Pink Tape

a blog from the family bar

Parental Kidnap

International child abduction is a thorny issue, particularly where a child is abducted by a parent to a country that is not a signatory to the Hague Convention. Family practitioners tend to see it from two angles – attempted prevention through the seeking of orders in the family court, and where children are abducted to [...]

And for tonight’s rant…

…I shall mostly be complaining about section 20 of the Children Act. It’s a well intentioned provision, but often exploited and misused in ways which make my blood boil. s20, for those who don’t know, is a provision which places a duty upon Local Authorities to accommodate children who have no available parent or who [...]

A Brief Adjournment

Typical. I get an invite to join the Guardian Legal Network and then I’m too too busy to post anything for like E-VAR! *teenaged eye roll* So there are a few things I’ve had my eye on but which I haven’t had time to get a post together about…And those things are these: The Family [...]

Super Supreme

Last week I had a couple of hours to kill. So I went and took a gander at the Supreme Court – and I thought it was fantastic. Entering the court was like entering the lobby of a posh hotel – I was greeted by welcoming security staff with a “Good Morning Madam”, and was [...]

LiP Service

Litigants in Person are in the news. The penny seems to be dropping that they are becoming the norm rather than the exception. The Gazette carries a piece on the soaring numbers of LiPs, based upon a recent and stark increase in demand upon the services offered by the PSU at the RCJ, in particular [...]

Litigants in Person v Counsel

Our latest Professional Update from the Bar Standards Board tells us that there has been “an unprecedented increase in complaints from Litigants in Person”. The figures are not astronomical at 35 in the year to date, but apparently this is more than the total number of complaints received in 2009 and 2010 combined. The author [...]

We don’t need no Ed-ew-ca-shun

Earlier this week I spent a day on a Court of Protection course. Just as we were all entering a post lunch semi-vegative state, up strode Wall LJ to the podium. He is both President of the Family Division and of the Court of Protection. Readers of this blog may find his brief address interesting. [...]

Open letter to CAFCASS

“An open letter in respect of my resignation from Cafcass 26 September 2011 Dear  …………………, I have long had my doubts as to whether Cafcass as an organisation is fit for purpose.  I have been critical of the honesty and integrity of the management of the service, things that continue to concern me.  I have [...]

Shock, Awe and Disgust

I have recently been following a twitter account called @YourKidsNeedYou. As a result, popping up in my twitter stream from this account have been such gems as: and: The url ez.com/stopcheaters redirects to a US website friendsofcourt.com, to be specific to a page selling an “Attention Cheaters!” toolkit “for only $150!”. It contains a sample [...]

Presidential Lapse

The President’s Interim Guidance in respect of CAFCASS will be allowed to lapse on it’s expiry on 30 September. Many will recall that the “interim” guidance, designed to deal with the crisis faced by CAFCASS at a time of escalating demand for services, was rather less temporary than had initially been envisaged. The Guidance is [...]

keep looking »

  • About

    A blog in which I ricochet from too serious to too flippant, and alternate between a bit clever, a bit interesting and a bit ranty: Pink Tape neatly functions as both a blog about family law and a therapeutic escape valve for me. >>more




  • Advertisements

    Vote for Pink Tape!


  • Other Ads

    Find solicitors and lawyers at Solicitors.com

    Darbys Medical Negligence Solicitors provide specialist legal advice & support in fatal accident claims.

    Hurt in an accident which wasn't your fault? Injury Claims can help you with no win no fee accident claims today.

    Medical Negligence solicitors in Manchester and London

    Looking for family solicitors? Get in touch with us for the best family law advice.

    Stephens Scown
    Family Solicitors Exeter

  • Latest Family Decisions from BAILII

    High Court and County Court

  • Other bits