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Uniting Parent and Child Advocacy Groups in the UK

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COURT DELAYS CAN COST CHILDHOOD.

PAPA’s “Lost Years” survey (1,400+ participants) reports delays can erode father–child bonds.

Document contact and delays. Ask your solicitor and the court for updates; seek legal advice if needed.

Source: PAPA “Lost Years” survey. https://www.fathersrights.co.uk

Advocacy only; no protected parties identified. Every Dad Matters.

Dads aren't just a 'bonus': they are essential for a child's development. 🧠

Children with involved fathers have significantly higher IQs by age 3 and better academic outcomes throughout school (Source: Psychology Today / Uni of Newcastle). It turns out having a dad is the ultimate tutor.

Fathers United. Rights Respected.

How has being an active father impacted your child's learning? Share your stories below! 👇

Every Dad Matters.

Support: https://www.fathersrights.co.uk #FathersRights

When allegations are properly tested, evidence: not assumption: must guide welfare decisions.

In LH v DM [2026] EWFC 232 (B), an anonymised England and Wales Family Court judgment reported by 36 Group on 14 August 2026, the court rejected the principal allegations against a father and his step-son, found significant alienating behaviour by the other parent, and ordered 50/50 shared care on a week-about basis.

The key point is not that shared care is automatic. The judgment explains that it was a welfare-led response to the particular family dynamics: creating predictable arrangements, reducing conflict and protecting the children’s relationship with both parents.

It also reflects the principle in Re Y (Experts and Alienating Behaviour: The Modern Approach) [2026] EWFC 38: where disputed abuse or alienating behaviour is central, the court should establish the relevant facts before expert evidence is used to inform welfare decisions. Experts should assist the court: not replace its fact-finding role.

For fathers facing allegations or a disrupted relationship with their children: keep relevant records, follow court orders, communicate calmly and seek independent legal advice. Evidence must be relevant, reliable and presented lawfully.

Sources:
36 Group: https://36group.co.uk/article/a-rewarding-result-in-lh-v-dm-2026-ewfc-232-b-following-a-fact-finding-and-final-welfare-hearing/
Re Y – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary: https://www.judiciary.uk/judgments/re-y-experts-and-alienating-behaviour-the-modern-approach/
Support and resources: https://www.fathersrights.co.uk

Advocacy content only. This post discusses an anonymised family judgment and does not identify protected parties. It is not legal advice.

Every Dad Matters.

#FathersRights #SharedCare #FamilyLaw #EvidenceMatters

85% of youths in prison come from fatherless homes (Source: US Dept. of Justice).

"Taking responsibility" is about more than just paying a bill. A father's presence is the ultimate deterrent to crime. Systems that sideline dads aren't just hurting men: they're filling cells.

Do you think courts underestimate the impact of fatherlessness? Share your story below.

Fathers United. Rights Respected. Every Dad Matters.
https://www.fathersrights.co.uk
#FathersRights

Section 37 Children Act 1989: not an automatic care order. A local authority assesses if care or supervision is needed. Cooperate, engage with the guardian, document parenting and seek advice.

Source: Transparency Project: https://transparencyproject.org.uk/i-want-the-children-to-have-a-relationship-with-their-father-but-he-scares-me/

Advocacy; no protected parties identified. Every Dad Matters.

The state fast-tracks digital safety while ignoring truth in family courts. The Crime & Policing Bill 2026 tackles image abuse but ignores the weaponisation of false allegations. This 'Selective Safety' is systemic failure.

Fact: Up to 60% of domestic abuse claims in family law are false (Source: The Illustrated Empathy Gap).

Fathers United. Rights Respected. Every Dad Matters.
https://www.fathersrights.co.uk
#FathersRights

Content for advocacy; does not identify protected parties.

Letterbox contact is still contact: but it can feel fragile. Re A (Welfare) (No.4) and Martin v The Father & Ors [2026] EWFC 151 show how welfare concerns may lead to indirect letters, updates and reporting restrictions. Engage constructively with assessments and programmes; seek legal advice. Sources: cited judgments. Advocacy only; protected parties not identified. #FathersRights

A faster system is welcome. But 35 weeks is still a long time for a child and parent to wait for certainty.

