Family court statistics quarterly: January to March 2017
Source: data.gov.uk (2018-05-25)

Family Court Statistics. The bulletin presents the latest statistics on the type and volume of family cases that are received and processed through the justice system of England and Wales.

It focuses on all areas of family justice including public and private law cases; matrimonial matters e.g. divorce; domestic violence remedy orders; forced marriage protection orders; female genital mutilation protection orders; adoption; mental capacity e.g. Court of Protection and Office of the Public Guardian, and the Probate Service.  Data available include number of cases starting and disposed of, applications and orders made, timeliness measures and legal representation.  Data are available at a national, regional and designated family judge (DFJ) area. 

These statistics are used to monitor court workloads, assist in the development of family justice policy and its subsequent monitoring and evaluation.

Published 29 June 2017 
 
Family Court Statistics Quarterly, England and 
Wales, January to March 2017 
Main points 
Increase in number of 
cases starting in Family
courts
 
65,714 new cases started in family courts in January to 
March 2017, up 4% on January to March 2016, driven 
by increases in financial remedy and Private law cases 
(up 13% and 11% respectively).  
On average, care 
proceedings took longer
and fewer cases disposed 
of within 26 weeks
 
The average time for a care or supervision case to 
reach first disposal was 28 weeks in January to March 
2017, up slightly on the same quarter in 2016, and at its 
highest level since mid-2015.   
56% of cases were disposed of within 26 weeks – down 
4 percentage points over the same period. 
Increase in the number of 
Private law applications 
 
The number of Private law applications increased by 
11% compared to the equivalent quarter in 2016, whilst 
the number of disposals increased 2% over the same 
period. 
Number of adoption 
applications and orders 
continues downward 
trend
 
In January to March 2017, there were 1,465 adoption 
order applications, down 5% on the equivalent quarter in 
2016. Similarly, over the same period the number of 
adoption orders issued decreased 9% to 1,417. 
Continued increase in 
applications and orders 
made in relation to 
deprivation of liberty
 
There were 969 applications relating to deprivation of 
liberty in January to March 2017, up 43% on the 
equivalent quarter in 2016. Deprivation of liberty orders 
made almost doubled between over the same period 
from 292 to 547. 
This publication presents statistics on activity in the family courts of England and Wales and 
provides figures for the latest quarter (January to March 2017). For further information and 
technical details please refer to the accompanying Guide to Family Court Statistics.  
 
 
We are changing how our quarterly bulletins look, and would welcome any 
feedback to xxx@xxx.xx 
For other feedback related to the content of this publication, please let us know at 
xxx@xxx.xx 

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1. Overview of the Family Justice System 
Increase in both number of cases starting and disposals in Family Courts 
 
In January to March 2017, 65,714 new cases started in family courts, up 4% on the 
equivalent quarter in 2016, driven by increases in Private law and financial remedy 
cases and domestic violence remedy order applications (up 11%, 13% and 8% over 
the same period respectively).  
There were 60,937 cases disposed in January to March 2017, up 8% on the 
equivalent quarter of 2016, driven by an increase in domestic violence remedy orders, 
financial remedy and Public law (up 21%, 20% and 16% respectively). 
Figure 1: Cases starting and concluding, by case type, January to March 2011 to 
January to March 2017 (Source: Table 1) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In January to March 2017, 44% of new cases within family courts related to matrimonial 
matters - compared to the same period in 2016, the number of matrimonial matters cases 
starting fell slightly (down 2%). 
 
Timeliness by Case Type 
Average time to first disposal varies by case type – Public law cases generally take the 
longest and in 2011 on average, they took nearly a year to reach a first disposal (50 weeks). 
Since 2011, this has fallen steadily and by 2016, almost halved to reach 26 weeks.  In the 
first quarter of 2017, there has been a slight increase to 27 weeks (up one week).  The 
average time for other case types remained fairly stable between 2011 and 2016 (Table 8). 
Disposals 
Starts 
HMCTS audit of all outstanding 
private law cases 

