Family Law

"Reputable chambers with a strong children and finance offering, and a particular dedication to public law issues."

Chambers UK Bar Guide

"The family clerks are exceptionally experienced and helpful. They know the solicitors in the field and have a deft understanding of the expertise required for even the most complex cases."

Legal 500

"The set's ethos of aiding vulnerable individuals is reflected within their work with members regularly handling matters concerning serious emotional and sexual abuse against children."

Chambers UK Bar Guide

"The set's private children practice is similarly sophisticated. Clients are particularly well served thanks to Garden Court Chambers' multi-disciplinary nature, with the set housing specialists in immigration and Court of Protection work."

Chambers UK Bar Guide

"The clerks are prompt, organised, personable and helpful."

Chambers UK Bar Guide

To contact the Family Clerks, please email familyclerksmailbox@gclaw.co.uk or phone

+44 (0)20 7993 7600

For solicitors & organisations | For individuals

Our family law barristers are recognised for their outstanding level of expertise. Garden Court Chambers is ranked as a leading set of chambers for family law in the Chambers & Partners UK Bar Guide.  

We are regularly instructed in complex and serious cases, as well as cases in the lower courts where the outcome for clients is equally significant.

As the largest barristers’ chambers in London, we offer unrivalled inter-disciplinary expertise. We are routinely instructed in cases that crossover between family law and other areas of law including immigration, housing, welfare benefits, mental health, community care, Court of Protection and crime.

Our family law barristers have a reputation for tough and effective advocacy in court, and we are adept at representing vulnerable clients. We offer expert, practical legal advice across all areas of family law, from financial disputes to the welfare of children.

USEFul family law website and legislation

Some of the primary legislation
Children and Families Act 2014
Children and Young Persons Act 2008
Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008
Children and Adoption Act 2006
Work and Families Act 2006
Childcare Act 2006
Civil Partnership Act 2004
Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004
Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Deceased Fathers) Act 2003
Adoption and Children Act 2002
Human Reproductive Cloning Act 2001
Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000
Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000

Court Proforma Orders
CAP01 – Order – Directions at Gatekeeping Allocation
CAP02 – Lite Final
CAP02 – Order – First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment (FHDRA) Directions
CAP03 – Order Dispute Resolution Appointment
CAP04 – Final Order
Financial Proceedings Directions Order
Financial Remedy Omnibus (with Variation Settlement Order)
Standard Family Orders
Standard Financial and Enforcement Orders
CMO Final FR for PFD
SDO Final ER for PFD

Useful family law websites
Association of Lawyers for Children
Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service
Child Rights Information Network
Children's rights law in the UK
Children's Legal Centre
Child Maintenance Options website
Divorce Aid
Family Law Bar Association and Family Law Bar Association Published Guidance Locator
Family Division of the High Court
Family Justice Council
Family Division Practice Directions
Family Law Bar Association and Family Law Bar Association Published Guidance Locator
Family Mediators Association
Fatherhood Institute
Hague Conference on Private International Law
Islamic Family Law
Resolution (previously Solicitors Family Law Association)
UN Committee on the Rights of the Child

 

Recent notable cases and news

Court dispenses with parental consent in adoption case with surrogacy background

Laura Williams of the Garden Court Family Law Team represented the local authority.

15 March 2024

Judge rules children should remain in foster care due to their individual needs

Lorna Cservenka of the Garden Court Family Law Team was instructed by Saffron Lewis of Dillex Solicitors.

8 March 2024

Judge issues 'barring order' to protect children at risk of abduction from father

James Holmes of the Garden Court Family Team represented the Mother of the children, instructed by Cris McCurley of Ben Hoare Bell.

23 February 2024

Maggie Jones successfully represents First Respondent in the Court of Appeal

Our Maggie Jones of the Garden Court Family Team, led by Deirdre Fottrell KC of 4PB, has been successful in the Court of Appeal case YM (Care Proceedings: Clarification of Reasons).

21 February 2024

Malek Wan Daud acts for children where Judge highlights vital role of intermediaries in cases with vulnerable parents

Malek Wan Daud of the Garden Court Family Law Team acted for the children, ‘O’ and ‘Y’, instructed by Zak Routledge of THP Solicitors.

2 February 2024

The Family Court and Domestic Abuse – Any change?

Blog post by Hannah Rought-Brooks of the Garden Court Family Law Team.

20 December 2023

Variation and Extension of Supervision Orders under s39(2) Children Act - Giving Supervision Orders some teeth

Blog post by Lorna Cservenka of the Garden Court Family Law Team.

20 December 2023

Post adoption contact: recommendations of the Public Law Working Group

Blog post by Laura Williams of the Garden Court Family Team.

