Cafcass recorded 42,172 new private law children’s cases involving 63,879 children between April 2025 and March 2026. At the same time, the Law Society reports that in 47% of private family law cases in 2025, both parties appeared without lawyers. This article explores what those figures mean for parents representing themselves in child arrangements proceedings — and why practical, court-ready support matters.

The Victims and Courts Act 2026 marks an important shift for victims, survivors and children. This article examines the new restrictions on parental responsibility for serious sexual offenders, protections for children born of rape, changes to NDAs, sentencing attendance, unduly lenient sentence reviews and why implementation will matter for family court safety.

Coercive control does not always end when a relationship ends. In family court, post-separation abuse can continue through children, litigation, delay and systems manipulation.