The latest Ministry of Justice figures for England and Wales show that private law cases took an average of 35 weeks to reach disposal in January–March 2026 : five weeks faster than the same period in 2025.

The proportion disposed of within 26 weeks also rose to 52%, compared with 45% a year earlier.

But there is another warning sign: private law case starts increased by 16% to 15,534, while disposals fell by 17% to 10,519.

Improvement must not become complacency. Every week of delay can mean missed contact, uncertainty, financial pressure and a child’s relationship with a parent being placed on hold.

The question is not whether the figures are moving in the right direction. It is whether the pace is fast enough for families living through the process.

Source: Ministry of Justice, Family Court Statistics Quarterly: January to March 2026:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/family-court-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2026/family-court-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2026

For advocacy only. This post uses aggregated statistics and does not identify any protected party or private case.

Support and resources: https://www.fathersrights.co.uk

Fathers United. Rights Respected.

#FathersRights #FamilyCourt #FamilyLaw #CourtDelays

A CHILD'S VIEW OF DAD CHANGES WITH AGE ❤️

At 5: “Dad is my hero.”
At 14: “Dad is so strict.”
At 25: “Dad was right about a lot of things.”
At 50: “I wish I could sit with Dad one more time.”

Keep showing up. Keep listening. Keep loving them through every stage.

Fathers United. Rights Respected. Every Dad Matters.
https://www.fathersrights.co.uk

General advocacy, not legal advice. No protected party or private proceeding is identified.
#FathersRights

Overseas contact travel costs are not an automatic income deduction under Schedule 1. Re N [2026] EWFC 18 shows courts assess affordability, evidence and the child-focused purpose of costs. Expatriate and non-resident dads: disclose fully, itemise precisely and seek advice early. Advocacy only; no protected parties identified. Source: https://beta.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWFC/OJ/2026/18.html Fathers United. Rights Respected. #FathersRights

Who decides if you're a fit father? From 20 July, SI 2026/699 (Re Y [2026]) locks the court door. Only "regulated" experts can give evidence (Source: SI 2026/699). This creates a state-approved closed shop, silencing independent voices. Every Dad Matters. Fathers United. Rights Respected.

What's your experience with court experts? Share below.

Support: https://www.fathersrights.co.uk

#FathersRights
Disclaimer: Content is for advocacy and does not identify protected parties.

Shared parenting does not always mean shared costs: and the calculation model matters.

In Canada, federal guidance says that where each parent has at least 40% of parenting time, support should consider both parents’ table amounts, the increased costs of shared parenting, and the means, needs and circumstances of the family.

Canada can also address special or extraordinary expenses: such as eligible childcare, uninsured healthcare, education and extracurricular costs: with contributions generally considered in proportion to income, after relevant subsidies or credits.

The UK Child Maintenance Service starts differently: it usually uses the paying parent’s gross taxable income, normally obtained through HMRC, then applies a formula. Shared care is recognised mainly through overnight-stay bands: 52–103 nights can mean a 1/7 reduction, rising to 1/2 at 175+ nights, subject to the rules and minimum payments.

That is not the same as a full assessment of each household’s actual parenting costs. In the UK, additional expenses may require a variation, agreement or separate legal route, depending on the circumstances.

Which approach better reflects real-life shared parenting: a gross-income formula, or a wider assessment of time, costs and the child’s needs?

Sources:
Canada Federal Child Support Guidelines, ss. 7 and 9: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-97-175/fulltext.html
UK GOV.UK CMS guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-we-work-out-child-maintenance/how-we-work-out-child-maintenance

This post is for advocacy and general information only. It does not identify or refer to any protected party or private family proceedings, and it is not legal advice. Individual rules can vary: seek independent advice for your circumstances.

Every Dad Matters.

