Accredited official statistics

Family Court Statistics Quarterly: April to June 2024

Published 26 September 2024

© Crown copyright 2024

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/family-court-statistics-quarterly-april-to-june-2024/family-court-statistics-quarterly-april-to-june-2024

1. Main Points
Highest number of private law cases closed since 2014. The number of private law (Children Act) cases closed increased 17% compared to the equivalent quarter in 2023.
On average, care proceedings were quicker with more disposals within 26 weeks. The average time for a care or supervision case to reach first disposal was 41 weeks in April to June 2024, down 3 weeks from the same quarter in 2023. 32% of cases were disposed of within 26 weeks - up 3 percentage points compared to the same period in 2023.
Decrease in domestic violence remedy applications, with an increase in the orders made. The number of domestic violence remedy order applications decreased by 1% compared to the equivalent quarter in 2023, while the number of orders made increased by 8% over the same period.
Increase in the number of both adoption applications and orders. In April to June 2024 there were 1,089 adoption applications, up 6% on the equivalent quarter in 2023. Similarly, the number of adoption orders issued increased by 7% to 1,103.
Increase in deprivation of liberty applications and decrease in orders made under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. There were 1,831 applications under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 relating to deprivation of liberty in April to June 2024, up 28% on the equivalent quarter in 2023. Orders decreased by 41% in the latest quarter compared to the same period last year.
Decrease in timeliness for probate grants issued Probate grants took approximately 8 weeks (mean average) to be issued after the application was submitted during April to June 2024, down over 5 weeks on the equivalent quarter in 2023.

This publication presents statistics on activity in the family courts of England and Wales and provides figures for the latest quarter (April to June 2024). For further information and technical details please refer to the accompanying Guide to Family Court Statistics.

For feedback related to the content of this publication, please let us know at familycourt.statistics@justice.gov.uk

2. Data Quality Issues

The rollout of reform in family courts introduced a new data management system, Core Case Data (CCD), to collect family data. As each service area undergoes reform, existing cases stay on the legacy system FamilyMan (FM) until they are disposed or closed, while new cases are recorded on CCD with some key details copied back to FM.

Recently, family public law (FPL) completed this reform process and work has been completed to amalgamate both FM and CCD. However additional work is required to process the data required for this bulletin. Several published data series have been reinstated after being removed from Q1 (Jan-Mar) 2022 onwards, but some remain paused whlist the additional work is being completed. The series that remain paused are:

  • The total number of application events and orders made (Table 2)

  • The number of orders granted and children involved in orders granted by order type (Table 4)

  • The number of public law cases started indicated as High Court (Table 7) from Q3 (Jul-Sept) 2022

  • Applicant and respondent representation (Tables 10 and 11)

  • The number of placement order applications from Q4 (Oct-Dec) 2022 (Table 18). As a result, the total number of cases started and the total number of applications under the Adoption and Children Act 2002 are not provided

  • The total number of adoption cases disposed are not provided.

These series will be reinstated as soon as possible.

Data for divorce hearings for Q2 (Apr-Jun) 2022 onwards (Table 13) also cannot be maintained due to the capability of collecting the hearings data for new divorce law not yet being available and the limited reasons for contesting a divorce case within the new law.

Divorce data has not been updated for this publication due to a number of duplicates identified in the data source. We expect to reinstate this for the next publication.

3. Methodology changes

We have revised the timeliness metrics for care and supervision, as well as for public law overall, in this bulletin (Tables 8 and 10 respectively). Previously, the time was calculated for every child and for every order that child was subject to. We have now moved to a more straightforward case-level measure that looks at the average number of weeks from application to disposal for all cases closed in the period referred to (for both care & supervision and public law timeliness metrics). This definition aligns with that used in the management information published by HMCTS and better matches the experience of the court user.

Both series have been backdated in the tables that accompany this bulletin. The charts below demonstrate the differences between the original and new definitions – whilst the new series are a step change from the original definition, it can be seen that the general trends are similar. Any comparisons made in this and future bulletins use the same definitions.

