Glossary of terms used on this site

A charity which can become involved in family cases in the role of children’s guardians as an alternative to CAFCASS.

A report conducted by CAFCASS in order to determine the child’s ‘ascertainable wishes and feelings’ and his ‘physical, emotional and educational needs’.

Persistent failure to meet a child’s physical or emotional needs, resulting in impairment to health or development.

System of classifying cases introduced in 2001 which consists of the name of the case and the year and court in which it was heard.

Formula used by the police when there is insufficient evidence to justify charging or cautioning a suspect.

Principle in Section 1(2) of the Children Act that delay in the court process be kept to a minimum.

Removal from divorce legislation of the long-standing requirement that the petitioner prove the respondent to be at fault in some way.

Principle that the Court should not make any order in respect of a child unless doing so is better for the child than making no order at all.

Injury to a child which cannot be explained as accidental.

In Scotland the condition of living separately for a specified period to qualify for divorce.

Injunctive order, preventing the respondent engaging in behaviour which the applicant finds distressing.

Purely financial term used to describe the parent with liability for paying child support.

The early decision to rule out the child’s biological parents as suitable carers.

Form on which the Court informs the respondent of the application or petition.

State of a marriage rendered null by a court ruling.