Changes to the family courts - what parents need to know
The Ministry of Justice has announced changes to how private children cases are handled in the family courts across England and Wales. The aim is simple - to resolve cases more quickly and reduce the uncertainty for children and parents.
Early pilot schemes showed that cases finished around seven and a half months faster. This is important where families are often stuck in lengthy and stressful proceedings.
What is changing?
Under the new Child Focused Courts model, the court will look more closely at the child’s situation right at the start of a case.
Cafcass (the organisation that advises the court about children’s welfare) will become involved earlier and will prepare a new Child Impact Report. This gives the court a clearer picture of:
- the child’s day‑to‑day circumstances
- any safety or welfare concerns
- how the dispute is affecting the child
This helps judges make informed decisions sooner and may reduce the number of court hearings.
Why does this matter for parents?
For families, this is intended to mean:
- quicker progress through the court process
- earlier focus on the child’s needs and wellbeing
- fewer repeated court applications where arrangements break down
There may also be less reliance on interim hearings, with a clearer plan set from the outset.
When is this happening?
The new approach is already in place in several areas and will be rolled out nationwide. Further court areas will start using the model over the coming months.
If you are involved in a children case, or expect to be, this may affect how your application is managed and the information the court asks for early on.
If you would like advice about how these changes may impact your case, please contact a member of the family team at Stevens and Bolton.
