Family court statistics quarterly: April to June 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 28 September 2017 
 
Family Court Statistics Quarterly, England and 
Wales, April to June 2017 
Main points 
Decrease in number of 
cases starting in Family
courts
 
63,381 new cases started in family courts in April to 
June 2017, down 4% on April to June 2016, due to 
decreases in matrimonial matters and adoption cases 
(down 10% and 7% respectively). 
On average, care 
proceedings took longer
with fewer disposals
within 26 weeks
 
The average time for a care or supervision case to 
reach first disposal was 28 weeks in April to June 2017, 
maintaining the rise seen in the previous quarter.   
56% of cases were disposed of within 26 weeks – down 
6 percentage points over the same period for 2016. 
Increase in the number of 
Private law applications 
 
The number of Private law applications increased by 
3% compared to the equivalent quarter in 2016, whilst 
the number of disposals decreased 4% over the same 
period. 
Number of adoption 
applications and orders 
continues downward 
trend
 
In April to June 2017, there were 1,269 adoption order 
applications, down 12% on the equivalent quarter in 
2016. Similarly, over the same period the number of 
adoption orders issued decreased 7% to 1,389. 
Continued increase in 
applications and orders
made in relation to 
deprivation of liberty
 
There were 919 applications relating to deprivation of 
liberty in April to June 2017, up 24% on the equivalent 
quarter in 2016. Deprivation of liberty orders made 
almost doubled between over the same period from 
375 to 689. 
This publication presents statistics on activity in the family courts of England and Wales and 
provides figures for the latest quarter (April to June 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 
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1. Overview of the Family Justice System 
Decrease in both number of cases starting and disposals in Family Courts 
 
In April to June 2017, 63,381 new cases started in family courts, down 4% on the 
equivalent quarter in 2016, due to decreases in matrimonial matters and adoption 
applications (down 10% and 7% over the same period respectively).  
There were 57,884 cases disposed in April to June 2017, down 3% on the equivalent 
quarter of 2016, also due a decrease in matrimonial matters and adoptions (down 9% 
and 11% respectively). 
Figure 1: Cases starting and concluding, by case type, January to March 2011 to April 
to June 2017 (Source: Table 1) 
 
 
In April to June 2017, 43% of new cases within family courts related to matrimonial matters 
– a drop of 3 percentage points compared to the same period in 2016. 
 
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 fell steadily and by 2016, almost halved to reach 26 weeks.  In the second 
quarter of 2017, there has been an increase to 28 weeks (up two weeks).  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 
Steady trend in Public law cases started, but cases disposed up 
The number of Public law cases starting in April to June 2017 was the same as the 
equivalent quarter in 2016, whilst case disposals were up 9%. 
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 April to June 2017, maintaining the rise seen in the previous quarter. 56% 
of these care proceedings were disposed of within the 26 week limit introduced in the 
Children and Families Act 2014.1 
There were 5,057 new Public law applications in April to June 2017, down 2% on the 
equivalent quarter in 2016. There were 9,036 children involved in those applications in April 
to June 2017, meaning that on average, there were 1.8 children involved in each 
application.  
In comparison, there were 10,901 children involved in Public law orders made in April to 
June 2017, down 3% on the same quarter in 2016. 
Figure 2 shows the most common types of Public law orders applied for and made in April 
to June 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, April to June 2017 (Source: Tables 3-4) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                               
1 See the accompanying technical guide for more information. 

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3. Private Law 
Increase in the number of Private law case starts and applications 
 
The number of Private law cases2 started increased by 4% in April to June 2017 
compared to the equivalent quarter in 2016.  The number of applications also 
increased by 3% over the same period.  
In comparison, the number of Private law cases disposed in April to June 2017 was 
down 1% on the equivalent quarter in 2016, with the number of disposals down 3%. 
There were 13,029 new Private law applications in April to June 2017, up 3% on the 
equivalent quarter in 2016 – these applications involved 28,278 children; on average, there 
were 2.2 children involved in each application.  
The number of Private law disposals in April to June 2017 was 18,300, down 4% on the 
equivalent quarter in 2016, whereas the number of children involved was up 1% to 41,651 in 
April to June 2017. Therefore the average number of children involved in each disposal 
increased from 2.2 to 2.3 between April to June 2016 and April and June 2017. 
Timeliness of Private law cases 
In April to June 2017, it took on average 24 weeks for Private law cases to reach a final 
order, i.e. case closure, up slightly on the same period in 2016. There are continued signs of 
a reversal in the downward trend seen since the middle of 2014.   
Figure 3: Private law timeliness from case start date to final order in the family court, 
January to March 2011 to April to June 2017 (Source: Table 7) 
                                               
2 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 75% for Public law to 2% 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 time3. In April to June 2017, the proportion of disposals 
where neither the applicant nor respondent had legal representation was 36%, an increase 
of 19 percentage points since April to June 2013. Correspondingly, the proportion of cases 
where both parties had legal representation dropped by 17 percentage points to 18% over 
the same period (Figure 4). 
Figure 4: Proportion of private law disposals by type of legal representation of the 
parties, January to March 2012 to April to June 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 59% in 2012 to 33% in April to June 2017. 
                                               
3 Please see the accompanying guide for further details. 

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5. Divorce 
Decrease in the number of divorce petitions, with a continuing stable trend in 
timeliness of proceedings 
 
Divorce petitions down 10% in April to June 2017 compared to same period in 
previous year.   
 