Figure A : Mean disposal duration for Care and Supervision Cases comparing the previous definition to the new definition, January to March 2011 to April to June 2024 (Source: Table 8)

Figure B : Mean disposal duration for Public Law Cases comparing the previous definition to the new definition, January to March 2011 to April to June 2024 (Source: Table 10)

4. Statistician’s comment

During April to June a reduced number of cases started for public law and domestic violence compared to the equivalent period last year, whilst the number of cases disposed for financial remedy during this period increased.

Following a pause in several series relating to public law after HMCTS Reform, new data on public law cases shows that care proceedings were completed quicker with more disposals within 26 weeks. Private law cases were also disposed of quicker compared to the same period last year.

There was a high number of grants issued by the Probate Service in April to June 2024 (almost 82,000, second highest level in the published series from 2019), and the average time for all grant types from application submission to grant issue stands around 10 weeks in the same period, over a month quicker than previously seen.

5. Overview of the Family Justice System

During April to June 2024, there were decreases in public law and domestic violence case starts, compared to the same quarter in the previous year: at the same time there was an increase in financial remedy case starts.

Over the same period, cases reaching a final disposal have decreased in public law (11%). However, there was an increase in domestic violence (23%), financial remedy (20%) and private law (17%) case disposals (Table 1).

Figure 1: Cases started and disposed, by case type, January to March 2011 to April to June 2024 (Source: Table 1)

Timeliness by Case Type

The mean average time for private law cases to reach first disposal was 29 weeks, down 2 weeks compared to the same period in 2023. Public law cases also decreased in time compared with the same quarter last year, down 2 weeks to 37 weeks.

Public and private law cases – number of parties

The majority of private law cases involve one applicant and one respondent only (Table 6). However, for public law cases whilst nearly all cases have only one applicant, 81% involve two or more respondents.


HMCTS monthly management information

The statistics in this publication focus on the period between April to June 2024; however, monthly management information (MI) has been published by HMCTS that covers up to July 2024. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/hmcts-management-information-july-2024. This MI is subject to the data quality issues associated with extracting data from large live administrative case management systems. Late reporting of cases and regular updating of case details, which can lead to the figures being updated to manage the case - more recent figures may therefore be subject to larger revisions and should be treated with greater care and considered provisional.

6. Children Act - Public Law

Decrease in the number of public law case starts and cases disposed

There were 3,825 public law cases starting in April to June 2024, similar to the equivalent quarter in 2023 (Table 2). Cases disposed were down 11% to 3,833.

On average, care proceedings were quicker with more disposals within 26 weeks

The average time for a care or supervision case to reach first disposal was 41 weeks in April to June 2024, down 3 weeks from the same quarter in 2023. 32% of cases were disposed of within the 26-week limit introduced in the Children and Families Act 2014, up 3 percentage points from the same period last year (Table 8).[footnote 1]

There were 6,319 individual children involved in new public law applications in April to June 2024, down 2% on the same quarter in the previous year. In April to June 2024, care applications made up 67% of public law orders applied for (2,891) (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Public law applications by order type, April to June 2024 (Source: Table 3)

7. Children Act - Private Law

Increase in the number of private law cases disposed with case starts remaining the same

During April to June 2024, there were 12,492 private law case[footnote 2] starts, similar to the equivalent quarter in 2023. The number of applications made was also similar over the same period.

The number of private law cases disposed of during April to June 2024 was up 17% on the equivalent quarter in 2023, with the number of disposals down by 2% (Table 2).

There were 13,030 new private law applications made in April to June 2024, similar to the equivalent quarter in 2023, with 19,333 individual children involved in these applications.

The number of private law disposals in April to June 2024 was 29,501, down 2% on the equivalent quarter in 2023.

Timeliness of Private law cases

In April to June 2024, it took on average 43 weeks for private law cases to reach a final order, i.e. case closure, down 2 weeks from the same period in 2023. (Table 9)

Figure 3: Private law timeliness from case start date to final order in the family court, January to March 2011 to April to June 2024 (Source: Table 9)

Cases with legal representation take longer on average

In general, cases where either both parties or the respondent only had legal representation took longer to be disposed of than those cases where only the applicant was represented or where both parties were without legal representation (Table 10).

