Procedural requirements on an application for a committal order

Table of contents

• Original News
• What was the background to the case?
• What were the issues before the Court of Appeal?
• Was the committal order validly made (procedurally and substantively)?
• Had the variation order been shown to be wrong?
• Does the judgment clarify the law as to the requirements on an application for a judgment summons, and regarding committal proceedings more generally, and in relation to the way in which variations are dealt with?
• What should practitioners be aware of when dealing with the potential committal of a party to family proceedings?

Article summary

Family analysis: Sarah Higgins, partner at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP, examines the judgment in Morris v Morris concerning an appeal by a husband against a suspended committal order, variation order and order for costs. The case serves to highlight that committal and variation proceedings should not be heard at the same time.