#FathersRights #ChildMaintenance #SharedParenting #FamilyLaw

The CMS “Collect and Pay” system can turn child maintenance into a financial penalty for both households.

Under official CMS guidance, the paying parent pays a 20% collection fee on top of the maintenance amount. The receiving parent has 4% deducted from the payment passed on.

Example: on £100 of child maintenance, the paying parent may have to pay £120, while only £96 reaches the receiving parent. That means £24 is absorbed by collection fees rather than reaching the child’s household.

This is not about avoiding responsibility. Fathers should support their children: but a system that adds costs to one parent and reduces the money received by the other deserves serious scrutiny. Direct Pay does not charge collection fees, although it may not be suitable for every family.

Have CMS collection fees affected your ability to pay, budget or provide for your child? Share your experience without posting names, case numbers or identifying details.

Source: GOV.UK : https://www.gov.uk/child-maintenance-service/payments
Support and resources: https://www.fathersrights.co.uk

This post is for advocacy and general information only. It does not identify or comment on any protected party or private family case, and it is not legal advice.

Fathers United. Rights Respected.

#ChildMaintenance #FathersRights #FamilyLawUK #CMS

A fair system should recognise real life : not punish fathers for earning differently. ⚖️

The Government has confirmed plans to reduce the CMS income-change tolerance from 25% to 15%. It also plans to include unearned income : such as dividends, rental income and investment returns : automatically within the standard child maintenance calculation, rather than requiring a variation request.

For self-employed fathers and those with fluctuating earnings, this could mean faster reassessments when income rises or falls. A temporary improvement, irregular contract or one-off payment could potentially trigger a change sooner. And where unearned income is counted automatically, assessments could increase even when that income is unpredictable, reinvested or needed to cover business and household costs.

These reforms are planned for 2027–28. They are not law yet. But fathers deserve clear rules, proper notice, transparent calculations and safeguards against sudden financial shocks : while children remain properly supported.

Our fathers are not case numbers. They are workers, carers, providers and heroes trying to remain present in their children’s lives.

What safeguards should be in place before these reforms begin? Share your view respectfully below.

Source: One Parent Families Scotland, “UK Government responds to open letter urging child maintenance reform” https://opfs.org.uk/get-involved/news-and-events/news/open-letter-response-child-maintenance/
Background: GOV.UK, Child Maintenance calculation research https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-maintenance-calculation-research

This post is for advocacy and general information only. It does not identify protected parties and is not legal advice. Visit https://www.fathersrights.co.uk for support and resources.

Fathers United. Rights Respected.
Every Dad Matters.

#FathersRights #ChildMaintenance #FamilyLaw #CMS2026

An undertaking is a formal promise to the court; not an informal agreement. It differs from a court order, but breach may lead to contempt. A pressured promise can create leverage. Read every word, get legal advice, check fairness, and keep proof of compliance.

Source: Justice UK, Family Procedure Rules Part 37.
Advocacy only; no protected parties identified. #FathersRights

Your birth certificate might be a paper shield. Under Re J [2026], Parental Responsibility can be stripped from non-biological fathers on the birth certificate, regardless of the bond (Source: Family Law Reports 2026). The system is choosing biological facts over years of love. If you're an unmarried dad, that document is vulnerable. Secure a formal PR Agreement today.

Fathers United. Rights Respected. Every Dad Matters.

https://www.fathersrights.co.uk #FathersRights

Note: Advocacy only.

An accurate system is not just one that calculates: it is one that corrects mistakes quickly.

The latest DWP Child Maintenance Service statistics, covering data to March 2026, reported 7,200 enforcement-agent referrals in process.

Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-maintenance-service-statistics-data-to-march-2026

That makes review rights more than a box-ticking exercise. If a decision uses the wrong income, overlooks evidence or contains an administrative error, correction must be fast, clear and affordable.

Current GOV.UK guidance says a parent who disputes the payment amount can request mandatory reconsideration within one month. If still dissatisfied, they can appeal to an independent tribunal; GOV.UK says appeals usually take around six months to be heard.