There were 27,291 divorce petitions made during April to June 2017, down 10% on the 
same quarter in 2016, whilst there were 26,626 Decrees Absolutes granted, down 9% over 
the same period (Table 10). 
For those granted Decree Nisi in April to June 2017, the average time from the date of 
petition was 23.3 weeks, whilst the average time from petition to Decree Absolute was 48.2 
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 Q2 2017 reaching 
Decree Nisi or Decree Absolute, by the number of quarters since petition (Source: 
Table 12) 
 
Just over one-third (34%) of divorce petitions made between 1 January 2011 and 30 June 
2017 reached Decree Nisi in the first quarter after the petition was made, with just over a 
further 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 
 
Decrease seen in financial remedy applications, with a slight increase in disposals 
 
Number of financial remedy applications down 3% to 11,517. However, disposals up 
4% over the same period. 
 
There were 11,517 financial remedy applications in April to June 2017, down 3% on the 
equivalent quarter in 2016 (Table 13). 
In April to June 2017, there were 10,467 financial remedy disposals, up 4% on the 
equivalent quarter in 2016. During this period, 72% of disposals were uncontested, 20% 
were initially contested and 8% were contested throughout. 
In April to June 2017, lump sum and property adjustment orders were the most common 
types of order given, accounting for over half (55%) of all financial remedy disposal types 
(Table 14 and Figure 6). 
Figure 6: Financial remedy disposal types, April to June 2017 (Source: Table 14) 
 

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7. Domestic violence remedy orders 
 
Number of domestic violence remedy order applications remains stable 
 
In April to June 2017, number of applications remained stable compared to the same 
period in 2016. 
 
In April to June 2017, there were 6,094 applications made for a domestic violence remedy 
order, unchanged from the same quarter in 2016 (Table 15). The majority of applications 
were for non-molestation orders (82%) compared to occupation orders (18%). 
Similarly, of the 6,827 domestic violence orders made in April to June 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 has 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, and stabilised around 4,500. 
Figure 7: Applications for domestic violence remedy orders, January to March 2009 
to April to June 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 April to June 2017, there were 78 applications and 72 orders made (Table 16). Of 
those applications, 77% of the applicants were aged 17 and under, compared to 21% aged 
over 17. 
Figure 8: Applications and disposals of Forced Marriage Protection Orders, January 
to March 2009 to April to June 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 26 and 32 made respectively in April to 
June 2017 (Table 17). In total there have been 163 applications and 145 orders made up to 
the end of June 2017 since their introduction in July 2015.

9. Adoptions 
Number of adoption applications and orders continues downward trend 
 
During April to June 2017, there were 1,269 adoption order applications made, down 
12% from the equivalent quarter in 2016. Similarly, over the same period the number 
of adoption orders issued decreased 7% to 1,389 (Table 19). 
 
There were 2,909 applications under the Adoption and Children Act 2002, including 
placement orders during April to June 2017, a 7% decrease on the same quarter in the 
previous year. Total disposals also dropped 11% to 2,677 over the same period. 
Figure 9 below shows the trend of adoption orders by the type of adopter. This shows that 
during April to June 2017, two-thirds (65%) of all adoption orders were issued to 
male/female couples, 15% to sole applicants, 10% to same-sex couples and a further 9% to 
step-parents. 
Figure 9: Adoption orders issued, by adopter, January to March 2011 to April to June 
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 919 applications relating to deprivation of liberty made in the most recent 
quarter, up 24% on the number made in April to June 2016. Similarly, orders made for 
deprivation of liberty almost doubled over the same period, from 375 to 689 
respectively. 
 
Figure 10: Deprivation of Liberty applications, January to March 2008 to April to June 
2017 (Source: Table 20) 
 
In April to June 2017, there were 7,623 applications made under the Mental Capacity Act 
2005 (MCA), unchanged from the equivalent quarter in 2016 (7,616 applications). Just 
under half (49%) related to applications for appointment of a property and affairs deputy 
(Table 20). 
In comparison, there were 10,205 orders made under the MCA, 52% more than the same 
quarter in 2016, driven by a clearance of outstanding cases and an increase in the number 
of cases being dealt with by regional courts. Almost half (41%) 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 194,012 Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) received in April to June 2017, up 
30% on the same quarter for 2016 and maintaining the strong upward trend (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 2,953 Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs) in April to June 2017, down 9% on the 
equivalent quarter in 2016. 
Figure 11: Powers of attorney received, January to March 2008 to April to June 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 
public.tableau.com/profile/moj.analysis#!/vizhome/FamilyCourtstatistic
stool2017Q2/Frontpage. 
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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 
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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: 14 December 2017 
URL: www.gov.uk/government/collections/family-court-statistics-quarterly 
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