Executive Summary The proposed changes in the Courts and Tribunals Bill 2026 could represent one of the most significant reforms to private family law in a generation. Removing the presumption of parental involvement provides an opportunity to create a more evidence-based family justice system. However, legislative change alone will not resolve the wider challenges faced by modern families. A modern family justice system requires earlier identification of risk, improved safeg

By Deanna Newell Founder - DN Family Law When politicians speak about protecting taxpayers’ money, they rightly call for stronger action against fraud and abuse. We hear billions of pounds are lost through fraud each year. We hear promises of tougher enforcement, better investigations and greater accountability. But there is one area that receives far less attention. The Child Maintenance Service. Every day, thousands of children’s financial futures depend on a system that of

By Deanna Newell Founder - DN Family Law The Prime Minister’s proposal to consider increasing the personal tax-free allowance from £12,570 to £25,000 could be welcome news for millions of workers, families and small business owners by allowing people to keep more of what they earn could ease financial pressures during the cost-of-living crisis. DN Family Law supports measures that help hardworking people. However, this announcement also shines a spotlight on a much bigger iss

Child maintenance exists for one reason:- Child Maintenance exists to ensure that children receive financial support when parents separate. That principle is difficult to argue with. Children deserve food, clothing, housing, education, opportunities, stability, and security regardless of whether their parents remain together. But there is a difficult conversation that society, politicians, campaigners, and policymakers often avoid. The child maintenance debate has become in

Parents across the UK — both paying and receiving, are facing the real-life consequences of an outdated child maintenance system. Financial loopholes, unverified contact changes, and inconsistent assessments leave children without the support they deserve. The system often ignores assets such as houses, pensions, and savings, calculating maintenance starting from gross wages alone. This can create financial hardship for paying parents while leaving receiving parents with litt

Families across the UK are calling for reform to the child maintenance system and greater recognition of post-separation challenges within family courts, because the evidence highlights the ongoing financial and emotional impact on children. Public debate often focuses on those who fail to pay. But another reality is emerging, one in which system gaps, complex financial structures, and inconsistent support leave some children without the stability they need. “Children Deserve

It takes less than 30 seconds to sign this petition, but it could help change the system for thousands of children. An Open Letter Dear Family and Friends, I’m starting a petition to protect children and reform the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), and I need your support. Thousands of children across the UK rely on child maintenance to help cover their basic needs. Yet in some cases, a parent can legally declare an income of £12,570 a year, resulting in child maintenance paym