Child
A local authority v M and others [2020] EWFC 43, [2020] All ER (D) 82 (Jun)
The father’s application to adjourn a part-heard final hearing, concerning the welfare of his child, was dismissed. The Family Court noted that the relevant principles and guidance applicable to determining the question of whether to hold a remote or hybrid hearing or to adjourn to await a fully face to face hearing had, necessarily, evolved as the understanding of the nature, extent and likely future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic had evolved. The court held that it was clear from the signposts set out in ‘The Family Court and Covid-19: The Road Ahead’ that adjourning cases indefinitely or for a period of many months would not be a viable option and that adjourning a case to await a fully face to face hearing was unlikely to be a proper course where an effective and fair remote or hybrid hearing could be held with steps taken to maximise the fairness of that remote or hybrid process. Accordingly, the court ruled that, in the present case,
