Family Law

Concerns have been raised over the fairness of remote hearings in family cases, introduced during the lockdown, because of the difficulty for participants in reading each other's reactions. A rapid consultation carried out by the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (NFJO) on the effectiveness of rem

Same-sex female couples will be recognised as the co-parents of children born through donor-assisted human reproduction under a legal framework finally brought into force. Health Minister Simon Harris yesterday confirmed that Part 2 and 3 of the related regulations in the Children and Family Relatio

Parents should feel "reassured" that the courts will consider the reasonableness of actions taken during the coronavirus pandemic when considering future child contact orders, Justice Minister Naomi Long has said. Northern Ireland's health and justice ministers today highlighted guidance from the Lo

Remote hearings should be introduced for family law cases that do not require cross-examination of witnesses, a prominent family lawyer has said. The president of the Circuit Court announced this week that all family law matters listed during the Easter term will be adjourned to a later date.

Children are allowed to move between parents' homes during the coronavirus pandemic to comply with access orders, according to new guidance for lawyers. The Law Society of Ireland, The Bar of Ireland and the Family Lawyers' Association yesterday jointly launched updated guidelines for access during

Cocaine use is "rampant" in cases coming before the family courts in Dublin, a solicitor has said. Family lawyer Sandra McAleer said cocaine is no longer a "rich man's drug" and is increasingly playing a role in domestic violence cases in particular.

Family lawyer Sarah Elliott of Worthingtons Solicitors examines the law when unmarried families break up. With Boris Johnson and his partner, Carrie Symonds becoming the first unmarried couple to enter 10 Downing Street, this reflects a growing trend, with cohabiting families becoming the fastest gr

Controversial legislative plans to give adopted people access to their birth records have been dropped due to a failure to reach agreement with stakeholders. In a statement, Children's Minister Dr Katherine Zappone said the decision was taken following a period of "intensive briefings and consultati

A new coalition of legal bodies, charities and NGOs has launched a campaign calling on the Government to immediately allocate the funding necessary to develop a dedicated family law courts complex at the Hammond Lane site. The "Courting Disaster" campaign involves the Law Society of Ireland, The Bar

Legislation to reduce the requirement for spouses to live apart for a minimum of four years out of the preceding five before they can be granted a divorce will be commenced on Sunday. Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan today announced that he has signed a commencement order to bring Parts 1 and 2 of

The chairperson of the Legal Aid Board has backed calls for fundamental and ambitious reform to the family law system. Philip O'Leary said he supported the findings of the Oireachtas justice committee's report on the family law system, which chairman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said ma

Far too many people are representing themselves in family law proceedings, legal rights group FLAC has warned. The Oireachtas justice committee yesterday published its report on the family law system, which chairman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said made “abundantly clear that the

The Government has come under increasing pressure to progress legislation and funding to deliver a major overhaul of the family law system. In a report published today, the Oireachtas justice committee has called for the Government to give urgent priority to promised legislation for the establishmen

Legislation to reduce the minimum period that couples seeking a divorce are required to live apart has passed all stages in the Oireachtas. The Family Law Bill 2019 was introduced following the May referendum in which the Government’s proposal to amend Articles 41.3.2 and 41.3.3 of the Constit

A marriage is not void in law just because the Minister of Justice has found it to be a marriage of convenience, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has told the Supreme Court. The human rights watchdog yesterday appeared before the court as an amicus curiae in a case expected to clarify