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2. Public Law 
Continuing upward trend in Public law cases 
Public law cases starting in January to March 2017 up 6% compared to the same 
quarter in 2016 and case disposals also up 16%.  The number of court events for 
and the number of children involved in applications and orders made also increased 
over the same period. 
Timeliness for care proceedings increased in the latest quarter 
 
The average time for a care and supervision case to reach first disposal was 28 
weeks in January to March 2017, the highest quarterly figure since mid-2015 when it 
was 29 weeks. 56% of these care proceedings were disposed of within the 26 week 
limit introduced in the Children and Families Act 2014.1 
There were 5,051 new Public law applications in January to March 2017, up 5% on the 
equivalent quarter in 20162. There were 8,901 children involved in those applications in 
January to March 2017, meaning that on average, there were 1.8 children involved in each 
application.  
In comparison, there were 11,444 children involved in Public law orders made in January to 
March 2017, up 11% on the same quarter in 2016. 
Figure 2 shows the most common types of Public law orders applied for and made in 
January to March 2017, illustrating the different pattern between the types of orders applied 
for and the orders that are given, i.e. an application for one type can result in an order of a 
different type being made. 
Figure 2: Public law applications and orders made, showing the number of children 
involved in each order type, January to March 2017 (Source: Tables 3-4) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                               
1 See the accompanying technical guide for more information. 
2 The MoJ and HMCTS are continuing to look into the reasons behind the recent increases in public law 
applications. See the accompanying guide for further detail. 

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3. Private Law 
Increase in the number of Private law case starts and applications 
 
The number of Private law cases3 started increased by 11% in January to March 
2017 compared to the equivalent quarter in 2016.  The number of applications also 
increased by 11% over the same period.  
In comparison, the number of Private law disposals in January to March 2017 was 
18,781, up 2% on the equivalent quarter in 2016. 
There were 13,281 new Private law applications in January to March 2017, up 11% on the 
equivalent quarter in 2016 – these applications involved 28,043 children; on average, there 
were 2.1 children involved in each application.  
In comparison, there were 41,808 children involved in Private law orders made in January to 
March 2017, up 5% on the same quarter in 2016. 
Timeliness of Private law cases 
A new table has been introduced as of this quarter, which gives the average time for a 
Private law case to reach a final order, i.e. case closure - in January to March 2017, it took 
on average 23 weeks, down slightly on the same period in 2016.  However, there are signs 
of a reversal in the downward trend seen since the end of 2014.   
Figure 3: Private law timeliness from case start date to final order in the family court, 
January to March 2011 to January to March 2017 (Source: Table 7) 
 
                                               
3 The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) also publishes (England only) data on 
the number of private law cases. A comparison of Cafcass and MoJ data and further information can be found in 
the accompanying guide. 

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4. Legal representation 
In general, across all family case types, cases where either both parties or the respondent 
only had legal representation took longer to be disposed than those cases where only the 
applicant was represented or where both parties were without legal representation (Table 
8).  
The proportion of parties with legal representation in cases with at least one hearing varies 
by case type, from around 80% for Public law to less than 5% for adoption cases (Table 9). 
Legal representation in Private law cases 
The removal of legal aid for many Private law cases in April 2013 resulted in a change in the 
pattern of legal representation over time4. In January to March 2017, the proportion of 
disposals where neither the applicant nor respondent had legal representation was 34%, an 
increase of 20 percentage points since January to March 2013. Correspondingly, the 
proportion of cases where both parties had legal representation dropped by 22 percentage 
points to 19% over the same time period (Figure 4). 
Figure 4: Proportion of private law disposals by type of legal representation of the 
parties, January to March 2011 to January to March 2017 (Source: Table 8) 
 
The change seen in the pattern of legal representation is also demonstrated in Private law 
cases with at least one hearing where the proportion of parties with legal representation 
dropped from 60% in 2012 to 33% in January to March 2017. 
                                               
4 Please see the accompanying guide for further details. 

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5. Divorce 
Continuing stable trend in number of divorce petitions and timeliness of 
proceedings 
 
Divorce petitions down slightly in January to March 2017 compared to same period 
in previous year.   
 
