Family court backlogs
Today’s Family Lawyer covers the crisis in the family justice system, as the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) publishes quarterly statistics that reveal more than 25,000 children were trapped in family court backlogs between January and March 2024.
Law Society president Nick Emmerson said: “It is distressing that thousands of children have fallen victim to record backlogs in the family courts. The family courts are in a dire state. Children are forced to wait almost a year in limbo, as they are failed by a system that should aim to protect them.
“This has a damaging impact on the families and especially the children, as crippling stress and anxiety of an uncertain future is completely overlooked.
“Our children must be prioritised by the next government. Last year saw more than 100,000 children trapped in the family courts backlogs. We cannot allow 25,000 more children to become collateral damage to a justice system in crisis.
“Restoring legal aid for early advice in family matters would mean more families could resolve their matters outside the courts and those who still need to go to court would be better prepared for what will happen there.
“The next government must also commit to taking forward the early advice pilot, which will help people resolve their problems earlier and therefore reduce the court backlogs.
“These measures would go a long way to relieving the pressures on the family courts and protecting children.”
Property information forms
Today’s Conveyancer publishes an op-ed following reports that the Law Society has extended the transition period for the TA6 form by six months, allowing continued use of the previous form until January 15, 2025, to accommodate feedback from property section members.
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