The child was placed for adoption. In the period before adoption, contact with her family continued. The prospective adopters said that this was unsettling. Held: It would be unusual to make an order for contact against the wishes of the proposed adopters. Their wishes were not unreasonable, and the order reducing contact was upheld. Judges: … Continue reading In re R (a Child) (Adoption: Contact): CA 18 Aug 2005
The maternal grandmother sought permission to intervene in care proceedings to put herself forward as the carer of her young grandchild. The local authority and the guardian objected to the intervention. The judge had refused it. The grandmother appealed. Held: The appeal was allowed. When considering such an application for leave to make an application … Continue reading In re H (Children): CA 2003
It was no longer appropriate for family courts to hear applications for leave to apply for contact without requiring or allowing attendance of the parties and to make such decisions without recording the reasons. Such an application required the court to weigh the merits of the proposed application, and such a procedure required the parties … Continue reading In Re W (A Minor) (Contact Application Procedure): FD 12 Oct 1999
An application was made for continued contact after a proposed adoption. The mother was young and had herself lost her family and taken into care when very young. Held: Her request for permission to appeal failed. Wall LJ said: ‘I am reasonably confident that in this particular case both sides understand the other’s position. When … Continue reading In re R (A Child): CA 18 Aug 2005
After a family break up there had been continued litigation, and a refusal to comply with court orders by the mother. Eventually, the contact between mother an children all but broke down. There were three children. As the two elder children in turn reached majority, they went back to live with their mother, but allegations … Continue reading Re A (a Minor): CA 31 Jul 1997
Two applications: by a grandmother under section 10(9) Children Act 1989 for permission to apply for either a Special Guardianship Order or a Child Arrangements Order with respect to a child (H) who is seven months old; and an application by the local authority under the inherent jurisdiction for permission not to carry out any … Continue reading A County Council v M and Another: FC 23 Apr 2021
Miss W appealed refusal of leave to be made party to care proceedings in respect of her niece. She had wanted to make representations and felt that if not a party her views would not be respected. The application was opposed by the authority and the guardian, but supported by the mother and other family … Continue reading In re W (a Child) (Care proceedings: Leave to apply): FD 11 Nov 2004
