What is the family court?
The court structure in the UK can seem confusing at first glance. It is important to note that the justice system has evolved organically over one thousand years, rather than being designed from scratch.
The Judiciary have produced a helpful diagram showing the structure of the courts and tribunals system. Different types of case are dealt with in specific courts, for instance, divorce and separation issues come under the family courts, as do remedies for financial support for children after divorce or relationship breakdown.
Family courts may involve participation from High Court Judges, Circuit judges, Recorders, District Judges, Deputy District Judge and Magistrates. Magistrates sitting in the Family Court have special training and procedures are very different from the criminal courts.
The court structure covers England and Wales and shows how cases may progress through the legal system.
You can view the diagram here at the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary website: https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/courts-structure-0715.pdf
The Family Court can also handle issues related to parental disputes over the upbringing of children or local authority intervention to protect children, adoption, surrogacy or forced
The Family Courts may also handle issues related to forced marriage protection or female genital mutilation protection.