Why Are Unregulated Psychologists Still Acting as Expert Witnesses in Family Courts?

Anyone can call themselves a “psychologist” in England and Wales — the title is not legally protected. This explainer, written with a consultant clinical psychologist, sets out why that creates serious risks in the family courts: unregulated individuals can be appointed by judges to carry out assessments and draw conclusions that lead to life-changing decisions, including the removal of children from their parents, despite having no verifiable qualifications or regulatory oversight. Widely shared among legal practitioners at the start of 2026, this piece remains the clearest public explanation of the regulatory gap that Parliament and the courts have been trying to close.

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism

October 2024 (updated January 2026)