Family Law News

A number of fees payable in family proceedings will increase as from 1 September by virtue of the Family Proceedings Fees (Amendment) Order 2010, SI 2010/1916 and the Magistrates’ Courts Fees (Amendment No 2) Order 2010, SI 2010/1917.

Lady Butler-Sloss, former president of the Family Division, has called on the government to safeguard access to justice in child welfare cases.

The Ministry of Justice has issued a consultation on whether to close 103 magistrates’ and 54 county courts that they state are “underused and inadequate” in England and Wales.

The government’s Family Justice Review Panel has launched its call for evidence in relation to its proposed family justice review.

Lord Justice Thorpe, Head of International Family Justice in England and Wales, has called for a consistency of approach in relocation cases.

Same-sex couples will soon be able to enter into a civil partnership in Ireland. The Irish Civil Partnership Bill has passed all stages in the Dáil Éireann (the lower house and principal chamber of the Irish parliament) and will be sent to the upper house, the Seanad Éireann.

Rayden & Jackson on Divorce and Family Matters was first published 100 years ago in 1910 and is celebrating its anniversary this year.

The single-parent group, Gingerbread, has expressed concern regarding latest statistics on the performance of the Child Support agency (CSA) which show that the Agency’sperformance in collecting child maintenance arrears has deteriorated. With a target of collecting £170 million arrears in 2009/10, the new figures show the agency managed only £147 million – a fall of £11 million compared to the previous year.