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The Government has published new guidance for parents and family members involved in Family Court proceedings in England and Wales, following the nationwide rollout of expanded court reporting provisions earlier this year.
The guidance explains how the new transparency regime operates, who may report on cases, and the safeguards in place to protect the privacy of children and families.
New Reporting Rules in the Family Courts
From January 2025, changes were introduced allowing greater access to Family Court hearings by certain journalists and legal commentators, following a successful pilot scheme.
The aim of the reforms is to improve public understanding and confidence in the family justice system, while continuing to prioritise the privacy and welfare of children and families.
Under the new regime:
accredited journalists and legal bloggers may attend family court hearings; and
limited reporting may take place, subject to strict anonymisation requirements.
Transparency Orders and What Can Be Reported
Where reporting is permitted, the court will issue a transparency order to the parties. This order sets out clearly what information can and cannot be published.
A transparency order will specify:
which individuals, organisations or authorities (if any) may be named; and
which details must remain confidential to prevent identification.
As a general rule, reports must not include:
the names of any children or family members involved;
addresses or places where children live or attend school;
children’s dates of birth; or
photographs of children or family members.
In some cases, additional restrictions may be imposed to ensure families cannot be identified indirectly.
Who Can Report on Family Court Cases?
Transparency orders permit reporting only by journalists and lawyers. They do not allow parties, family members or members of the public to publish information about proceedings on social media or elsewhere.
Journalists may be given access to certain court documents, such as:
position statements; or
expert or case reports.
However, the majority of sensitive material will continue to remain private.
Judicial Control and Objections
The judge retains full discretion over whether reporting should be allowed in a particular case. While parties are entitled to express concerns or objections, they cannot opt out of reporting unless the judge agrees that reporting would be inappropriate.
The court’s primary consideration remains the welfare of the child.
Q&A: Reporting Family Court Proceedings
Why has the reporting regime changed?
The reforms aim to improve transparency and public confidence in the family justice system, while maintaining strong protections for privacy.
Can anyone report on a family court case?
No. Only accredited journalists and lawyers are permitted to report under a transparency order.
Will my child’s identity be protected?
Yes. Strict anonymisation rules apply, and identifying details about children and family members must not be published.
Can I stop my case from being reported?
You can raise concerns with the judge, but the final decision rests with the court.
Does this mean family courts are now open to the public?
No. Family courts remain private. The changes allow limited reporting, not public access.