*/
Family proceedings – Evidence. The justices had, in the course of private family law proceedings, ordered that an expert be instructed to conduct a psychological assessment of the father. The mother's application for such a report had been made orally during submissions before the court. The Court of Appeal, Civil Division, set that order aside. The justices had failed to comply with the statutory and procedural scheme provided by FPR Pt 25 and PD 25 and s 13 of the Children and Families Act 2014 in respect of the instruction of experts. Further, it had been unlawful to make a mandatory direction that the father undergo what was a form of medical procedure. Finally, the justices had erred in the manner in which they had approached payment of the cost of the report. Guidance was given on the fair process to be afforded to litigants in person whose language was not English.
Family proceedings – Evidence. The justices had, in the course of private family law proceedings, ordered that an expert be instructed to conduct a psychological assessment of the father. The mother's application for such a report had been made orally during submissions before the court. The Court of Appeal, Civil Division, set that order aside. The justices had failed to comply with the statutory and procedural scheme provided by FPR Pt 25 and PD 25 and s 13 of the Children and Families Act 2014 in respect of the instruction of experts. Further, it had been unlawful to make a mandatory direction that the father undergo what was a form of medical procedure. Finally, the justices had erred in the manner in which they had approached payment of the cost of the report. Guidance was given on the fair process to be afforded to litigants in person whose language was not English.
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Rachel Davenport, Co-founder and Director at AlphaBiolabs, discusses the company’s commitment to giving back to communities across the UK
By Kem Kemal of Henry Dannell
By Nick Bonnello and Aaron Young of RWB Chartered Accountants
By Kem Kemal of Henry Dannell
A comparison – Dan Monaghan, Head of DWF Chambers, invites two viewpoints
Animal sexual abuse is a distressing and taboo subject. Yet, write Christina Warner and Maya Badham, this hidden crisis, where legal, ethical and psychological factors converge, requires frank discussion
Maria Scotland and Niamh Wilkie report from the Bar Council’s 2024 visit to the United Arab Emirates exploring practice development opportunities for the England and Wales family Bar
Marking Neurodiversity Week 2025, an anonymous barrister shares the revelations and emotions from a mid-career diagnosis with a view to encouraging others to find out more
David Wurtzel analyses the outcome of the 2024 silk competition and how it compares with previous years, revealing some striking trends and home truths for the profession
Save for some high-flyers and those who can become commercial arbitrators, it is generally a question of all or nothing but that does not mean moving from hero to zero, says Andrew Hillier
