A child’s safety should never depend on assumptions, competing narratives or a system that identifies risk only after harm has occurred. Every time a child is harmed during court-ordered contact with an unsafe parent, society is left asking the same question: Why was contact prioritised over safety? This is not about one parent, one family or one individual decision. It is about whether our family justice system has the right processes to identify risk, understand complex fam

As the House of Lords examines the impact of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, campaigners call for stronger assessment, earlier intervention, and a child-centred family justice system Why this matters now: Parliament examines whether children are truly being protected The House of Lords Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Committee is examining one of the most important questions facing family justice today: Are children who experience, witness or are affected by domestic abuse receiving the

By Deanna Newell, Founder of DN Family Law Child maintenance exists for one fundamental reason: children should continue to receive financial support from both parents after separation. The principle is simple. The reality for many families is not. The Child Maintenance Service was created at a time when many financial circumstances were more straightforward. For many families, income was primarily employment-based, with parents paid through PAYE, making earnings easier to id

It’s Time to Follow the Money The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) was created to ensure that children receive financial support from both parents after separation. That principle is one that almost everyone agrees with. So why are some children still growing up in financial hardship while parents with far greater financial means can, in some cases, be assessed on a declared income of just £12,570 ? The answer is uncomfortable. The current Child Maintenance Service largely rel

I fully support Claire Waxman OBE’s call for victims’ voices to remain central when decisions are made about the justice system. The pressures facing the prison system are real, but so are the rights, safety, and confidence of victims and survivors. Promises made to victims must be delivered. A justice system cannot maintain public trust if those who have experienced harm do not feel heard, protected, or recognised. The same principle must apply within the family justice syst