The Ministry of Justice recently published the family court statistics covering the 3 month period from July 2025 to September 2025. Amongst the information provided was:
- There were 28,923 new private law children applications. This related to 21,711 children. The cases have increased by 15% on the same quarter in 2024
- The number of private law children cases concluded was 24,498. This is a reduction of 7% when compared to the same period in 2024.
- The average time for private law children cases to reach a final order between July and September 2025 was 36 weeks, compared with 40 weeks for the same period in 2024.
(Sources: MoJ, 18th December 2025)
It is good to hear that private law children cases (i.e. cases not involving the Local Authority such as care cases) are now being dealt with in just over 8 months on average. However, this can be an exceptionally long time for the adults and children involved to live with the uncertainty of child arrangements such as who the children will live with, how the children are going to share their time between the parents, change of school, ability to travel abroad with the children for a holiday etc. In many cases, this uncertainty can lead to confusion, bigger rifts between the adults, anxiety, depression etc.
In most cases, Mediation remains the quickest and cheapest way of resolving disputes, especially when children are involved. The Government voucher scheme can also help to reduce mediation fees, if eligible. Contact us at ts@bmeds.co.uk to learn more.
Photograph courtesy of Ben Wicks