Family and children

Guidance and resources on family and children law issues, including relationship breakdown and children in the context of divorce or separation, plus children in public law and cross-border disputes.

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Legal aid and family law

Legal aid should be available for early legal advice, alleged perpetrators and victims of domestic abuse, special guardianship orders and finance cases.

Learn about our position on legal aid

Resources

No-fault divorce

Templates for instructing experts in family and children court proceedings

Private law prescribed order templates

Learning

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Legal aid
Online learning

Legal aid means test review: understand the changes

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Family and children
Online learning

Family law microcredential

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Advocacy in the youth court18 Jul 2025
Attendance at mediation information assessment meetings29 May 2024
Civil legal aid applications – tips for providers28 Jan 2025
Cohabitation agreements13 Mar 2019
Consent order guidance20 Nov 2019
Domestic violence after Brexit11 Apr 2025
Exceptional case funding – guidance for solicitors10 Oct 2019
Legal aid for pro bono clinics28 Jan 2025
Litigants in person: guidelines for lawyers04 Jun 2015
Maintenance after Brexit25 Mar 2021
Our family legal aid policy position01 Jul 2025
Private children law after Brexit22 Mar 2021
Private family law after Brexit22 Mar 2021
Public children law after Brexit22 Mar 2021
Transparency in the family courts28 Jan 2025

The impact of legal aid capital and contribution thresholds for victims of domestic violence28 Sep 2018

Acting in the absence of a children's guardian02 Dec 2019
Attendance of solicitors at local authority Children Act meetings07 May 2021
Changes to the evidence requirements for legal aid funding in private law family cases (domestic violence gateway)03 Jul 2025
Court duty scheme for private law family clients30 Jun 2022
Protection for client accounts04 Mar 2025

Do I need to go on the court record if I provide unbundled advocacy services?25 Oct 2022
Does my client have to attend a directions hearing?25 Mar 2025
How do I apply to come off the court record?25 Jan 2021
Is there a lower age limit on children giving evidence?14 Dec 2020
My child client’s parent has been asked to sign a parental indemnity. What should I advise?02 Nov 2022
My client does not want to disclose their address in proceedings. What do I need to do?22 Jan 2021

Care proceedings document templates03 Apr 2020
Education – legal aid deserts21 Feb 2024
FAQ: Varying the terms of a consent order27 Apr 2016
Family Law Protocol04 Dec 2020
Family law forms23 Jun 2020
Legal aid deserts09 Jun 2025
Private law prescribed order templates17 Apr 2020
Public law prescribed order templates02 Apr 2020
Templates for instructing experts in family and children court proceedings16 Sep 2024

Court reform16 Jun 2025
Domestic Abuse Act 202128 Jan 2025
Early legal advice28 Jan 2025
No-fault divorce05 Apr 2022
Reform of the law on making a will08 Dec 2023

Early legal advice

We’re campaigning for legal aid to be reintroduced for early legal advice, particularly in family and housing law.

Learn more about Early legal advice

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