Family Law

Plans to implement major reforms to the family court system will be set out by the end of January 2026, the government has said. The Family Courts Act 2024 provides for the establishment of family court divisions within the existing court structures — a Family High Court, a Family Circuit Cour

Plans to reform the in camera rule in family law proceedings and establish a new private family law reporting project have been set out by the minister for justice. Jim O'Callaghan yesterday hosted his first meeting of the Family Justice Development Forum, where the findings of a major research stud

A mother whose parental authority over her daughter was terminated just four months after the child was taken into foster care suffered a violation of her right to respect for her family life, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled. Ruling yesterday on a Dutch case, the Strasbourg court found

The High Court has identified a "legislative lacuna" around the question of citizenship for children born abroad to one or more Irish parents in a same-sex relationship. Ms Justice Siobhán Phelan handed down judgment last week in respect of two families whose children were refused Irish passp

A public survey has been launched to help inform the development of new voluntary guidelines related to the payment of child maintenance. The development of guidelines to help inform parents on how to make private child maintenance arrangements was one of the recommendations of a Department of Justi

The Legal Aid Board has opened a new law and family mediation centre in Castlebar. The new centre in Cavendish House brings the former law centre and family mediation office under one roof and is expected to assist more than 1,000 people in its first year of operation.

The High Court has refused to grant leave for judicial review of a judge’s refusal to recuse herself due to allegations of bias and of an order lifting the in camera rule. Delivering judgment for the High Court, Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty explained: “At its height, this is a case in whi

Northern Ireland’s High Court has declared that a man who was registered as the father of a child did not acquire parental responsibility of that child where he and the mother had perjured themselves. Delivering judgment for the High Court, Mr Justice David McFarland determined that “AB,

The Supreme Court has determined that the High Court erred in concluding that the plaintiffs followed incorrect procedure in bringing contempt proceedings against the Child and Family Agency, Tusla. Delivering judgment for the Supreme Court, Mr Justice Hogan remarked that “one cannot but be di

Journalists and bloggers can now report from most family court hearings in England and Wales following the introduction of new open reporting provisions. The new rules, which came into effect yesterday, allow journalists and legal bloggers to report on what they see and hear while attending any fami

A former UK Supreme Court president has said that parents who have to fight for access to their children without legal representation are being deprived of their human rights. Lord Neuberger, who was the UK's most senior judge from 2012 to 2017, told The Guardian that the removal of legal aid from f

Changes have been made to the scheduling of court business in Dublin Circuit Family Law Court. The case progression list for Thursday 16 January 2025 in Court 35 has been rescheduled to Wednesday 15 January 2025.

Family lawyers have been encouraged to read the Law Society's updated guide on alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Keith Walsh SC, managing partner of Keith Walsh Solicitors, told Irish Legal News that the 2024 guide is a "must-read" for family lawyers in particular.

The High Court has made an order pursuant to the Adoption Act 2010 authorising the adoption of a teenage girl by her foster parent despite opposition from her birth parents. Delivering judgment for the High Court in November, Ms Justice Nuala Jackson reasoned that “while I appreciate that ther

Major reforms to the family courts have received final approval in the Oireachtas just ahead of the coming election. Once enacted, the Family Courts Bill 2022 will provide for the establishment of family court divisions within the existing court structures, a Family High Court, a Family Circuit