Source: https://www.gov.uk/child-maintenance-service/complaints-and-appeals

Reform should guarantee:
• A clear breakdown of the evidence and calculation
• Rapid correction of obvious errors
• Proportionate enforcement while a genuine dispute is reviewed
• A simple, free review route
• Affordability protection: Collect and Pay adds 20% for paying parents and deducts 4% from receiving parents

Source: https://www.gov.uk/child-maintenance-service/payments

Child maintenance must support children without allowing process errors to become financial crises. Fairness means accuracy, speed and access to review: for both parents.

Have you struggled to correct a CMS error or understand a figure? Share general experiences only: no names, case numbers or identifying details.

This is advocacy, not legal advice, and does not identify protected parties. Check current GOV.UK guidance and seek independent advice.

Resources: https://www.fathersrights.co.uk

Fathers United. Rights Respected.

#CMS #ChildMaintenance #FathersRights #FamilyLaw

You have managed life, most learnt this and the others need to be taught.

NEVER place yourself into a situation 💯 problematic.

#dontgetmarried #fathers #⁸#fathers #takeyoutothecleaners

Representing yourself in family court is not the same as facing the system on equal terms.

An often-circulated claim says 82% of fathers are unrepresented. That figure should be verified before being presented as official national data. What the evidence does show is serious: Ministry of Justice research found that many litigants in person were ineligible for, unable to obtain, or unable to afford legal representation.

The House of Commons Library also reports an increase of around 30% in family court cases where neither party had representation.

This is the litigant-in-person penalty: navigating complex procedures, preparing evidence and presenting your case without the support of a solicitor or barrister: often while the other side may have professional representation.

Legal aid and access to justice must be treated as essential safeguards, not optional extras. A parent’s ability to pay should not determine their ability to be heard.

Have you had to represent yourself in family court? What practical support would have made the process fairer?

Sources: Ministry of Justice, “Litigants in Person in Private Family Law Cases”: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/litigants-in-person-in-private-family-law-cases
House of Commons Library, “Litigants in person”: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn07113/

For advocacy and information only: not legal advice. This post discusses systemic issues and does not identify or refer to protected parties in family proceedings.

Fathers United. Rights Respected.

#LegalAid #FamilyCourt #LitigantsInPerson #FathersRights

Your voice, their ears. The Justice Committee HC 192 Call for Evidence is now open. Clause 17 of the Courts and Tribunals Bill 2026 proposes repealing the legal presumption that a parent’s involvement is welfare-enhancing (Source: UK Parliament). This change risks flooding courts with conflict and erasing dads. Don’t stay silent. Submit your evidence today via https://www.fathersrights.co.uk
Fathers United. Rights Respected. Every Dad Matters. #FathersRights

Section 91(14) must never become a shortcut to silence.

FACT: Children Act 1989 s91(14) can require permission before specified further applications about a child. That safeguard must not silence a protective father raising genuine welfare concerns.

Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/41/section/91

Advocacy only; no protected party identified. Every Dad Matters. #FathersRights

Child maintenance can help : but the figures show it does not always break the cycle of poverty.

DWP data found that 36% of individuals in parent-with-care households remained in the lowest income quintile : the bottom 20% of the income distribution : even after maintenance payments.

The shift was limited:
• Parent-with-care households moved out of the lowest quintile by just 3 percentage points.
• Paying-parent households moved out of the top quintile by 4 percentage points.

Maintenance matters. But a system that leaves over one-third of receiving households at the bottom of the income distribution demands serious scrutiny.

Financial Justice Now.

What should change: payment levels, enforcement, wider support, or all three?

Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Separated Families Statistics: April 2014 to March 2023
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/separated-families-statistics-april-2014-to-march-2023/separated-families-statistics-april-2014-to-march-2023

Advocacy content only. This post uses aggregated data and does not identify any protected party or private family proceedings. It is not legal advice.

