Proposed changes to the family court procedures in England and Wales could potentially ban unregulated experts from giving advice in children’s cases. The Family Procedure Rule Committee, responsible for setting the rules for family court cases, has put forward these changes, which are currently open for public consultation. The proposal comes in response to growing concerns among MPs and campaigners regarding court-appointed experts who lack the necessary qualifications to make significant decisions affecting children’s welfare, such as which parent to live with or being placed in local authority care.

If implemented, the changes would require experts to be regulated by a UK statutory body, such as the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), for psychologists. This regulation aims to ensure that only qualified individuals can advise on critical aspects of child welfare.

The issue of unregulated experts is particularly relevant in cases involving allegations of “parental alienation,” a controversial concept where a child rejects one parent due to manipulation by the other parent. Some experts argue that the proposed changes do not go far enough, particularly in preventing psychologists who push beliefs about parental alienation from influencing cases.

While some advocates see the proposals as a step in the right direction, there are concerns about potential loopholes that could still allow the use of unregulated experts in certain circumstances. The public consultation on these proposed rule changes is open until June 6, 2025.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/22/ban-unregulated-experts-family-courts-proposed-england-and-wales