Specialism: Family Law

The Hidden Cost of CMS Financial Investigations

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) Financial Investigation Unit (FIU) plays a crucial role in identifying hidden incomes and is a vital tool in ensuring fair child maintenance payments. However, while the FIU’s involvement can help secure more accurate maintenance awards, it often leads to prolonged legal battles and will apply to all future maintenance calculations. In this article Michelle Counley of NACSA discusses alternative routes prior to FIU, the drawbacks of FIU involvement and the long-term implications of FIU decisions.

Catch-up on-demand free webinar for family law professionals: Understanding alcohol testing in child protection cases

As a family law professional, staying updated on alcohol testing methods is crucial for child protection cases, but it can be challenging with a demanding caseload. Cansford Labs has released a free, on-demand webinar titled “Pints to Particles”, designed to enhance your knowledge at your convenience. The webinar covers key testing methods such as hair and blood tests, real-life case studies, and best practices for test selection, all explained in a simplified manner.

AI and Family Law: A New Era of Legal Writing

Artificial intelligence (AI) is making significant inroads into family law, particularly in England and Wales, offering new tools to streamline research and document creation for legal professionals. In this article John Bolch, Family Law blogger for Cansford Laboratories, provides a short review of AI’s capabilities and warns it still requires expert human oversight, especially when offering legal advice. Bolch highlights the concerns around the ethics of AI-generated content and copyright issues. With AI’s continued development Bolch questions if it is poised to become an essential tool for family lawyers?

From Pints to Particles: My client says he hasn’t touched a drop in six months – how can new developments in alcohol testing help him prove his sobriety?

Chronicle Law is pleased to announce Cansford Labs’ upcoming webinar this September, led by Reporting Scientist Jayne Hazon.
This session will cover key alcohol testing protocols, case histories and methods to prove sobriety.
Designed for family law professionals and social workers, this webinar offers valuable insights to support your work.
Register today and share with your colleagues.

Family Law: An update by Barrister Poonam Bhari

Barrister Poonam Bhari from 3PB highlights the Pathfinder court model’s success in reducing delays and fostering collaboration in private law cases, while stressing the need for additional funding to expand it. Improvements in public law are noted, despite ongoing delays, exemplified by Re E [2024], where a child’s case faced significant setbacks due to poor practice. Recent changes to the MIAM process are also aimed at reducing conflict and delays in private law proceedings.

Violence Against Women And Girls: The Story That Never Goes Away

In his latest article for Cansford Laboratories, Family Law blogger John Bolch examines the alarming rise in violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the UK, highlighting shocking statistics and the dangerous influence of misogynistic online figures. Bolch stresses the urgency of addressing this growing crisis through a multi-faceted approach that includes policing, education and rebuilding trust in the justice system.

The Controlling And Coercive Conduct Crossroads: Have We Reached A Dead End In The Financial Remedies Court?

Understanding domestic abuse has evolved significantly, particularly with the heightened awareness of controlling and coercive behaviour. Introduced in PD12J and further defined by recent judicial decisions, these terms now play a crucial role in family law proceedings. This article explores the definitions, judicial interpretations and current approaches to handling these behaviours in both private law and financial remedy cases, highlighting recent developments and practical implications for practitioners.

The New World Of Non-Molestation Orders

Non-molestation order (NMO) hearings are brief, often 30 minutes long, and this article mirrors that conciseness. Recent case DS v AC [2023] EWFC 46 and July 2023 guidance have spotlighted issues with NMOs, especially without notice orders. Key points include the need for exceptional circumstances to grant these orders and detailed explanations in applications. Bella Tait, Consultant Barrister at Unit Chambers, discusses the new guidelines and their impact on family law practice.

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