#FathersRights #ChildMaintenance #FinancialJusticeNow #ChildPoverty

A child’s childhood does not pause while a case waits for a hearing.

As of 9 August 2026, the Courts and Tribunals Bill remains under parliamentary consideration. It has not received Royal Assent and is not yet law. The Bill includes proposals to repeal the presumption of parental involvement in the Children Act 1989: but it does not, by itself, guarantee a faster contact-order timetable.

The human cost of delay is real. Official Ministry of Justice statistics show that private-law family cases took an average of 35 weeks to reach disposal in January–March 2026. Only 52% were dealt with within 26 weeks. For a father waiting to establish or restore regular contact, months can mean missed birthdays, school milestones and ordinary moments that cannot be recovered.

Reform must be measured not only by parliamentary progress, but by whether children and safe, loving parents receive timely decisions.

What should a child-centred family court timetable look like? Share your experiences without names, case numbers, court locations or identifying details.

Sources:
UK Parliament: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/4083
Ministry of Justice family court statistics: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/family-court-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2026/family-court-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2026

This post is for advocacy and general information only. It does not identify or comment on any protected party or private case, and is not legal advice.

Fathers United. Rights Respected.

#FathersRights #FamilyCourt #AccessToJustice #ChildArrangements

“Voluntary” can change contact. In England and Wales, s20 allows accommodation without a care order or hearing. Consent is fact-specific: get advice before agreeing; request written terms; keep records. Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/41/section/20 | Resources: https://www.fathersrights.co.uk | Advocacy only; no protected parties identified. Every Dad Matters. #FathersRights

More than 500,000 men may have experienced domestic abuse without reporting it to police in 2024.

Higgs LLP estimates that 515,000+ male victims were not reported to police, comparing its analysis of 196,381 police-recorded cases with the ONS estimate of 712,000 male victims for the year ending March 2024.

The latest ONS data estimates that 1.5 million men aged 16+ experienced domestic abuse in England and Wales in the year ending March 2025. Police data can only show part of the picture because many cases never enter the criminal justice system.

There is a connected concern in family proceedings: male victims can be overlooked, while fathers may face serious consequences when disputed allegations are treated as established facts.

In Re D [2026] EWCA Civ 969, the Court of Appeal confirmed that Cafcass observations cannot be elevated into findings that are for the court to determine. Where recommendations depend materially on disputed allegations, the need for fact-finding must be properly reconsidered. The appeal was allowed and the child arrangements order was set aside for rehearing.

This protects due process without diminishing genuine victims. Every allegation deserves to be taken seriously: and every disputed allegation must be assessed fairly, on the evidence.

What would fairer practice look like for male victims and parents navigating family proceedings?

Sources:
ONS: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/articles/domesticabusevictimcharacteristicsenglandandwales/yearendingmarch2025
Higgs LLP: https://www.higgsllp.co.uk/articles/un-reported-an-insight-into-male-victims-of-domestic-violence
Re D judgment: https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Re-D-Change-of-circumstances-domestic-abuse-allegations-2026-EWCA-Civ-969.pdf

Advocacy note: This is a general discussion. It identifies no protected parties, children, or private proceedings. Do not share identifying details. For support and resources: https://www.fathersrights.co.uk

Fathers United. Rights Respected.

#MensVoicesMatter #FamilyCourt #DueProcess #FathersRights

The CMS is expanding: but where is the reform?

GOV.UK data shows that CMS arrangements covered 1.1 million children by December 2025. In the year to March 2025, the service received 150,000 new applications: a 15% increase year on year.

Yet the latest figures raise serious questions about fairness and efficiency:

• 52% of paying parents using Collect and Pay paid over 90% of the maintenance due.
• Paying parents using Collect and Pay are charged an additional 20% CMS fee.
• £26.2 million remained unpaid in the quarter ending December 2025.

A system can grow in size while the problems persist. More families entering the CMS should mean better service, clearer decisions, faster enforcement and fairer charges: not simply a larger system collecting more fees.

