B-A (Placement Order and Contact Order), Re

B-A (Placement Order and Contact Order), Re

The judge did not err in making a section 26 contact order for post-placement parental contact with C and D. The order was necessary given the father's vulnerabilities and the importance of maintaining the children's connection to their paternal identity. The judge properly weighed the evidence, applied the statutory welfare checklist, and fulfilled her judicial responsibility to set the template for contact. No flaw was identified in her reasoning or logic.

Parties
Appellant: Local Authority; First Respondent: Mother; Second Respondent: Father of A and B; Third Respondent: Father of C and D; Children's Guardian: Children’s Guardian
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
25 March 2026
Procedural Posture
Appeal / Judgment
Outcome
Appeal dismissed
Legal Topics
Placement Orders, Contact Orders, Post Placement Contact, Adoption and Children Act 2002, Children Act 1989, Sibling Contact, Parental Contact, Welfare Checklist, No Order Principle
Family Law Child Welfare Adoption Placement Orders Contact Orders Post Placement Contact Adoption and Children Act 2002 Children Act 1989 +4 more

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 6 Authorities cited 12 Party arguments 2
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Local Authority

Appellant

Mother

First Respondent

Father of A and B

Second Respondent

Father of C and D

Third Respondent

Children’s Guardian

Children's Guardian

Procedural Posture

Appeal / Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the judge erred in making a section 26 ACA 2002 contact order for post-placement parental contact
  2. 2 Whether the judge failed to properly weigh the impact of a contact order on family finding for adoption
  3. 3 Whether the judge failed to apply the 'no order' principle under section 1(6) ACA 2002

Ratio Decidendi

The judge did not err in making a section 26 contact order for post-placement parental contact with C and D. The order was necessary given the father's vulnerabilities and the importance of maintaining the children's connection to their paternal identity. The judge properly weighed the evidence, applied the statutory welfare checklist, and fulfilled her judicial responsibility to set the template for contact. No flaw was identified in her reasoning or logic.

Court Disposition

Appeal dismissed

Orders

  • Section 26 ACA 2002 contact order for minimum annual face-to-face contact between C and D and their father upheld
  • Sibling contact orders under section 26 ACA 2002 upheld