference to the people who matter most – our families and children?
In theory at least, the modernisation of the system, for that’s what it really boils down to, looks set to change the face of family law forever. (That’s just the face, we’ll get to the other body parts in a moment).
The Single Family Court is now an exclusive court dealing solely with family law matters, a little like a large umbrella covering an entire area. As a ‘court’, it will deal with all family proceedings but a small number of cases will be dealt with by the High Court. The recently passed Children and Families Act 2014 will also be implemented.
However, in reality, although the Magistrates’ courts and County courts will not be able to deal with family proceedings, it will be possible for the Single Family Court, or Family Court as it will also be known from today, to sit in these courts’ buildings.
This change therefore is perhaps little more than a symbolic nod to the existence of family law as a standalone area of practice. It is also unlikely to have any tangible effect for children and their families.
In fact, most of the changes which will affect families are likely to stem from new legislation and guidance. We recommend Jordans’ page on all things Single Family Court for this information, which gets updated as and when more developments occur or materials emerge.
ITV are also doing very interesting news feeds on various items and their dedicated page to the Family Court is interesting for media reactions and other thoughts on the ‘new system.’
We can’t way we’re not pleased the system is getting an overhaul – we just hope that after the pandemonium dies down (if it ever does) and confusion no longer reigns supreme over what is to be done and when, that the system not only looks like it’s 21st century savvy, but acts like it, too. We have yet to see what the head, heart and soul of the system looks like in practice.
Researching Reform 
My daughter seems excited that this change will allow her to apply for face to face contact with her two adopted children but for the life of me I cannot find it anywhere but have seen this referenced elsewhere as well.
Does anyone know the particular aspect of this?
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One family court instead of three,and a 26 week time limit (with exceptions) to finish cases hardly amounts to a “revolution” .In fact ,unfortunate parents losing their kids even quicker will otherwise hardly notice the difference !
If you want a revolution,1:-Stop “punishment without crime”(removing children from parents who have not committed any crime against children) 2:- Open family courts to the public, and abolish gagging orders that stop parents protesting openly and stop children at contact reporting vile abuse by fosterers or social workers whilst in care.3:-Abolish forced adoption (adoption of children whose parents are desperate to keep them) !4:- Family courts managd subject to criminal court guidelines.”innocent until proved guilty”,”the right to call witnesses and to ask for a second expert opinion,direct evidence always preferred to hearsay,a jury for cases involving severe penalties etc etc
That would be a revolution and a godsend to UK parents at present persecuted by social workers and family court judges.
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Reblogged this on World4Justice : NOW! Lobby Forum..
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These changes are little more than a Fastrack sytem for disposing of children and at less cost. It will do nothing to improve the legal process of determining fair and just decisions.
It shows very clearly that the BAAF are firmly in control of the whole child welfare and associated legal systems and are driving them forcefully for their increased financial gain.
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Hi Natasha,
I am of the opinion that the Family Court will rarely be fair and wrong decisions are made all the time simply because judgements are based on an opinion. It really is a case of you (Judge) can have an opinion so long as its mine (social worker)! It would be laughable if it were not so tragic! I have been told it’s not a case of being fair but what is right for the child. Personally I feel what is right for the child, will also be fair to the family. We often condemn historic practises but there can be nothing more barbaric than removing a child from their parents and in this “enlightened” age children are being taken at an unprecedented rate, over a thousand kids a month and the original objective, the “child’s welfare” has been lost!
An article in the Daily Mail told of Cafcass social worker Suzy Smith who in a fit of pique lied about a father abusing his daughter! How many others have lied? How many are known to have lied in court? How many Judges have known they lied but then dismissed it? How many parents/grandparents have gone on to lose their children?
Judges have become the social workers puppets or to put it in common vernacular, Judges have become the social workers bitches!
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Hi Dana, there’s a lot of lying going on. The recent case in Northern Ireland where the judge slammed the SWs for fabricating evidence is a very common occurrence, as you know. It’s still all about competence and training, and sadly the system lacks both in abundance.
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Hi Natasha, Nothing will change! How long have they been getting it wrong? Lessons are not learnt, social workers paint a picture for the courts that the parents are helpless to counter, judges collude with other professionals and families are broken up and the children are living with fosterers, who frankly wouldn’t be taking the children in unless they were paid to do so! Unless they change the whole system to promote family preservation and support families how can it possibly change?
Since the government has no intention of stopping the cash flow nothing will change! How much money has been made by those employed by this industry? How many spin off companies have been spawned? £ Billions have been made by IFAs alone. Independant Foster Agencies along with Adoption Agencies, are the latest in a long line of profitable organisations that the child care industry has created to meet the ongoing and increasing demands due to doubling the rate of kids being taken into care! The local authorities also foster kids out independently of them.
Social workers fear a child dying or being severely abused on their watch so take all the kids they cross paths with! If they were better trained it would help but the fear would still be there and that is what drives kids into care! Changing the outcomes for kids at the outset is the only way to stop the terrible injustices to families and their children. Promotion of family first is the only way to stop and reverse this cancer to society!
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I know. Still, I’m going to keep hoping. The alternative is too bleak.
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