Search Results for: Children Act 1989

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Re MA and Others (Children): CA 31 Jul 2009

Children appealed against dismissal of their care proceedings on the basis that the threshold had not been reached. The parents resisted. Held: It could not be said that the decision so plainly wrong that the judge’s conclusion on the facts could be set aside. Citations: [2009] EWCA Civ 853, [2010] 1 FLR 431, [2010] 1 … Continue reading Re MA and Others (Children): CA 31 Jul 2009

C (Children), Re (Residential Assessment): CA 4 Jul 2001

Citations: [2001] EWCA Civ 1305, [2001] 3 FCR 164, [2001] 3 FCR 164 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 38(6) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Kent County Council v G and others HL 24-Nov-2005 A residential assessment order had been made under the 1989 Act in care proceedings. When the centre recommended … Continue reading C (Children), Re (Residential Assessment): CA 4 Jul 2001

Regina v Norfolk County Council, ex parte M: QBD 1989

The plaintiff worked as a plumber. His work took him to a private children’s home. An allegation of sexual abuse was made against him by a 13 year old child. She had made other claims against other men which had proved to be false. He was released by the police without charge. The local authority … Continue reading Regina v Norfolk County Council, ex parte M: QBD 1989

Masri v Consolidated Contractors International Co Sal and Others: HL 30 Jul 2009

The claimant sought to enforce a judgment debt against a foreign resident company, and for this purpose to examine or have examined a director who lived abroad. The defendant said that the rules gave no such power and they did, the power was outside the rule-maker’s power. Held: Even though the rule-making power is wide … Continue reading Masri v Consolidated Contractors International Co Sal and Others: HL 30 Jul 2009

In re W (Children) (Direct Contact): CA 24 Jul 2012

The court took the opportunity to emphasise the importance of parental responsibility as an incident of family life. McFarlane LJ said: ‘Whether or not a parent has parental responsibility is not simply a matter that achieves the ticking of a box on a form. It is a significant matter of status as between parent and … Continue reading In re W (Children) (Direct Contact): CA 24 Jul 2012

In Re O (A Minor) (Contact: Imposition of Conditions): CA 17 Mar 1995

The court may impose detailed conditions on the form of indirect contact. His Lordship set out the relevant principles: ‘1 Overriding all else, as provided by section 1(1) of the Children Act 1989, the welfare of the child was the paramount consideratin, and the court was concerned with the interests of the mother and the … Continue reading In Re O (A Minor) (Contact: Imposition of Conditions): CA 17 Mar 1995

In Re D (a Minor) (Contact: Mother’s Hostility): CA 1993

Waite LJ: ‘It is now well settled that the implacable hostility of a mother towards access or contact is a factor which is capable, according to the circumstances of each particular case, of supplying a cogent reason for departing from the general pronciple that a child should grow up in the knowledge of both his … Continue reading In Re D (a Minor) (Contact: Mother’s Hostility): CA 1993

In re K (Children) (Non-accidental injuries: Perpetrator: New Evidence): CA 27 Aug 2004

The children had been taken into care, and freed for adoption. The mother appealed saying the blame for non-accidental injury was misplaced. The court had not thought her responsible for the non-accidental injuries, but she had been unwilling to separate from the assumed perpetrator. Held: The mother had now taken the step of breaking free. … Continue reading In re K (Children) (Non-accidental injuries: Perpetrator: New Evidence): CA 27 Aug 2004

J v C and E (a Child) (Void Marriage: Status of Children): CA 15 May 2006

The parties had lived together as a married couple. They had had a child together by artificial insemination. It was then revealed that Mr J was a woman. The parties split up, and Mr J applied for an order for contact with the child. Held: The appeal was dismissed. The HFEA Act required that to … Continue reading J v C and E (a Child) (Void Marriage: Status of Children): CA 15 May 2006

In re S (A Child); TL v London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, ED, S (by a Children’s Guardian): CA 15 Jul 2011

TL, the mother appealed against refusal of her application by the appellant for a residential parenting assessment pursuant to section 38(6) of the Children Act 1989. Judges: Sir Nicholas Wall P, Moore-Bick, Black LJJ Citations: [2011] EWCA Civ 812 Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 38(6) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 16 September 2022; … Continue reading In re S (A Child); TL v London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, ED, S (by a Children’s Guardian): CA 15 Jul 2011

O and others (Children); In re O (Children), In re W-R (a Child), In re W (Children): CA 22 Jun 2005

