08/05/2025

Family court hearings, until recently, have taken place in private, ensuring the participants’ anonymity. However, the extension of a transparency pilot scheme now means that reporters have greater access to family courts and can report on what they see.

In financial proceedings, the FRC (Financial Remedies Court) launched a reporting pilot on 15 December 2023. Following a gradual rollout, the FRC reporting pilot was extended to all courts from 29 January 2025 until 29 January 2026. Qualifying legal reporters and press (such as journalists and legal bloggers) are able to report on financial remedies proceedings in the FRC as part of the move towards greater transparency in the family courts.

From January 2025, journalists and legal bloggers have been entitled to attend public law children’s cases (known as care proceedings) and from May 2025, the provisions will extend to cover private law children cases before judges, for example, where the courts are asked to decide on issues relating to living arrangements for a child, where the parties cannot agree. This will extend again to cover hearings before magistrates from 29 September 2025.

The aim is to raise awareness of what happens in family courts, improve understanding of how judges reach decisions and encourage greater transparency and scrutiny; all with the overarching aim of improving public confidence in the work of the courts.

How does the presence of a reporter affect a family court hearing?

In order to report on proceedings, reporters will need to apply for a Transparency Order, which is likely to be granted unless there are legitimate reasons not to, although the court retains the discretion to direct that there should be no reporting of the case.

It’s completely understandable that clients might feel nervous about reporters attending their hearing, particularly if they already feel stressed or anxious about the hearing itself.

There are strict rules though about what those present can publish, the most important of which is that all parties’ anonymity must be protected. Not only must the reporter avoid naming participants, they must also omit any details that could lead anyone else to identify those involved.

Also, if a reporter has requested to attend a hearing, all parties will be informed of this in advance.

What can reporters include in their family court articles?

Journalists may report on what they see in court, they can access key court documents and talk to family members – while preserving anonymity of course.

They may report on private and public law cases.

An example of a case covered by a family court journalist that wouldn’t otherwise have been reported is that of a mother who spent £30,000 to protect her daughter from her child’s father who was a convicted paedophile. The case was reported by the BBC, with the family’s identities protected.

Drawing attention to these circumstances has led to a campaign to change the law in relation to parental access.

Conclusion

It is clear that there can be wider benefits of greater awareness of family court proceedings but there are undoubtedly also unintended consequences. This may be in the form of increased anxiety for clients who may find it unsettling to know that a reporter has access to all the personal details of their case, or, indeed, some legal commentators have suggested that people may be deterred from going down the family court route altogether, opting instead for arbitration, mediation, collaborative law or private dispute resolution hearings.

It is my view that with good legal support, clients can have confidence in the family court process and constructive, quality reporting can be practiced without it being concerning or a distraction to those involved in hearings.

Need advice on family law?

If you have a family law query or would like an appointment with a member of our 5-star family law team, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by phoning our Stoke-on-Trent solicitors on 01782 205000 or our Altrincham solicitors on 0161 929 8446. Alternatively, you can email enquiry@beswicks.com.