A new family court model aimed at resolving cases more quickly and placing greater emphasis on children’s welfare is to be rolled out across England and Wales following a pilot scheme.
The Ministry of Justice said the newly named “Child Focused Courts” – previously known as Pathfinder Courts – had reduced delays in tested areas, with cases concluded up to seven and a half months faster. The government said the pilot also helped to reduce backlogs in participating courts.

Ministers said the model is designed to address concerns that family court proceedings can be lengthy and adversarial, with children affected by ongoing disputes between parents. Under the new approach, courts are expected to identify risks to children at an earlier stage, including cases involving allegations of domestic abuse, while streamlining procedures to limit delays.

The reforms also aim to improve coordination between the courts and other agencies, including local authorities and police, particularly in cases involving safeguarding concerns. The government said this could reduce the number of cases returning to court.

The scheme is already operating in 10 of 43 court areas, including all of Wales and parts of England such as the West Midlands and West Yorkshire. It is now set to be expanded further, with initial rollout planned in areas including Northumbria, Lancashire and Merseyside, before extending across the rest of England and Wales in coming years.
The government said the rollout forms part of a wider programme of reforms to the justice system, including measures aimed at reducing court backlogs and improving outcomes for victims of domestic abuse.

Alongside the court changes, ministers outlined further steps intended to support families and children involved in disputes. These include improvements to official online guidance for separating parents, aimed at helping them reach agreements on child arrangements without the need for court proceedings.

Other proposed measures include changes to family law to place greater emphasis on child safety. The government has said it plans to repeal the presumption of parental involvement in certain cases and introduce provisions allowing parental responsibility to be removed where a parent has been convicted of serious sexual offences involving a child.
The reforms form part of a broader package of funding and policy initiatives, including investment in victims’ services and support for those affected by domestic abuse.
Ministers said the changes are intended to deliver faster and fairer outcomes in the family justice system, although the long-term impact of the nationwide rollout remains to be seen.
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