There were 28,523 divorce petitions made during January to March 2017, down slightly on 
the same quarter in 2016, whilst there were 27,975 Decrees Absolutes granted, up 5% over 
the same period (Table 10). 
For those granted Decree Nisi in January to March 2017, the average time from the date of 
petition was 24.1 weeks, whilst the average time from petition to Decree Absolute was 49.1 
weeks. 
Table 12 and Figure 5 shows how long it takes, on average, for petitions to reach certain 
stages in the process, counted by the number of quarters elapsed.  
Figure 5: Percentage of divorce cases started between Q1 2011 to Q1 2017 reaching 
Decree Nisi or Decree Absolute, by the number of quarters since petition (Source: 
Table 12) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
One-third (33%) of divorce petitions made between 1 January 2011 and 31 March 2017 
reached Decree Nisi in the first quarter after the petition was made, with about another third 
(37%) reaching this stage within the second quarter. Over half the petitions reached Decree 
Absolute within three quarters after petition (2% in the first quarter, 35% within 1 to 2 
quarters and 19% within 2 to 3 quarters). 
 

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6. Financial remedy 
 
Large increase seen in financial remedy applications and disposals 
 
Number of financial remedy applications up 10% to 12,185 – the largest quarterly 
figure since April to June 2013.  Disposals also up 11% over the same period. 
 
There were 12,185 financial remedy applications in January to March 2017, up 10% on the 
equivalent quarter in 2016, and the largest quarterly figure since April to June 2013 (Table 
13). 
In January to March 2017, there were 10,928 financial remedy disposals, up 11% on the 
equivalent quarter in 2016. During this period, 72% of disposals were uncontested, 20% 
were initially contested and 8% were contested throughout. 
In January to March 2017, lump sum and property adjustment orders were the most 
common types of order given, accounting for more than half (56%) of all financial remedy 
disposal types (Table 14 and Figure 6). 
Figure 6: Financial remedy disposal types, January to March 2017 (Source: Table 14) 
 

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7. Domestic violence remedy orders 
 
Increase in domestic violence remedy order case starts and applications  
 
In January to March 2017, number of cases starting up 8% and applications up 7% 
driven by increase in applications for non-molestation orders, up 8% compared with 
same period in 2016. 
 
In January to March 2017, there were 6,111 applications made for a domestic violence 
remedy order, up 7% on the same quarter in 2016 (Table 15). The majority of applications 
were for non-molestation orders (81%) compared to occupation orders (19%). 
Similarly, of the 6,676 domestic violence orders made in January to March 2017, 91% were 
non-molestation orders compared to 9% which were occupation orders. 
Figure 7 below shows that, since 2011 the number of occupation applications have 
remained fairly steady, whilst for non-molestation applications there was a general 
increasing trend until the end of 2013, but since then, although fluctuating on a quarterly 
basis the trend has slowed down considerably. 
Figure 7: Applications for domestic violence remedy orders, January to March 2009 
to January to March 2017 (Source: Table 15) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

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8. Forced Marriage Protection Orders and Female Genital 
Mutilation Protection Orders 
 
General upward trend in number of forced marriage protection orders and female 
genital mutilation orders  
 
The number of applications and orders made for Forced Marriage Protection Orders 
(FMPOs) is very small. Consequently, as Figure 8 shows, numbers fluctuate each quarter 
but overall there has been a general upward trend since their introduction in November 
2008. In January to March 2017, there were 47 applications and 49 orders made (Table 16). 
Of those applications, 62% of the applicants were aged 17 and under, compared to 34% 
aged over 17. 
Figure 8: Applications and disposals of Forced Marriage Protection Orders, January 
to March 2009 to January to March 2017 (Source: Table 16) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As with FMPOs, the number of applications and orders made for Female Genital Mutilation 
Protection Orders (FGMPOs) is very small with only 16 and 17 made respectively in 
January to March 2017 (Table 17). In total there have been 137 applications and 113 orders 
made since their introduction in July 2015 up to the end of March 2017.

9. Adoptions 
Number of adoption applications and orders continues downward trend 
 
During January to March 2017, there were 1,465 applications made for an adoption 
order, down 5% from the equivalent quarter in 2016. Similarly, over the same period 
the number of adoption orders issued decreased 9% to 1,417 (Table 19). 
 
