Salford CC v W and Ors [2021] EWHC 61 (Fam)
MacDonald J in the High Court, Family Division:
(1) dismissed a prohibited steps order application preventing Roman Catholic sacraments for children ages 4-11 in a proposed Special Guardianship setting, and
(2) adjourned an application for a declaration on their legal status (for purposes of eventually determining the local authority’s obligation to pay remuneration), pending involvement in the question from both local authorities (Norfolk and Suffolk).
Background
There are five children, from age 4 to age 11 years old, and all parties agree that they should stay in the care of a maternal aunt and her partner, Mrs Z and Mr Y, with whom they have lived since June 2017. All parties also agree there should be a Special Guardianship Order.
Emoni v Atabo [2020] EWHC 3322 (Fam)
Application by a father against a mother for a finding of contempt of court, relating to a child removed to Nigeria.
This matter concerns an application by the father ( F ) against the mother ( M ) for a finding that M is in contempt of court in relation to four court orders. The parties are the parents of NE, a girl, aged 11.
Firstly, Mrs Justice Lieven DBE had to decide whether to proceed in M s absence despite this being a committal application. The judge considered
Sanchez v Pawell Obaz and Jolant Obaz [2015] EWHC 235 (Fam) finding that M had been properly served all documents via email (M is in Lagos) including the notice of hearing. M had sufficient time to prepare, she was aware of the proceedings and initially engaged in them. No reason was given for her non-attendance at this hearing, nor the last. The judge thought M had simply chosen not to engage and that an adjournment would not be likely to secure her attendance. The judge acce