Media access and transparency

The family courts were opened to the media with effect from 27 April 2009. The President of the Family Division has issued guidance on media access and transparency and amendments have been made to the Family Procedure Rules 2010 (FPR 2010) and the associated Practice Directions. Open reporting provisions apply in all family courts in England and Wales from January 2025.

Transparency

Transparency in the family courts has been subject to a wide-ranging review following a consultation and report issued by the President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane. A Transparency Implementation Group (TIG) was created and three standard template transparency orders have been published for use by the court.

There have been two transparency pilots:

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Transparency reporting pilot in the Financial Remedies Court (FRC) (includes financial remedies on divorce, applications under Schedule 1 to the Children Act 1989 and applications for financial provision after overseas divorce), and
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Transparency reporting pilot in the Family Court (excludes financial remedy cases)

Open reporting provisions apply in all family courts in England and Wales. From 27 January 2025, journalists and legal bloggers are able to report

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Latest Family News

Guidance on the correct approach to an application to change a child’s given name (Re C (A Child) (Change of Given Name))

Family analysis: The Court of Appeal considered an appeal against the refusal of an application for a change of given name, in the case of a young person who identified as non-binary. The court was clear that any application to change a name should be decided on its own particular facts. A case such as this one should not be treated as a ‘gender’ case, but as one involving a young person with capacity, who would soon be 16. The strongly-held views of a young person with full capacity would carry significant weight and, particularly when supported by a guardian appointed for them in proceedings, might be determinative. Janet Bazley KC, barrister at 1GC|Family Law, considers the implications.

DWP publishes final evaluation report on RPC Programme Local Grant 2022-2025

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Government Social Research Profession has released the final report from the evaluation of the local grant element of the 2022-2025 Reducing Parental Conflict (RPC) programme. The report, based on research conducted from March 2023 to August 2024, provides insights into how English local authorities utilised the grant funding to embed RPC practices into local family and children's services. Key findings in the report include the successful embedding of RPC support in broader family services, increased practitioner awareness and confidence in addressing parental conflict, and generally positive experiences reported by parents accessing RPC interventions. The evaluation also identified challenges such as resource constraints, long wait times in some areas and varying capabilities in monitoring and evaluation across local authorities. The report provides insight for local authorities on implementing and sustaining RPC initiatives within their family support services.

Family weekly highlights—20 February 2025

This week's edition of Family weekly highlights includes details of an HMCTS webinar on submitting financial remedy orders on MyHMCTS and how to file agreed post-hearing draft orders and HMCTS Family Public Law release notes 3–7 of 2025 on design changes. Judgments on the existence of a marriage ceremony, unregulated sperm donors and breaches of a non-molestation order are also set out.

Jurisdiction to revoke or set aside an adoption order (Re X and Y)

Family analysis: The Court of Appeal held that there is no jurisdiction to set aside a validly made order for the adoption of a child other than by way of appeal. The Adoption and Children Act 2002 (ACA 2002) does not make any provision for the revocation of an adoption order save in the very rare circumstances prescribed by ACA 2002, ss 55 and 46(5). Those exceptional cases in which adoption orders have correctly been set aside concern orders vitiated by procedural irregularities or mistakes of fact. Olivia Magennis, barrister at 1GC|Family Law, looks at the issues.