Private children law – key principles and 2026 updates

Private children law has seen a number of important developments throughout 2026, making it essential for family law practitioners to stay up to date with the latest changes.

This webinar provides a practical and concise update on the key developments in private children law, including enforcement of child arrangements orders, domestic abuse, costs orders, and the continued rollout of the Child-Focused Courts (Pathfinder) pilot scheme.

Drawing on recent case law and developments in practice, the webinar will leave viewers with a clear understanding of the issues most relevant to practitioners and the implications for day-to-day case management.

Topics covered include:

• Developments surrounding parental responsibility – consideration of the case of Re J (Loss of Parental Responsibility) [2026] EWCA Civ 344 and its wider implications
• Practice direction updates
• MIAM’s and use of NCDR
• Child focused courts/ pathfinder pilots – current developments
• Cases involving alienating behaviours – Effect of Re Y
• Use of child impact report
• Domestic abuse fact-finding hearings in private children law cases – changes to PD12J in 2026
• Use of QLR and private children law cases
• Position with costs in private children law cases
• Developments surrounding contact/ child arrangements
• Key case law developments in 2026