England and Wales Case Law

J (a Child) (No. 2) (Contact Following Change of Residence), Re

The mother’s conduct has been abusive, unpredictable, and in breach of undertakings and orders, posing a high risk of further harm to the father and emotional harm to J. The mandatory provisions of Practice Direction 12J cannot be met by supervised contact, as the father’s safety cannot be secured. Indirect contact only is ordered until the mother undertakes work to address her behaviour. Section 91(14) order is granted for three years to protect J from further litigation. Non-Molestation Order is extended for three years. Disclosure of the mother’s witness statements to the police is permitt…

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• Child arrangements
• Contact orders
• Domestic abuse
• Non-molestation orders
• Section 91(14) orders
• Prohibited steps orders

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L (A Child: Placement and Contact Orders), Re

L (A Child: Placement and Contact Orders), Re [2026] EWCA Civ 639 (20 May 2026)

The Court of Appeal held that a placement order, not long-term foster care, best met A’s lifelong welfare needs and made a sibling contact order.

• Placement orders
• Adoption
• Care orders
• Contact orders
• Welfare of the child
• Sibling contact

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AB v BB

Family court judgment on child arrangements after findings that the father repeatedly viewed prohibited child sexual abuse images, with differing contact orders for each child.

• Child arrangements
• Risk assessment
• Contact orders
• Child sexual abuse imagery
• Expert evidence
• Welfare checklist

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AB v BB

AB v BB [2026] EWFC 111 (B) (07 May 2026)

Family court case about child arrangements where the father’s repeated viewing of prohibited child sexual abuse imagery led to supervised contact for DB and gradual unsupervised contact for CB.

• Child arrangements
• Contact orders
• Risk assessment
• Child sexual abuse material
• Expert evidence
• Welfare checklist

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P & Q (Children) (Finding of Fact), Re

The court found the father had abused the mother and that the children’s reluctance to see him was not caused by maternal alienation.

• Domestic abuse
• Child arrangements
• Parental responsibility
• Parental alienation
• Contact orders
• Welfare of the child

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Lubala v Mousley

Lubala v Mousley [2026] EWHC 1081 (Fam) (28 April 2026)

The High Court varied a section 91(14) Children Act order, limiting it to three years and deleting an unlawful requirement for supporting documents.

• Section 91(14) children act 1989
• Contact orders
• Domestic abuse
• Appeal procedure
• Section-91-14
• Children-act-1989

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L v M

The High Court varied a section 91(14) order, limiting it to 16 August 2027 and deleting a condition requiring documentary evidence before any future application.

• Section 91(14) children act 1989
• Contact orders
• Domestic abuse
• Variation of orders
• Permission to apply
• Family-law

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A Father v A Mother

The Family Court refused a father’s application for direct contact, finding persistent physical and coercive abuse and that the children’s refusal of contact was genuine.

• Child arrangements order
• Domestic abuse
• Parental alienation
• Welfare of the child
• Contact orders
• Coercive control

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A Father v A Mother

A Father v A Mother [2026] EWFC 110 (27 April 2026)

The Family Court found repeated physical abuse and coercive control by the father, rejected alienation allegations, refused direct contact, and made a one-year section 91(14) order.

• Child arrangements
• Domestic abuse
• Parental alienation
• Welfare of the child
• Coercive control
• Contact orders

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LJ & Anor (Children), Re

The Family Court refused a father’s application for child arrangements and made a no-contact order, finding direct or indirect contact would harm the children’s welfare.

• Child arrangements
• Contact orders
• Section 91(14) children act 1989
• Domestic abuse
• Therapeutic intervention
• Child-arrangements

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