The Court of Appeal has handed down judgment in a groundbreaking case that is expected to inform the way family courts treat allegations of domestic abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour.
Two months after hearing four linked appeals related to family proceedings involving the welfare of children, family division president Sir Andrew McFarlane, Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Holroyde published a 47-page judgment today.
The appeal court was last asked to give general guidance on the approach to domestic abuse in child contact cases two decades ago. Practice Direction 12J was subsequently issued, setting out what the family court is required to do in cases where it is alleged or admitted that the child or a party has experienced domestic abuse or that there is a risk of such abuse.
Read the full article here on the Law Gazette.
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