Parallel Family and Criminal Proceedings

In Re C (Born August 2022) [2026] EWFC 74 (B), Deputy District Judge Nahal-Macdonald, sitting at Bromley, raised concerns about the confusion created when the same allegations of domestic abuse and coercive control are being dealt with simultaneously in family and criminal proceedings, which apply different standards of proof. The family case had been running for 57 weeks, with a fact-finding hearing stalled partly because the father had elected Crown Court trial in the criminal proceedings. The case is a practical reminder for family law practitioners of the challenges in coordinating psychological expert evidence in cases that straddle both jurisdictions.

Source: Law Society Gazette / Transparency Project Roundup, 7 April 2026