In 2006, I started this project with the aim of providing a resource for parents and families irrespective of gender who are caught up in separation disputes which concern the children of the family. My goal is to assist families in being informed as to their legal rights, and assist them in finding the best outcome for their children. Please make use of our factsheets on leave to remove, internal relocation, shared residence, parental responsibility, enforcing contact orders, CAFCASS, judicial misconduct, special guardianship, step-parents and parental responsibility, flexible working, private foster care, and our McKenzie Friend Guidance. Our next factsheet will be on disabilities and the family courts.

Our newest campaign is to improve outcomes for children in relocation and leave to remove cases. Please take time to download and read our campaign report, and ask your MP to sign and support Early Day Motion 2059 which is calling for the greater protection if child welfare. It will only take a few seconds of your time.

·       Leave to Remove News -

      October 09 - Our report was delivered to Justice Weir, Head of the Family Court in NI, and in a meeding with the Shadow Minister for Children.

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      October 09 - Bob Geldof announces his support for our 'Relocation: The Children's Needs and Rights Campaign' and agrees to write the foreword for our Parliamentary Briefing Report.

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      October 09 - David Maclean MP tables Early Day Motion 2059 calling for legislative change in support of The Children's Needs and Rights Campaign and citing the Reunite Report.

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      October 09 - The Custody Minefield launces the www.relocationcampaign.co.uk website.

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      September 09 - The charity Families Need Fathers, and organisations JUMP and the Find Savanna-Jade Campaign Group agree to support the Relocation: Child Welfare, Needs and Rights Campaign.

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      July 09 - A Ministry of Justice funded report by the charity REUNITE is heavily critical of the courts and current legal precedent in relocation and leave to remove cases. The reports find that 'Currently the resident parent has disproportionate ‘rights’ in this area, with their plans to move away being in reality the primary consideration. Instead, there must be much greater consideration given to the wider implications for the child of a geographical relocation, and more than the simple alternative choice of with which parent to live.' Download REUNITE's report here.

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      July 09 - A report by The Centre for Social Justice questions leave to remove and relocation related legal precedent. To read the report in full from the Centre for Social Justice, click here.

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      December 08 - The Custody Minefield becomes the most visited website on the internet on matters related to shared residence, internal relocation and leave to remove related family law.

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·      Parental Responsibility - A new factsheet which all parents should read.

·      Enforcing Contact Orders - Updated following the introduction of new court powers, and having had the opportunity to now see how those powers are used in practice. Further updates will follow.

·      Shared Residence - Updated to include eight leading research authoritities supporting the welfare need for both parents to be involved in education, their child's development and day-to-day care.

·      CAFCASS - New guidance by the President of the Family Court on timetables for CAFCASS reporting and a complete revision of our factsheet. Further updates to follow setting out CAFCASS's statutory obligations regarding complaints.

·      Grandparents Rights - Extensive media coverage on 19th May 2009 and Gloria Hunniford gives her backing to the campaign.

·      Leave to Remove - Updated to take into account Re W case law and more child welfare related research concerning the impact on children of separation from a parent.

·      Internal Relocation - New legal factsheet regarding circumstances where one parent wishes to move within the UK and take the children with them.

·      Flexible Working - Rights extended to all parents whose children are under the age of 16 - April '09.

·      Shared Residence - Updated to include Feb '09 research from the Children's Society and further explanation of case law relating to when shared residence orders may be made - April '09.

·      Legal Updates - New Case Law - Leave to Remove - Re W (Children) [2009] EWCA Civ 160 - Key points: Concern contact would cease, Motive not proven, No medical evidence to support that the mother would experience more than disappointment if her application were refused - Jan '09.

·      Legal Updates - New Case Law - Internal Relocation - Re T (A Child) [2009] EWCA Civ 20 - Key points: Midweek parenting time was granted to the father to prevent the mother's application to relocate with the child from London to Somerset - a Shared Residence Order is not an 'automatic bar' to relocation, but is an important consideration - there had been previous attempts by the mother to relocate to Israel - Jan '09.

·      Grandparents Rights – Recent media coverage and TCM Comment.

·      Legal Updates – Credit crunch in 2008, Justice crunch in 2009 - the MoJ does for our legal system what the Treasury has done for the economy.

·      Papers – Midland Region Family Judges and Magistrates guidance for separating parents - superb, and a presumption of shared parenting?

·      NewFactsheet – Private Fostering

·      New Factsheet - Enforcing Contact Orders.

·      Guidance – McKenzie Friends

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