Legal representation in private law cases

The removal of legal aid for many private law cases in April 2013 resulted in a change in the pattern of legal representation over time[footnote 3],[footnote 4]. In April to June 2024, the proportion of disposals where neither the applicant nor respondent had legal representation was 40%, increasing by 26 percentage points since January to March 2013, and a similar level when compared to April to June 2023.

Correspondingly, the proportion of cases where both parties had legal representation went from 41% in January to March 2013 to 19% in April to June 2024, unchanged compared to the same period in 2023 (Figure 4).

Figure 4: Proportion of private law disposals by type of legal representation of the parties, January to March 2012 to April to June 2024 (Source: Table 10)

The change seen in the pattern of legal representation is also demonstrated in private law cases with at least one hearing where the proportion of parties with legal representation stood at 59% in 2012 compared to 29% in April to June 2024.

The proportion of parties with legal representation in cases with at least one hearing varies by case type and range from around 66% for financial remedy cases to 3% for adoption cases, with figures subject to change as new cases progress (Table 11).

9. Divorce

Due to issues with data processing, divorce data will not be updated for this quarter’s publication. We will aim to restore the series as soon as possible.

10. Financial Remedy

Increase seen in financial remedy disposal events with similar numbers of applications

In April to June 2024, the number of financial remedy disposal events was up 17% while applications remained similar to the same period in 2023 (Table 14).

There were 11,269 financial remedy applications made in April to June 2024 similar to the same period in 2023, while there were 11,334 financial remedy disposals events, up 17%compared with a year earlier. During the latest quarter, 74% of applications were uncontested and 26% were contested.

Figure 5: Applications for financial remedy orders, January to March 2009 to April to June 2024 (Source: Table 14)

11. Domestic Violence Remedy Orders

Decrease in the number of domestic violence remedy applications and increase in the number of orders made

In April to June 2024, there was a 1% decrease in applications made compared to the equivalent quarter in 2023. The number of orders made increased by 8% over the same period. The overall picture highlights a longer-term increase in the number of applications, with the number of applications in the latest quarter almost double those made since the series began in 2011. (Table 15).

In April to June 2024, there were 7,720 domestic violence remedy applications, down by 1% on the same quarter in 2023 requesting a total of 8,864 orders (multiple orders can be applied for in a single application). Most of the orders applied for were non-molestation orders (84%) compared to occupation orders (16%); these proportions have remained relatively consistent in recent years. Applications for non-molestation orders in April to June 2024 decreased by 1% compared to the same period in 2023, while occupation orders remained similar to levels in the same period in 2023.

There were 9,496 domestic violence orders made in April to June 2024, up 8% from the same period last year. 93% were non-molestation orders and 7% were occupation orders, with non-molestation orders up by 7% and occupation orders up by 22% compared to the equivalent quarter in 2023.

Figure 6: Applications for domestic violence remedy orders, January to March 2009 to April to June 2024 (Source: Table 15)

12. Forced Marriage Protection Orders and Female Genital Mutilation Protection Orders

Long term upward trend in the number of forced marriage protection orders and female genital mutilation protection orders (Table 16 and 17)

The number of applications and orders made for forced marriage protection orders (FMPOs) is very small. Consequently, numbers fluctuate each quarter but overall, there has been a long-term upward trend from their introduction in November 2008 until the end of 2019 with a less pronounced increase thereafter.

In April to June 2024, there were 84 applications made, of which 71% of applications were for people aged 17 and under. Over the same period, there were 112 orders made, similar to the same period from the previous year.

Historically the numbers of orders made outweigh the number of applications. Often there are multiple orders granted per case, where one application covers more than one person, and an order is granted for each person covered in the application. Extensions and increased provision of previous orders can also be granted as new orders, without the need for a new application to be submitted.

An increase in the number of orders does not necessarily represent an increase in the prevalence of forced marriage, but potentially it relates to a greater awareness of forced marriage being a crime and the support available. Particularly during 2019 where the government held events with relevant groups (local authorities, police, charities etc.), designed specifically to raise awareness of FMPOs and how they can be used to protect those at risk. In 2020, health education became compulsory across all state-funded schools in England, where Relationship Education is compulsory in primary schools and Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) is compulsory in secondary schools to spread awareness of forced marriages.