Should a parent who pays over 90% of what is due still face a 20% charge? What needs to change first: fees, enforcement or accountability?

Sources:
GOV.UK, Child Maintenance Service statistics: data to December 2025
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-maintenance-service-statistics-data-to-december-2025/child-maintenance-service-statistics-data-to-december-2025

GOV.UK, Child Maintenance Service statistics: data to March 2025
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-maintenance-service-statistics-data-to-march-2025/child-maintenance-service-statistics-data-to-march-2025

GOV.UK, Making and receiving payments
https://www.gov.uk/child-maintenance-service/payments

Advocacy note: This post discusses aggregated official statistics and does not identify any protected party or private family case. It is not legal advice.

Every Dad Matters

#FathersRights #ChildMaintenance #FamilyLaw #EveryDadMatters

“Reasonable contact” can become a loophole.

No dates or times can make repeated cancellations harder to challenge. Under Children Act 1989, s8, ask for specific terms, record every refusal, and seek advice on variation or enforcement.

Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/41/section/8

Advocacy only; no protected parties identified. Fathers United. Rights Respected. #FathersRights

Child support should reflect more than income alone. It should also recognise real parenting time and the costs of raising a child.

Canada’s Federal Child Support Guidelines use tables based on the paying parent’s annual income, province or territory and number of children. Where both parents have at least 40% parenting time, the framework requires shared-parenting costs to be considered. Certain special or extraordinary expenses may also be shared in proportion to each parent’s income.

The UK Child Maintenance Service mainly uses the paying parent’s gross income, then applies reductions based on overnight care. For example, 52–103 nights can mean a 1/7 reduction, while 175 or more nights can mean a 50% reduction plus £7 per week per child.

That is a significant policy difference. Canada’s framework more explicitly addresses shared parenting and additional costs. The UK model is more formula-driven and can leave parents questioning whether actual care and day-to-day expenses are being fully recognised.

This is not about removing support from children. It is about building a system that is transparent, proportionate and fair to both parents: especially where a father is actively caring for his child.

What should the UK learn from Canada’s approach?

Sources:
Canada Department of Justice: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fl-df/child-enfant/index.html
UK Government CMS guidance: https://www.gov.uk/how-child-maintenance-is-worked-out
Support and resources: https://www.fathersrights.co.uk

Advocacy only. This general comparison does not identify or discuss any protected party and is not legal advice.

Fathers United. Rights Respected.

#FathersRights #ChildMaintenance #FamilyLaw #EveryDadMatters

The Justice Committee admitted Crown Court rehearings are essential to correct wrongful convictions (Source: Justice Committee 2026). If criminal courts admit they get it wrong, why is the Family Court allowed to ruin lives on a 'balance of probabilities' without a proper review? We demand a fair review mechanism now. Have you faced an unfair finding? Share your experience below.

Fathers United. Rights Respected. Every Dad Matters.

https://www.fathersrights.co.uk #FathersRights

“Contact at all costs” is not child safety. MoJ/NatCen: 2 of 245 cases ended with no involvement. The review warns risky involvement can leave children at ongoing risk. Safe dads need fairness too. Source: https://fathersrights.co.uk/child-protection-or-overreach-navigating-the-legal-system-as-a-concerned-father/ Advocacy only; no protected parties identified. Every Dad Matters.

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The Equal Parenting Alliance brings together support groups from across the United Kingdom that advocate for the rights and wellbeing of children and parents affected by Family Court proceedings and parental alienating behaviours.

We are committed to promoting meaningful relationships between children and both parents wherever it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Through collaboration, awareness, support, and advocacy, we work to highlight the challenges faced by families, encourage fair and balanced outcomes, and ensure that the voices of children and parents are heard and respected.

The Alliance

Advocacy, Support, Reform

Are you a passionate advocacy group working to support children and parents affected by Family Court proceedings or parental alienating behaviours? Join the Equal Parenting Alliance and become part of a growing network dedicated to promoting fairness, raising awareness, and creating positive change for families across the United Kingdom.