Family News

85% of parents with family-based child maintenance arrangement said it worked at least fairly well

Family Law Week – 2 November

Child Maintenance Options has helped parents set up 33,400 child maintenance arrangements between February and April 2018. 85% of parents with a family-based arrangement (8,300 were family-based) were happy with how the arrangement worked.

Early intervention: Experts call for 25-year government strategy

Cypnow – 30 October

A recent Early Intervention Foundation report has criticised current early intervention strategy and has suggested the government draw up a 25-year plan. Ongoing cuts are affecting vulnerable children and families as proper support cannot always be given.

Civil Partnerships Bill reaches report stage

Family Law Week – 26 October

The Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration Etc.) Bill has begun its report stage, following a landmark Supreme Court decision in summer 2018 that ruled ‘current law on civil partnership is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights’. The Bill will allow opposite sex couples to enter a civil partnership, alongside giving coroners the ability to investigate stillborn deaths.

Number of children in need rises by 4% since last year

Family Law Week – 26 October

Statistics published by the Department for Education have revealed there has been a 4% increase in the number of children in need since last year, with figures reaching 404,710. The Local Government Association has suggested that the increased figures are due to the increased demand placed on councils.

Home Affairs Committee urges Government to widen forthcoming Domestic Abuse Bill

Family Law Week – 22 October

National refuge funding, a new stalkers register, and an end to single Universal Credit payments are among the suggestions by the Home Affairs Committee to be included in the new Government Bill on Domestic Abuse. The Committee cited a number of current issues that needed to be addressed, such as the lack of ‘refuge and advice support for victims’ of domestic abuse.