Children Act Private Law Proceedings: A Handbook

Children Act Private Law Proceedings: A Handbook is an invaluable companion for all practitioners involved in private law proceedings under the Children Act 1989. It provides both a detailed, widely researched analysis of substantive law and a clear guide to the relevant procedure. This new edition has been thoroughly revised throughout and takes account of all recent case-law and important procedural developments, such as the introduction of the revised Private Law Programme. The contents have been recognised to provide a separate chapter on the implications of domestic violence for residence and contact. The introductory chapter has been completely rewritten in order to examine the changing nature of the family and its impact on private law proceedings. The extensive text is supplemented by fully updated appendices containing essential statutory and other materials.

*Private Law Proceedings in the Twenty-First Century *The Welfare Test *Child Law and Human Rights *Children's Wishes and Feelings *Domestic Violence *Paternity and Parenthood *Parental Responsibility *Controlling the Exercise of Parental Responsibility *Controlling Parental Responsibility: Common Problems *Residence Orders *Contact *Guardianship and Special Guardianship Orders *Family Assistance Orders *Restrictions on Orders *Applications by Non-parents *Commencing Procedures *Directions Appointments *Expert Evidence *Section 7 Reports and Section 37 Reports *Trial *Restraining Further Applications *Duty to Disclose and not to Disclose *Enforcement *Costs *Appeals Appendix *Statutory Material *Procedural Rules *Principles of Contact *Domestic Violence and Contact *Research into Contact *Useful Addresses