Figure 7: Applications and orders made for Forced Marriage Protection Orders, January to March 2009 to April to June 2024 (Source: Table 16)

As with FMPOs, the number of applications and orders made for female genital mutilation protection orders (FGMPOs) is very small, with only 4 applications and 14 orders made respectively in April to June 2024 (Table 17). In total, there have been 632 applications and 889 orders made up to end of June 2024, since their introduction in July 2015.

13. Adoptions

Increase in the number of adoption applications and orders, despite the longer-term trend showing a fall in adoptions

During April to June 2024, there were 1,089 adoption applications made, up 6% from the equivalent quarter in 2023. Over the same period, the number of adoption orders issued also increased by 7% to 1,103 (Tables 18 and 19).

There were 2,015 total disposals in April to June 2024, a decrease of 4% compared to the equivalent quarter in 2023.

The chart below shows the trend of adoption orders by the type of adopter. This shows that during April to June 2024, 54% of all adoption orders were issued to mixed-sex couples, 20% to sole applicants, 17% to same-sex couples and 8% to step-parents.

Figure 8: Adoption orders issued, by adopter, January to March 2011 to April to June 2024 (Source: Table 19)

14. Mental Capacity Act - Court of Protection

Increase in applications with a decrease in orders made in relation to deprivation of liberty under the Mental Capacity Act 2005

There are two figures related to deprivation of liberty. The first are those made under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 which cover people over 18 and are made by the Court of Protection, and the second refers to the ability of the High Court to make deprivation of liberty orders for people under 18. The figures in this section refer to the former.

There were 1,831 applications relating to deprivation of liberty under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 made in the most recent quarter, which is an increase of 28% on the number made in the same quarter in 2023. However, there was a decrease by 41% in the orders made for deprivation of liberty over the same period from 1,698 (highest volume in the published series) to 1,010.

An increase in applications whilst orders decrease under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA)

There were 8,833 applications made in April to June 2024, up by 14%. During the same period there were 12,803 orders made, down by 22%.

In April to June 2024, there were 8,833 applications made under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA), up by 14% on the equivalent quarter in 2023 (7,746 applications). Of those, 35% related to applications for appointment of a property and affairs deputy (Table 20).

In comparison, there were 12,803 orders made under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA), down by 22% on the same quarter in 2023. Of those, 38% related to orders by an existing deputy or registered attorney (Table 21).

Deprivation of Liberty applications made under the Mental Capacity Act

Since the Supreme Court clarified the definition of deprivation of liberty in 2014, there has been a significant increase in the number of applications. There were 1,831 applications in April to June 2024. Whilst deprivation of liberty orders made saw a decrease of 41% from 1,698 last year to 1,010 in the latest quarter, the overall number of orders made decreased by 28% over the same period.

Deprivation of Liberty applications made under the High Court

There are also deprivation of liberty applications made to the High Court, which has the power to make deprivation of liberty orders for children under the age of 18. There were 299 applications for this purpose, handling the same number of children. Almost all of these children were teenagers; 60% aged between 13 and 15 and 30% aged between 16 and 18 years (Table 22).

In April to June 2024, 273 orders were issued, of which 126 have had a final order made. 37% of the orders which were finalised between April and June 2024 lasted less than 3 months, while 14% lasted over 12 months.

These are different from the deprivation of liberty applications and orders made under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 which relate to people over the age of 18.

Figure 9: Deprivation of Liberty applications and orders under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, January to March 2011 to April to June 2024 (Source: Table 21)

15. Mental Capacity Act - Office of the Public Guardian

Continued increasing trend in Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs)

In April to June 2024, there were 379,670 LPAs registered, the highest in its series and up 38% compared to the equivalent quarter in 2023 (Table 23).

In total there were 381,065 Powers of Attorney (POAs) registered in April to June 2024, up 38% from the same quarter in 2023 (Table 23). In April to June 2024, 56% of POAs registered were from female donors whilst 42% were from male donors and 49% were over 75 years old. Lasting Power of Attorney (LPAs) made up almost all of POAs registered in April to June 2024, with Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs) making up the remainder. There were 1,395 EPAs registered in April to June 2024, down 24% on the equivalent quarter in 2023.

