The blog
Plain English about family court in England and Wales
Explainers, news and how-to guides for parents preparing their own case. Written to be read by a tired parent on a phone, not by a lawyer.
Cafcass explained: safeguarding letters, section 7 reports and the Child Impact Report
What Cafcass is, what each of its reports does, how they differ between the old and new processes, and what to do when you disagree with one.
When a court order isn't being followed: the enforcement route, and why the new model wants fewer families back in court
What the court can do when a child arrangements order is broken, how the C79 application works, what the court considers, and how review hearings under the Child Focused Model aim to stop arrangements breaking down.
The standard route explained: MIAM, C100, Cafcass, hearings, and what a McKenzie friend can do
If your court area is not yet running the Child Focused Model, your case follows the Child Arrangements Programme. Every stage explained in plain English.
Is your court a Child Focused Court yet? The rollout map for 2026 and 2027
Which family court areas in England and Wales run the new Child Focused Model now, which are next, and how to find out which process applies to your case.
The family court is changing. Here's what the new Child Focused Model means for parents
The Child Focused Model, formerly the Pathfinder pilot, is replacing the way private law children cases run in England and Wales. What it is, why it exists, and what changes for you.
The Child Impact Report: what Cafcass will do before your first hearing, and how to get ready
Under the Child Focused Model, Cafcass writes a Child Impact Report before the first hearing. What goes into it, who Cafcass talks to, and how to prepare for the conversation.
Domestic abuse and the family court: what protection exists, and what changes under the new model
If domestic abuse is part of your case, the court has specific rules and support. Practice Direction 12J, fact-finding, special measures, and the new model's specialist support explained.
How to write a chronology the judge can use in a minute
A chronology is the most useful document a parent can bring to family court. Exactly what it is, what to include, what to leave out, and a worked example.
Position statements and witness statements: what each is for and how to prepare your own
Parents often confuse the two. What a position statement and a witness statement are for, what the court expects in each, and a structure you can follow.
How to prepare for your first hearing under the new model, when the first hearing may be the one that counts
In Child Focused Courts the first hearing often reaches decisions. A practical guide to what to bring, what to prepare, and what to expect on the day.
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