Family Courts ‘Need Transparency’

More family court judgements are set to be published following a call for greater transparency to boost public confidence in the system.

The country’s most senior family judge, Sir James Munby, said too few judgements made in the family courts and the Court of Protection were being made available to the public. Matters of family law can be sensitive and difficult. A family law solicitor is recommended to help ease the process with professional advice.

Publishing his guidance the president of the Family Division of the High Court and the Court of Protection said: “In both courts there is a need for greater transparency in order to improve public understanding of the court process and confidence in the court system.”

He said the need for “radical changes” to let people know what was happening in the family courts had been highlighted just before Christmas by the case of a pregnant Italian woman. She was ordered to have a Caesarean section over fears that a natural birth may be life-threatening. Sir James said although too much of the reporting had been inaccurate the media had not initially had access to the court judgements. In the guidance, Sir James promised that more changes are to come. “My starting point is that so far as possible the same rules and principles should apply in both the family courts (in due course the Family Court) and the Court of Protection,” he said. “I propose to adopt an incremental approach. Initially I am issuing this Guidance. This will be followed by further Guidance and in due course more formal Practice Directions and changes to the Rules.”

Our Family and Matrimonial team helps families across West London and Bucks. For advice, contact a member of the team, call us on 01494 790058 or email familylaw@ibblaw.co.uk.