Family Law

Virtually no family lawyers support government proposals to reallocate most divorce, judicial separation, and co-habitation proceedings to the District Court, a new survey suggests. The Family Lawyers Association surveyed its 286 solicitor and barrister members ahead of a summit on the Family Courts

The long-awaited dedicated family courts complex in Dublin has reached a significant milestone with the approval of planning permission.

Proposals to transfer judicial separations, divorce and co-habitation proceedings to the District Court risk creating a "two-tier family justice system", senior lawyers have warned. The Bar of Ireland, backed by the Family Lawyers' Association (FLA), which represents over 500 barristers and solicito

A pilot programme providing for more court sittings during the Long Vacation has been welcomed by practitioners. Mr Justice David Barniville, president of the High Court, yesterday set out details of the pilot, which will begin on 1 July 2024 and run until the end of September 2024.

Dr Deirdre McGowan offers a family law perspective on the coming family and care referendums. We have become accustomed to referendums that result in practical positive change. The equal-marriage referendum allowed previously excluded couples to get married. Similarly, repealing the eighth amendment

The family courts are "no longer safe for lawyers or litigants" and government plans only risk worsening the situation, a leading family lawyer has warned. The Irish Times yesterday revealed that the Bar Council wrote to the Courts Service last November to raise concerns about violence in Dolphin Ho

The Legal Aid Board's family mediation service has launched a new call-back service aimed at making free mediation more accessible to families. Free mediation is available to families who have undergone a divorce, separation or living apart, as well as those navigating challenges in the aftermath of

Northern Ireland’s High Court has upheld an order freeing twin girls for adoption despite their mother’s contention that her aunt was a suitable kinship carer in light of her ability to accommodate the twins’ mixed racial and cultural background. Delivering judgment for the High Co

A judgment of the European Court of Human Rights this month found that the Slovak justice system had taken too long to enforce an order for contact between a mother and her son and had breached their rights in terms of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The mother who brought the

The High Court has granted a decree of divorce to a couple who will continue to live together in the family home under the terms of their settlement agreement. Delivering judgment for the High Court, Mr Justice John Jordan determined that “if a couple can be considered as living apart from one

The Dublin Solicitors' Bar Association (DSBA) is hosting a webinar on the Family Courts Bill 2022 this afternoon. Cliona Costelloe, chairperson of the DSBA's family law committee, will chair the discussion with Peter Doyle, chair of the Law Society's child and family law committee, and former chairs

Planned reforms to the enforcement of child maintenance orders have been welcomed as a potential "game-changer" for parents. The Department of Justice today published a 26-page report setting out 26 recommendations for improvements to the current system of enforcement of child maintenance orders, wh

Researchers are seeking to survey parents who have experience of the Irish family law system in situations of domestic violence and abuse. The research study, being undertaken by Trinity College Dublin in collaboration with Women's Aid, is said to be the first study which specifically seeks both adu

Keith Walsh SC criticises government plans to expand the jurisdiction of the District Court. The Family Courts Bill 2022 provides for the establishment of a Family High Court, Family Circuit Court and Family District Court as divisions within the existing court structures. The aim is the development

Northern Ireland’s High Court has refused to appoint a McKenzie friend in family law proceedings on the basis that she attempted to inappropriately influence the court and lacked a basic understanding of practice and procedure. Delivering judgment for the High Court, Mr Justice David McFarland