There were 3,174 applications under the Adoption and Children Act 2002, including 
placement orders during January to March 2017, unchanged from the same quarter in the 
previous year. Total disposals however dropped 7% to 2,858 over the same period. 
Figure 9 below shows the trend of adoption orders by the type of adopter. This shows that 
during January to March 2017, two-thirds (65%) of all adoption orders were issued to 
male/female couples, 16% to sole applicants, 11% to same-sex couples and a further 8% to 
step-parents. 
Figure 9: Adoption orders issued, by adopter, January to March 2011 to January to 
March 2017 (Source: Table 19) 
 
 

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10 Mental Capacity Act - Court of Protection 
Continued increasing trend in applications and orders made in relation to 
deprivation of liberty 
 
There were 969 applications relating to deprivation of liberty made in the most recent 
quarter, up 43% on the number made in January to March 2016. Similarly, orders 
made for deprivation of liberty almost doubled over the same period, from 292 to 547 
respectively. 
 
Figure 10: Deprivation of Liberty applications, January to March 2008 to January to 
March 2017 (Source: Table 20) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In January to March 2017, there were 7,820 applications made under the Mental Capacity 
Act 2005 (MCA), up 8% on the equivalent quarter in 2016. The majority of these (52%) 
related to applications for appointment of a property and affairs deputy (Table 20). 
In comparison, there were 8,911 orders made under the MCA, 36% higher than the same 
quarter in 2016. Almost half (48%) of the orders related to the appointment of a deputy for 
property and affairs (Table 21). 
 
 

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11 Mental Capacity Act - Office of the Public Guardian 
There were 186,169 Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) received in January to March 2017, 
up 31% on the same quarter for 2016 (Table 22). The increase seen in recent years is 
largely due to increased publicity and new online forms which were introduced in July 2015 
making it simpler and faster to apply for LPAs. There were 3,399 Enduring Powers of 
Attorney (EPAs) in January to March 2017, down 3% on the equivalent quarter in 2016. 
Figure 11: Powers of attorney received, January to March 2008 to January to March 
2017 (Source: Table 22) 
 

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Further information 
The data presented in this publication are from live administrative databases. Therefore 
previously published data is liable to be updated in the latest bulletin, following any further 
data cleaning or the incorporation of additional cases not available in the extracts used to 
produce previous bulletins. 
Accompanying files 
As well as this bulletin, the following products are published as part of this release: 
 
A technical guide providing further information on how the data is collected and 
processed, as well as information on the revisions policy and legislation relevant to 
family court and background on the functioning of the family justice system 
 
A set of overview tables and CSV files, covering each section of this bulletin 
 
A family court statistics visualisation tool available at 
https://public.tableau.com/profile/moj.analysis#!/vizhome/FamilyCourts
tatisticstool2017Q1/Frontpage. 
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National Statistics status means that official statistics meet the highest standards of 
trustworthiness, quality and public value. 
All official statistics should comply with all aspects of the Code of Practice for Official 
Statistics. They are awarded National Statistics status following an assessment by the 
Authority’s regulatory arm. The Authority considers whether the statistics meet the highest 
standards of Code compliance, including the value they add to public decisions and debate. 
It is the Ministry of Justice’s responsibility to maintain compliance with the standards 
expected for National Statistics. If we become concerned about whether these statistics are 
still meeting the appropriate standards, we will discuss any concerns with the Authority 
promptly. National Statistics status can be removed at any point when the highest standards 
are not maintained, and reinstated when standards are restored. 
Contact 
Press enquiries should be directed to the Ministry of Justice press office: 
Tel: xx-xxxx-xxxx 
Email: xxx@xxx.xx  
Other enquiries about these statistics should be directed to the Justice Statistics Analytical 
Services division of the Ministry of Justice: 
Bridgette Miles, Head of Civil, Administrative and Family Justice Statistics 
Ministry of Justice, 7th Floor, 102 Petty France, London, SW1H 9AJ 
Email: xxx@xxx.xx  
 
Next update: 28 September 2017 
URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/family-court-statistics-quarterly 
 
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Produced by the Ministry of Justice 

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