The sharp increase in LPAs seen during 2015 and 2016 was largely due to increased publicity and the new online forms introduced in July 2015 making it simpler and faster to apply. The more recent increase in LPAs is part of the trend seen of more applications being made over time as the population ages.

Figure 10: Powers of Attorney registered, January to March 2013 to April to June 2024 (Source: Table 22)

16. Probate Service

Probate grants issued more quickly than other grants of representation

Probate grants took approximately 8 weeks to be issued after the application was submitted during April to June 2024. Letters of administration with a will and without a will took around 28 and 16 weeks respectively (Table 25).

Similar levels in the proportion of digital applications for probate grants with an increase in the proportion of probate grants issued made digitally

In April to June 2024, there were 61,819 applications for probate grants. 66,965 probate grants were issued in the same period. 92% of these applications and grants issued were made digitally, compared to 91% and 88% respectively in the same quarter in 2023 (Table 24).

There were 75,644 applications made for grants of representation in April to June 2024. 61,819 (82%) of these were for probate grants, of which 92% were made digitally (Table 24).

Probate grants also make up the majority (82%) of all grants issued. In April to June 2024, 59% of the grants issued were applied for by legal professionals and 41% were personal applications (Table 24). For the 66,965 probate grants issued in the same period, 92% were issued digitally.

Timeliness of probate grants

The mean average time from application submission to grant issue for probate grants was 8 weeks (median average 4 weeks) overall. The mean time between application submission and grant being issued is the lowest it’s been since the end of 2022. Whilst the mean average time for the majority of grants (digital probate grants for applications not stopped which formed 73% of total probate grants issued) took slightly more than 4 weeks from application submission to grant issue and 2 weeks from document receipt to grant issue.

Timeliness of grants issued can be affected if the case has been ‘stopped’ for any reason (which can occur when there’s a dispute about either who can apply for probate or issues with a will or proposed will, or if an error is identified and a request for further information made). Probate grants that were stopped during April to June 2024 took 21 weeks on average to be issued, compared to 4 weeks for those that were not stopped.

When looking at the time from document receipt (i.e. when payment has been made and the application and all accompanying documents are ready for examination) to grant issue, this is around 2 weeks quicker than the average time from application submission for probate grants.

Averages for letters of administration with a will and without a will were 28 and 16 weeks respectively for April to June 2024, though these formed a smaller proportion of all grants issued, 3% and 15% respectively (Figure 12).

Figure 11: Average (mean) time for grants of representation issued from application submission by the Probate Service, July to September 2019 to April to June 2024 (Source: Table 24)

17. Further information

The data presented in this publication are from live administrative databases. Therefore, previously published data is liable to be updated in the latest bulletin, following any further data cleaning or the incorporation of additional cases not available in the extracts used to produce previous bulletins.

Accompanying files

As well as this bulletin, the following products are published as part of this release:

Accredited official statistics status

Accredited official statistics are called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007. These accredited official statistics were independently reviewed by the Office for Statistics Regulation in January 2019. They comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics and should be labelled ‘accredited official statistics’.

It is the Ministry of Justice’s responsibility to maintain compliance with the standards expected for accredited official statistics. If we become concerned about whether these statistics are still meeting the appropriate standards, we will discuss any concerns with the Authority promptly. Accredited official statistics status can be removed at any point when the highest standards are not maintained, and reinstated when standards are restored.

Contact

Press enquiries should be directed to the Ministry of Justice press office:

Tel: 0203 334 3536

Other enquiries about these statistics should be directed:

Rita Kumi-Ampofo, Head of Access to Justice Data and Statistics, using the following email address familycourt.statistics@justice.gov.uk

Next update: 19 December 2024

URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/family-court-statistics-quarterly

© Crown copyright
Produced by the Ministry of Justice

Alternative formats are available on request from familycourt.statistics@justice.gov.uk

  1. See the accompanying technical guide for more information. ↩

  2. The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) also publishes (England only) data on the number of private law cases. A comparison of Cafcass and MoJ data and further information can be found in the accompanying guide. ↩

  3. Please see the accompanying guide for further details. ↩

  4. Removal of Legal Aid was a result of the Legal Aid, Sentencing & Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO). ↩

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