19 December 2023

Anna Hefford joins Garden Court Chambers as new tenant

We are delighted to announce that Anna Hefford has joined Garden Court Chambers as a new tenant.

1 December 2023

Garden Court secures top tier rankings in the Legal 500 UK 2024

Garden Court Chambers is proud to be recognised as a Top Tier set again in the Legal 500 UK 2024 rankings.

4 October 2023

Kathryn Cronin shortlisted for Family Law Barrister of the Year at Family Law Awards 2023

We are delighted to announce that Kathryn Cronin of Garden Court Chambers has been shortlisted for the Family Law Awards 2023.

5 September 2023

'Profiteering in the UK children's home market' published in Counsel Magazine

The article is co-authored by Rebekah Wilson of the Garden Court Chambers Family Law Team for the August issue of Counsel Magazine.

10 August 2023

Stephen Simblet KC and Malek Wan Daud elected Governing Benchers of The Inner Temple

Garden Court Chambers is delighted to announce that Stephen Simblet KC and Malek Wan Daud have been elected as Barrister Governing Benchers (Masters of the Bench) of The Inner Temple.

2 August 2023

Kathryn Cronin wins Legal Aid Barrister of the Year at the 2023 LALY Awards

We are delighted to announce that Kathryn Cronin is the winner of Legal Aid Barrister of the Year at the 2023 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards.

12 July 2023

Garden Court Chambers welcomes new tenants Laura Williams and Will Bulman to the Family Team

We are delighted to announce that Laura Williams and Will Bulman have joined the Garden Court Family Law Team as tenants.

27 June 2023

'Profiting from children subject to state care: is business involvement a sustainable investment?' published in Family Law Journal

The article is written by Rebekah Wilson of the Garden Court Chambers Family Law Team for the June Issue of Family Law.

15 June 2023

'Care proceedings: jurisdiction and placing children in the EU, post Brexit' published in Family Law Journal

The article is written by Hannah Rought-Brooks of the Garden Court Chambers Family Law Team for the June Issue of Family Law.

15 June 2023

Luke McLean reviews Section 65 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 in Family Law Journal

Luke McLean of the Garden Court Chambers Family Team provides a review of Section 65 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 for the May issue of Family Law Journal.

22 May 2023

Kathryn Cronin and Danielle Manson shortlisted at Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards 2023

We are delighted to announce that Kathryn Cronin and Danielle Manson of Garden Court Chambers have both been shortlisted for the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards 2023 (LALYs).

19 May 2023

Can the court still direct the use of Scott Schedules or limit allegations a party wishes to make?

Blog post by Luke McLean of the Garden Court Chambers Family Team.

3 April 2023

Minimum marriage age rises to 18 in England and Wales

Naomi Wiseman of Garden Court Chambers supported campaigning groups IKWRO - Women’s Rights Organisation and Girls Not Brides UK pro-bono.

27 February 2023

JUSTICE Working Party Report: Improving Access to Justice for Separating Families

Blog post by Natasha Shotunde and Naomi Wiseman of the Garden Court Family Law Team, who were part of the JUSTICE Working Party.

23 December 2022

Where are we with Section 65 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021?

Blog post by Luke Mclean of the Garden Court Family Law Team.

23 December 2022

Care Proceedings: Jurisdiction and Placing Children in the EU, post Brexit

Blog post by Hannah Rought-Brooks of the Garden Court Family Law Team.

23 December 2022

Amanda Meusz wins Family Law Case of the Year at Family Law Awards 2022

Amanda acted for the children's guardian in the Supreme Court case of H-W (Children) (No 2) [2022].

29 November 2022

Davina Krishnan returns from maternity leave

Davina is a member of the Garden Court Chambers Family Law Team and is available to accept instructions from 7 November.

24 October 2022

Natasha Shotunde and Naomi Wiseman contribute to JUSTICE report on Improving Access to Justice for Separating Families

13 October 2022

Amanda Meusz shortlisted for Family Law Case of the Year at Family Law Awards 2022

6 September 2022

Naomi Wiseman returns from parental leave

We are delighted to welcome back Naomi Wiseman from parental leave. Naomi is available to accept instructions from 12 September.

1 September 2022

Victim of domestic abuse permitted to remove her young child from the jurisdiction

Rebekah Wilson of the Garden Court Chambers Family Team appeared on behalf of the respondent.

3 August 2022

Natasha Shotunde receives Honorary Doctor of Laws from Anglia Ruskin University

21 July 2022

Garden Court Chambers shortlisted in four categories at The Legal 500 Bar Awards

Garden Court Chambers is delighted to have been shortlisted for Public Law Set of the Year. Amanda Meusz, Colin Yeo and Ollie Persey are shortlisted for Junior of the Year Awards.

6 July 2022

We are top ranked by independent legal directories and consistently win awards.

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