header-logo header-logo

Home Login E-newsletter About us
23 October 2014 / Ellen Lucas , Caroline Bowden , Kim Beatson
Issue: 7627 / Categories: Features , Legal aid focus , Family
printer mail-detail

Family law in crisis: Pt II

© Copyright LexisNexis 2026. All Rights Reserved.
beatson

Kim Beatson, Caroline Bowden & Ellen Lucas chart the ongoing chaos in family law proceedings

In February 2014 we reported that cuts to legal aid had thrown family proceedings into chaos (see “Family law in crisis", 10 February 2014). Six months later we are sad to confirm that the chaos continues.

In March 2014 the case of VR (Children: Temporary Leave to Remove from Jurisdiction) [2014] EWHC 643 (Fam), [2014] All ER (D) 165 (Mar) came before His Honour Judge Clifford Bellamy, sitting as a deputy judge of the High Court. Here the mother sought the court’s permission to take the children (aged 7, 6, 4, and 3) on a trip to India to visit relatives. The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) refused to fund a report from an expert on Indian family law in spite of repeated directions that the court considered the report to be essential.

The LAA’s blatant disregard of the court case management directions was not the main point in the case but, nevertheless, Bellamy J directed that

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Read All
Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

International hospitality and leisure specialist joins corporate team as partner

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Firm appoints head of intellectual property to drive northern growth

NEWS
Read All
NLJ this week: No such thing as a ‘Welsh seat’
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
NLJ this week: Jury reform risks justice for efficiency’s sake
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
NLJ this week: Crypto fightback offers ‘new frontier for law’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
NLJ this week: Time to revive the duty to report crime?
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
NLJ this week: When are experts truly ‘necessary’?
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
back-to-top-scroll