Neil Andrews - McKenzie Friend

31/08/2026

Most parents go into Family Court thinking the judge is deciding who’s right and who’s wrong.

That’s not really what the court is doing.

There’s a framework behind children decisions that tells you what the judge actually has to consider, what evidence may matter, and why some arguments that feel hugely important to a parent may carry surprisingly little weight.

It’s probably the closest thing Family Court has to a cheat code.

In the new video I explain how to use the Children Act welfare checklist practically, including one question I think every parent should ask before putting something into a position statement:

“Which part of the welfare checklist does that actually go to?”

Watch here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loQM3JHQE_8

England and Wales only.

What do Family Court judges actually look for when deciding what sh...

19/08/2026

Important:

“Sharing this because it's worth being precise about what it actually is: a consultation that closed last week, not a change in the law.

I'm seeing a lot of alarm online as if the three year rule already applies. It doesn't, and won't for years even if it goes ahead at all.

As a McKenzie Friend I'd rather people had accurate information than fear stirred up over a proposal that's still just that, a proposal.”

Credit: Deborah Jones

17/08/2026

Thinking of using ChatGPT to write your Family Court statement?

It can be genuinely useful.

It can also give you page after page of beautifully written waffle about being “child-focused”, promoting a “meaningful relationship” and prioritising “emotional wellbeing” while barely saying what actually happened.

My advice on AI has changed since 2024.

I now think ChatGPT can be an excellent tool for helping you prepare a statement, but only if you use it properly.

In this new Family Court Explained video, I cover:

• how to use AI without outsourcing your evidence
• why I can usually tell when a statement has been written by AI
• how AI can accidentally make your allegations stronger than your actual evidence
• privacy and confidentiality risks
• fake case law and AI hallucinations
• why actual courtroom experience still matters
• how to get ChatGPT to challenge your statement instead of simply agreeing with you

The key point is simple:

Use AI to help present your evidence clearly.

Do not let AI become the witness.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/g8nRRCL22lI

England and Wales only. General information, not legal advice.

https://youtu.be/g8nRRCL22lI

Thinking of using ChatGPT to help write your family court statement...

15/08/2026

“My child told Cafcass they didn’t want contact, and the court eventually ordered no contact. So clearly the child decided it?”

Not necessarily.

This is something I see misunderstood all the time - especially in my group and elsewhere.

A child’s wishes and feelings matter, sometimes enormously. But they are one part of the welfare assessment — and an outcome matching what the child wanted does not mean the child legally determined it.

I’ve made a quick Short (2 minute watch) explaining the distinction:

A child’s wishes and feelings matter in family court, but they do n...

14/08/2026

An important new family court judgment worth reading: Re CX (No. 2) (Domestic abuse: No contact) [2026] EWFC 230.

The court stopped direct and indirect contact between a six-year-old and her father despite the child loving him and their contact being positive and enjoyable.

There were already findings of extreme emotional and psychological abuse of the mother. Expert psychological evidence established that she was suffering from Complex PTSD caused by that abuse, and that continuing contact arrangements were incompatible with the treatment and recovery she required.

Importantly, the child’s welfare remained paramount. The court wasn’t putting Mum’s welfare ahead of the child’s. It accepted that stopping contact would itself cause the child real emotional harm. The question was which of two bad outcomes presented the greater risk to her welfare.

The judge concluded that without recovery, there was a serious risk that Mum’s ability to continue providing the child’s otherwise excellent day-to-day care would eventually deteriorate, with potentially catastrophic consequences for the child.

This should not be read as saying contact can be stopped simply because it causes a parent anxiety or distress.

No-contact remains an exceptional, last-resort outcome. This case involved established domestic abuse, specialist expert evidence, careful consideration of the child’s positive relationship with Dad, and alternatives such as supervision, strict handovers and reduced contact having already been tried.

In short: this is an evidence case, not a shortcut to no contact.

Full judgment:
https://caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewfc/2026/230

13/08/2026

How will the Family Court view siblings who want to live with different parents?

A 12-year-old girl wants to live with Mum.

Her 10-year-old brother wants to live with Dad.

They’re close. Neither parent is unsafe. Neither child is rejecting the other parent.

So does the court keep the children together because of the importance of their sibling relationship?

Or does it look at each child separately and ask what arrangement best meets their individual welfare needs?

That’s the problem in the latest Family Court – You Be The Judge.

As the case progresses, you’ll see what Cafcass looks at, how the children’s wishes are considered, why keeping siblings together matters — and why that still might not determine the outcome.

Then you make the decision before the judgment is revealed.

If you’re dealing with Family Court yourself, these episodes are designed to help you understand how the court actually approaches difficult decisions, rather than simply telling you what happened in one scenario.

🎥 Episode 12: Should The Court Split Up Siblings?

Watch it, then tell me: A, B, C or D — what would you order?

A brother and sister have lived together their entire lives.But a...

12/08/2026

Hope everyone is ready for the eclipse! 🌞

10/08/2026

⚖️ DID YOU KNOW?

At the end of March 2026, 1,692 private family law cases involving children had been open for 100 weeks or more.

That’s nearly 1,700 families whose cases had been running for around TWO YEARS or longer.

They represented about 4% of all open private-law children cases at the time.

Most cases don’t take anything like this long. But it’s a useful reminder that when disputes become particularly complex or entrenched, Family Court proceedings can continue for a very long time.

Source: Ministry of Justice, Family Court Statistics Quarterly: January to March 2026, published 25 June 2026.

06/08/2026

You Be The Judge: What would YOU do?

A fifteen-year-old refuses to spend time with his mum.

Dad says:

“He’s old enough to choose. I’m not forcing him.”

Mum says Dad has done almost nothing to encourage contact and even raises parental alienation.

So how would the family court approach it?

The court has to consider:

• Whether the teenager’s views are genuinely his own
• Why he is refusing contact
• Whether Dad has actively encouraged the relationship
• Whether Mum’s approach is increasing the pressure
• And whether any order could realistically work as he approaches sixteen

There is no automatic age when a child simply becomes the judge.

But there is also little value in making an order that everyone knows cannot work in practice.

In Episode 11 of Family Court – You Be The Judge, you’ll hear Ethan’s position, the questions the court asked Dad, the test for alleged alienating behaviour, and the four options available to the judge.

What would you do?

A — Enforce the existing alternate weekends
B — Order shorter fixed contact
C — Remove compulsory weekends and rebuild contact gradually
D — End the order and leave it entirely to Ethan

Comment A, B, C or D before watching.

This is a fictionalised scenario concerning the law of England and Wales.

A teenager says he doesn’t want to see his mum.Dad says he’s resp...