In each case litigants in person had sought to be allowed to have the assistance and services of a Mackenzie friend in children cases. In one case, the court had not allowed confidential documents to be disclosed to the friend. Held: The courts had been unhelpful to the parties appearing before them. If given access … Continue reading O and others (Children); In re O (Children), In re W-R (a Child), In re W (Children): CA 22 Jun 2005

Re L-W (Children) (Enforcement and Committal: Contact); CPL v CH-W and Others: CA 4 Nov 2010

The father appealed against orders made in the county court in the course of child contact enforcement proceedings. He had residence of the child, but had repeatedly failed to make his son available for contact at the times ordered causing financial loss to the mother who had travelled to see him. Held: With minor exceptions, … Continue reading Re L-W (Children) (Enforcement and Committal: Contact); CPL v CH-W and Others: CA 4 Nov 2010

In Re A (Minors) (Conjoined Twins: Medical Treatment); aka In re A (Children) (Conjoined Twins: Surgical Separation): CA 22 Sep 2000

Twins were conjoined (Siamese). Medically, both could not survive, and one was dependent upon the vital organs of the other. Doctors applied for permission to separate the twins which would be followed by the inevitable death of one of them. The parents, devout Roman Catholics, resisted. Held: The parents’ views were subject to the overriding … Continue reading In Re A (Minors) (Conjoined Twins: Medical Treatment); aka In re A (Children) (Conjoined Twins: Surgical Separation): CA 22 Sep 2000

Regina v Birmingham City Council ex parte Equal Opportunities Commission: HL 1989

At the council’s independent, single-sex grammar schools there were more places available for boys than girls. Consequently the council were obliged to set a higher pass mark for girls than boys in the grammar school entrance examination. Held: The council, as local education authority, had discriminated against girls. Discrimination can take place when a woman … Continue reading Regina v Birmingham City Council ex parte Equal Opportunities Commission: HL 1989

The Local Authority v RK and RU and Z (by her Children’s Guardian): FD 21 Aug 2008

Three elder brothers and sisters of Z had been taken into care after one suffered serious non-accidental injury. Before Z’s birth the authority planned for a placement, but had stayed with her parents for nearly a year subject to supervision in the hope that she could stay there. The evidence was that she could not … Continue reading The Local Authority v RK and RU and Z (by her Children’s Guardian): FD 21 Aug 2008

The Father v The Mother, O by Cafcass Legal; In re O (a Child) (Contact: Withdrawal of application): FD 12 Dec 2003

The father sought to withdraw his application for contact, but the court took the opportunity to explain some points relating to contact disputes. Held: Such disputes engender very deep feelings. Courts must ensure contact with both parents save when absolutely necessary. Joint residence order should be more widespread, but they were not the default order. … Continue reading The Father v The Mother, O by Cafcass Legal; In re O (a Child) (Contact: Withdrawal of application): FD 12 Dec 2003

In re H (Children) (Contact Order) ( No 2): FD 22 Jun 2001

Exceptional circumstances might exist such that the need to protect a child’s primary carer would require the court to safeguard that at the expense of the immediate consideration of the welfare of the children. Here, contact had been established after the separation, but the father suffered a degenerative disease, and threatened his own suicide, and … Continue reading In re H (Children) (Contact Order) ( No 2): FD 22 Jun 2001

Re L (Children), (Care Proceedings: Significant Harm): CA 25 Aug 2006

The Court allowed an appeal by parents against a judge’s conclusion that their children had suffered and were likely to suffer significant harm and it remitted the issue for re-hearing. The professional evidence had been that the parents’ deficiencies had had ‘subtle and ambiguous consequences’ for the children. Such consequences could not amount to significant … Continue reading Re L (Children), (Care Proceedings: Significant Harm): CA 25 Aug 2006

P v BW (Children Cases: Hearings in Public): FD 2003

The applicant sought a joint residence order, and for a declaration that the rules preventing such hearings being in public breached the requirement for a public hearing. Held: Both FPR 1991 rule 4.16(7) and section 97 are compatible with the fair trial provisions of Article 61) of the European Convention for the Protection of Human … Continue reading P v BW (Children Cases: Hearings in Public): FD 2003

In re R (a Child) (Adoption: Contact): CA 18 Aug 2005

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

In re H (Children): CA 2003

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

Gaskin v The United Kingdom: ECHR 7 Jul 1989

The applicant complained of ill-treatment while he was in the care of a local authority and living with foster parents. He sought access to his case records held by the local authority but his request was denied. Held: The refusal to allow him access to his records involved a breach of his rights under Article … Continue reading Gaskin v The United Kingdom: ECHR 7 Jul 1989

