Ministry of Justice Family Court Quarterly Statistics show largely improving picture – Family Law Week

On 26 September 2024 the Ministry of Justice published its quarterly statistics for April to June 2024, highlighting:

• “Highest number of private law cases closed since 2014. The number of private law (Children Act) cases closed increased 17% compared to the equivalent quarter in 2023.
• On average, care proceedings were quicker with more disposals within 26 weeks. The average time for a care or supervision case to reach first disposal was 41 weeks in April to June 2024, down 3 weeks from the same quarter in 2023. 32% of cases were disposed of within 26 weeks – up 3 percentage points compared to the same period in 2023.
• Decrease in domestic violence remedy applications, with an increase in the orders made. The number of domestic violence remedy order applications decreased by 1% compared to the equivalent quarter in 2023, while the number of orders made increased by 8% over the same period.
• Increase in the number of both adoption applications and orders. In April to June 2024 there were 1,089 adoption applications, up 6% on the equivalent quarter in 2023. Similarly, the number of adoption orders issued increased by 7% to 1,103.
• Increase in deprivation of liberty applications and decrease in orders made under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. There were 1,831 applications under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 relating to deprivation of liberty in April to June 2024, up 28% on the equivalent quarter in 2023. Orders decreased by 41% in the latest quarter compared to the same period last year.”

Considering ‘Timeliness by Case Type’, it was noted that:

“The mean average time for private law cases to reach first disposal was 29 weeks, down 2 weeks compared to the same period in 2023. Public law cases also decreased in time compared with the same quarter last year, down 2 weeks to 37 weeks.

… In April to June 2024, the number of financial remedy disposal events was up 17% while applications remained similar to the same period in 2023..”

The full Release can be accessed here.

News Editor- Mark Chaloner, Barrister, 42BR

30/09/2024