Speech by the President of the Family Division—Domestic Abuse and the Family Court
On 14 November 2025, the President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, gave a speech to the Association of Lawyers for Children annual conference on the most effective way for the family courts to engage with cases where there are allegations of domestic abuse. The speech considers, inter alia, the expansion of the Pathfinder model under Family Procedure Rules 2010 (FPR 2010), PD 36Z, the process of applying for and obtaining protective relief in cases of domestic abuse, the imminent publication of two new pieces of guidance for implementation in January 2026 on protective orders under the Family Law Act 1996 and making an application for a protective injunction, together with three suggested options that will be available to the court on receipt of an application for a without notice order. The findings in the Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s report dated 14 October 2025, Everyday business: Addressing domestic abuse and continuing harm through a family court review and reporting mechanism, are also considered.