In Re A (A Minor) (Adoption: Contact Order): CA 24 Jun 1993

A contact order had been properly granted with an order freeing the child for adoption. Butler-Sloss LJ: ‘The effect of an order freeing a child for adoption is to extinguish parental responsibility of those previously endowed with it and thus to bring to an end the relationship between the child and his natural family (see … Continue reading In Re A (A Minor) (Adoption: Contact Order): CA 24 Jun 1993

In re G (Children) (Residence: Making of order): CA 27 Jul 2005

The mother applied for but was refused, a residence order. The judge had questioned the need for an order, feeling that section 1(5) raised a presumption against making an order. Held: The appeal succeeded. There was no such presumption. The section asked the court only to ask itself whether an order would be better for … Continue reading In re G (Children) (Residence: Making of order): CA 27 Jul 2005

Kent County Council v The Mother, The Father, B (By Her Children’s Guardian); Re B (A Child) (Disclosure): FD 19 Mar 2004

The council had taken the applicant’s children into care alleging that the mother had harmed them. In the light of the subsequent cases casting doubt on such findings, the mother sought the return of her children. She applied now that the hearings be in public. Held: The applicant and her solicitors had already made significant … Continue reading Kent County Council v The Mother, The Father, B (By Her Children’s Guardian); Re B (A Child) (Disclosure): FD 19 Mar 2004

Regina v London Borough of Hammersmith, ex parte P: QBD 1989

The applicants were members of six homeless families who had occupied accommodation in Northern Ireland. The council concluded that members of each household except one had been guilty of criminal and anti-social behaviour, as a result of which the IRA had threatened that they would all be killed unless they left Northern Ireland within 72 … Continue reading Regina v London Borough of Hammersmith, ex parte P: QBD 1989

In re H (Children: Residence order: Relocation): CA 30 Jul 2001

A court has the power under the Act to impose a condition on a residence order to prevent a proposed move within the UK. Such an order would be exceptional. In the absence of such a condition, there was nothing to require a parent with residence wanting to move to Northern Ireland, first to seek … Continue reading In re H (Children: Residence order: Relocation): CA 30 Jul 2001

A v A (Children: Shared Residence Order): CA 3 Feb 1994

A shared residence order may be still made if it is needed, but it remains an unusual order. Connell J discussed the guidance given as to shared residence orderButler-Sloss LJ said: ‘Miss Moulder, representing the father, accepts that the conventional order still is that there would be residence to one parent with contact to the … Continue reading A v A (Children: Shared Residence Order): CA 3 Feb 1994

Re S (Children: Care Plan); In re W and B (Children: Care plan) In re W (Child: Care plan): HL 14 Mar 2002

The Court of Appeal had imposed conditions upon the care plan to be implemented by the local authorities, identifying certain ‘starred’ essential milestones. The local authorities appealed. Held: This was not a legitimate extension of the powers contained in the 1989 Act. There exist clear problems in local authorities implementing care plans, and those difficulties … Continue reading Re S (Children: Care Plan); In re W and B (Children: Care plan) In re W (Child: Care plan): HL 14 Mar 2002

Practice Direction (Court of Appeal) (Civil Division): CA 19 Apr 1999

As part of the modernisation and reform of civil procedure, all the principal Court of Appeal practice directions are consolidated now into this one document handed down by the court.‘2. Permission to appeal2.1 When is permission required?2.1.1. Most appeals require the permission of the court below (the court which made the decision which is challenged) … Continue reading Practice Direction (Court of Appeal) (Civil Division): CA 19 Apr 1999

In re V (a Child) (Care: pre-birth actions): CA 12 Oct 2004

Immediately after a child was born, the social worker began proceedings for it to be taken into care. The judge severely criticised the actions of the social worker before the birth. The local authority now appealed against an order at the conclusion of care proceedings that they should pay each parent damages in the sum … Continue reading In re V (a Child) (Care: pre-birth actions): CA 12 Oct 2004

In re J (Children) (Child abduction: Child appellant): CA 5 Apr 2004

A child appealed an order for him to be returned to Croatia to be with his father. The mother had returned to England believing this to be her home. Held: In such cases where the court might make an order under the 1989 Act for residence with the mother, all the information necessary to such … Continue reading In re J (Children) (Child abduction: Child appellant): CA 5 Apr 2004

