Transparency will be permanent and not limited to pilot courts any more.
To report on what they see and hear, obtain important papers, and interact with families—as long as they remain anonymous—journalists will be able to ask for a transparency order in any family court.
Journalists and legal bloggers used to be able to attend family courts, but their coverage was restricted.
Currently, little under half of England’s and Wales’ family courts are part of a transparency project.
Although there is a presumption in favor of reporting, judges will still have the authority to reject petitions.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has accepted the amendment, which will take effect on January 27, 2025.
