In his exclusive online series David Burrows continues to puts the new family court under scrutiny & assesses its ability to deliver justice
These articles on the family court were planned at the turn of the year. It was thought then—not unreasonably at that stage—that a family court, intended to be in operation in April 2014, would have well-defined regulatory contours by March 2014.
We have primary legislation in place: Crime and Courts Act 2013, Sch 10 brings in the family court, and the Children and Families Act 2014 has royal assent (13 March 2014). For the family court, secondary legislation is still limited to two sets of Family Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2014 (SI Nos 524 and 667 both of 2014) laid before Parliament respectively on 10 and 18 March 2014. We have various “views” from the window of Sir James Munby P’s office (chambers). In All change (again), Geraldine Morris speculated as to what is to happen with the new court (eg its structure, children proceedings, court fees, marital agreements (a Law Commission report on pre-nups is due any day) etc).