In re M (a Child) (Disclosure: Children and Family Reporter): CA 31 Jul 2002

A Children and Family reporter became concerned at the possibility of abuse of children as a result of information gained whilst involved in private law proceedings. He sought to report those concerns to the statutory authorities. It had become clear that it was crucially important that professions within the child care professions must communicate properly … Continue reading In re M (a Child) (Disclosure: Children and Family Reporter): CA 31 Jul 2002

In Re G (Children) (Care Order: Evidence of Threshold Conditions): CA 5 Jul 2001

It should be routine that, when presenting a case before a court to apply for a care order, the applicant authority should provide a written statement of the reasons, upon which it argued that the threshold conditions had been met. That statement should be based upon the evidence available at the time the decision to … Continue reading In Re G (Children) (Care Order: Evidence of Threshold Conditions): CA 5 Jul 2001

In Re W and B (Children: Care Plan) In Re W (Child: Care Plan): CA 7 Jun 2001

Courts should take additional powers under the Act for the management and implementation of care plans made in care proceedings. In these cases, an order had been made on the basis of a care plan which subsequently proved impossible to implement, and in the second case, decisions might better have been deferred until some situation … Continue reading In Re W and B (Children: Care Plan) In Re W (Child: Care Plan): CA 7 Jun 2001

In re B (Minors) (Contact order: Enforcement): CA 27 Feb 2009

The court had made a contact order and a penal notice attached under section 34, and the local authority had been found to have breached it. They now appealed against a finding that they were in contempt of court. Held: An order extended under section 34 was capable of being enforced by a finding of … Continue reading In re B (Minors) (Contact order: Enforcement): CA 27 Feb 2009

In re S (a child) (Care proceedings: Contact): FD 5 Jul 2005

The one month old baby had been taken into the care of the local authority. The authority appealed the extent of contact with the baby. Held: The appeal failed. It was not wholly improper to allow for the practicalities of arranging such contact, including the financial resources available to meet them. The order was to … Continue reading In re S (a child) (Care proceedings: Contact): FD 5 Jul 2005

C v C (Minor:Abduction: Rights of Custody Abroad): CA 1989

The English mother married the Australian father in Australia and bore their child their. After divorce both parents had custody with no right to remove the child. The mother brought the child to England without the father’s consent. Held: The child had been removed wrongfully. The mother was not to be allowed to create a … Continue reading C v C (Minor:Abduction: Rights of Custody Abroad): CA 1989

In re A (A Minor) (Wardship: Police Caution): FD 28 Jun 1989

The Court considered the role of the wardship court where the police wished to caution a ward of court. The question fell into two parts. In relation to the first, Cazalet J said this: ‘The decision as to whether to caution in lieu of prosecuting is a matter which is wholly within the discretion of … Continue reading In re A (A Minor) (Wardship: Police Caution): FD 28 Jun 1989

A v A and another (Children) (Children: Habitual Residence) (Reunite International Child Abduction Centre intervening): SC 9 Sep 2013

Acquisition of Habitual Residence Habitual residence can in principle be lost and another habitual residence acquired on the same day. Held: The provisions giving the courts of a member state jurisdiction also apply where there is an alternative jurisdiction in a non-member state such as the United States. The Regulation also deals with how child … Continue reading A v A and another (Children) (Children: Habitual Residence) (Reunite International Child Abduction Centre intervening): SC 9 Sep 2013

Re E (Children) (Abduction: Custody Appeal): SC 10 Jun 2011

Two children were born in Norway to a British mother (M) and Norwegian father (F). Having lived in Norway, M brought them to England to stay, but without F’s knowledge or consent. M replied to his application for their return that the children would be at risk if returned, alleging psychological abuse by F. She … Continue reading Re E (Children) (Abduction: Custody Appeal): SC 10 Jun 2011

Ellis v Wallsend District Hospital: 1989

(Court of Appeal of New South Wales) Samuels JA discussed the circumstances in which a non-delegable duty of care arises: ‘It arises from a relationship which combines the dependence of A upon the reasonable care, skill and judgment of B with the legitimate expectation that B will ensure that those qualities will be exercised in … Continue reading Ellis v Wallsend District Hospital: 1989

Regina v X, Y and Z; Regina v DJX, SCY and GCZ: CACD 1989

The court upheld the decision of the Common Sergeant, sitting at the Central Criminal Court, that screens should be erected to enable children who had been treated indecently to give evidence screened from the defendant. The judge was required to see that: ‘the system operates fairly; fairly not only to the defendant, but also to … Continue reading Regina v X, Y and Z; Regina v DJX, SCY and GCZ: CACD 1989

