A lesbian couple had split up and disputed the care of the children. An order had been made but then, in breach of that order, one removed the children overnight to Cornwall. An argument was made that the court had failed to give proper weight to the considerations from the 1989 Act and had ignored … Continue reading CG v CW and Another (Children): CA 6 Apr 2006
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
The judge should consider the checklist of relevant matters in the statute in a residence application even though no complaint was made by the parties. The use of the checklist can assist a court in obtaining clarity in its reasoning. Thoough an appeal court should be slow to interfere in a judge’s decision where his … Continue reading B v B (Minor: Residence Order): CA 6 Jun 1997
The father had been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of the child’s mother. Application was made for the child to be made subject to a care order. The father appealed refusal of an order. Held: When an application was made on the basis that a child was suffering significant harm after making interim … Continue reading Re M (A Minor) (Care Orders: Threshold Conditions): HL 7 Jun 1994
Harm to children from continued contact can outweigh relationship with mother. Citations: Independent 02-Nov-1994 Statutes: Children Act 1989 1(3)(b) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 09 April 2022; Ref: scu.85823
Care order is available to a Court only after the threshold condition is reached and then the court should look to the welfare of the child. Citations: Times 01-Jul-1996 Statutes: Children Act 1989 1(3)(e) 31 8 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 08 April 2022; Ref: scu.82040
Prosecution to protect defendant not available The claimants faced extradition to the US. They said that the respondent had infringed their human rights by deciding not to prosecute them in the UK. There was no mutuality in the Act under which they were to be extradited. Held: The Director had a discretion as to whether … Continue reading Bermingham and others v The Director of the Serious Fraud Office: QBD 21 Feb 2006
An application was made by the local authority to take into care the daughter of a 15 year old mother. The question was whether any priority was to be given to the daughter’s interests when the mother herself was also a child. Held: When the upbringing of both mother and daughter was involved under the … Continue reading Birmingham City Council v H (A Minor): CA 1993
The court considered the duties of disclosure in applications for care orders. Judges: Sir Nicholas Wall P Citations: [2010] EWHC 2528 (Fam) Links: Bailii Statutes: Children Act 1989 31(3) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 25 August 2022; Ref: scu.425316
A residential assessment order had been made under the 1989 Act in care proceedings. When the centre recommended a second extension of the assessment, the council refused, saying that the true purpose was not the assessment of the child but the treatment of the mother. Held: The appeal succeeded: ‘the main purpose of the proposed … Continue reading Kent County Council v G and others: HL 24 Nov 2005
Thorpe LJ said: ‘in weighing the rival claims of the biological parent over the psychological parent, the court must arrive at its choice on the application of the welfare test, the paramountcy test contained in s 1, having particular regard to the welfare checklist contained in s 1(3)’ Judges: Thorpe LJ Citations: [2002] 3 FCR … Continue reading Re H: CA 2002
Care proceedings were commenced for one child after the death of a sibling, but without evidence as to which carer was responsible. Held: It had not been established upon a balance of probabilities that any one or more of the injuries were caused by either the mother or father. The mother must be treated as … Continue reading Re O and N (Care: preliminary hearing): CA 2002
The parents of a baby born to a HIV positive mother were strongly opposed to the testing of the child for HIV and to any form of medical intervention. Held: There is a presumption that the united view of the parents of a child as to the treatment of the child correctly identified the best … Continue reading In Re C (A Child) (HIV Test): FD 14 Sep 1999
M and F disputed the return of their child D to Romania. F had obtained there an order for custody, and now appealed from refusal of the court here to recognise that order and enforce it. The judge had found that the proceedings in Romania had failed to allow adequate service of proceedings and opportunity … Continue reading D (A Child) (International Recognition): CA 27 Jan 2016
On an application for a care order the judge found there was a real possibility that sexual abuse had occurred but the evidence was not sufficient to prove the allegations to the requisite standard. The threshold criteria were met on another ground. The children had suffered emotional harm at the hands of the mother and … Continue reading In re M and R (Child abuse: Expert Evidence): CA 21 May 1996