Re C (Wardship: Medical Treatment) (No 2): CA 1989

The court had already made an order about the way in which the health professionals were able to look after a severely disabled baby girl; an injunction was granted prohibiting identification of the child, her parents, her current carers and the hospital where she was being looked after. Although the child herself would know nothing … Continue reading Re C (Wardship: Medical Treatment) (No 2): CA 1989

In re C (A Minor) (Wardship: Medical Treatment): CA 1989

Citations: [1989] 2 All ER 782, [1989] 3 WLR 240, [1990] Fam 26 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: See also – Re C (Wardship: Medical Treatment) (No 2) CA 1989 The court had already made an order about the way in which the health professionals were able to look after a severely disabled baby girl; … Continue reading In re C (A Minor) (Wardship: Medical Treatment): CA 1989

In Re W (A Minor) (Contact Application Procedure): FD 12 Oct 1999

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

In Re W (A Minor) (Parental Contact: Prohibition): CA 20 Jan 2000

Once a court has made an order granting care to the local authority, the court no longer has any jurisdiction to make an order to prohibit contact between the child and a parent. The regulations give explicit power to the authority to agree such an arrangement, and therefore any order would be unenforceable. Citations: Times … Continue reading In Re W (A Minor) (Parental Contact: Prohibition): CA 20 Jan 2000

In Re M (Minors In Care) (Contact: Grandmother’s Application): CA 21 Apr 1995

A grandmother must seek leave of the court before applying for contact with a child in the care of the Local Authority. An application should be dismissed it it is frivolous, vexatious or an abuse of process and/or failed to show any reasonable prospect of success. Judges: Ward LJ Citations: Times 21-Apr-1995, [1995] 2 FLR … Continue reading In Re M (Minors In Care) (Contact: Grandmother’s Application): CA 21 Apr 1995

In Re B (A Minor: Contact Order): FD 8 Apr 1994

In a disputed contact case, the parties had agreed that their should be monitored interim access, and this was supported by the Court Welfare Officer. The magistrates declined to make an order fearing that this would delay the final order. Held: The Justices had been wrong to refuse to make the order. Delay would principally … Continue reading In Re B (A Minor: Contact Order): FD 8 Apr 1994

In Re B (Minors) (Contact): CA 3 Feb 1993

The Judge had a discretion to look again at the natural mother’s case before making an adoption order. In order to minimise delay in any case, and to facilitate efficient decision-making, the court could, exercising its wide judicial discretion, consider the application for leave to apply for an order revoking the placement order on a … Continue reading In Re B (Minors) (Contact): CA 3 Feb 1993

Re L (Fact-Finding Hearing: Fairness): CA 17 Feb 2022

‘The principal issue arising on this appeal in care proceedings concerning a little girl, L, is whether the process by which the recorder reached the conclusion that the threshold criteria under s.31 of the Children Act 1989 were satisfied was fair. The appellant, Z, who is L’s father, contends that certain of the findings made … Continue reading Re L (Fact-Finding Hearing: Fairness): CA 17 Feb 2022

In Re P (Minors) (Contact: Discretion): FD 9 Sep 1998

A failure by a magistrate first to record his reasons in writing before announcing his decision did not vitiate the order made. Much time could be saved by this, and family courts should not get bound up in minor procedural issues. It was within the magistrates’ discretion to order only indirect contact where the mother … Continue reading In Re P (Minors) (Contact: Discretion): FD 9 Sep 1998

Re B (minors) (Care proceedings: practice): FD 1999

Section 31 and its associated emergency and interim provisions comprise the only court mechanism available to a local authority to protect a child from risk. The interpretation of the ‘attributable’ condition adopted by the House of Lords is necessary to avoid the unacceptable consequence that, if the court cannot identify which of a child’s carers … Continue reading Re B (minors) (Care proceedings: practice): FD 1999

Smith v Eric S Bush, a firm etc: HL 20 Apr 1989

In Smith, the lender instructed a valuer who knew that the buyer and mortgagee were likely to rely on his valuation alone. The valuer said his terms excluded responsibility. The mortgagor had paid an inspection fee to the building society and received a copy of the report, and relying on it, had bought the house. … Continue reading Smith v Eric S Bush, a firm etc: HL 20 Apr 1989