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Matthew Fletcher#1531

Matthew Fletcher

Barrister, 1GC Family Law
Matt is a children’s law specialist and practises in Administrative Law and in the Court of Protection. He has appeared in all levels of court save for the Supreme Court. His practice spans all aspects of private law children’s proceedings with an interest in international and immigration issues. His public law practice specialises in the most serious cases often with complex international, jurisdictional or factual issues. He acts for and against local authorities in Administrative Court matters and in the Court of Protection on behalf of the Official Solicitor, family members and for the local authority. He is recommended in Chambers and Partners, is an advocacy trainer for Lincoln’s Inn and has written widely on family law matters.
Contributed to

7

Local authority duties for advice and assistance for certain children and young persons
Local authority duties for advice and assistance for certain children and young persons
Practice notes

This Practice Note has been produced to assist practitioners in navigating local authority duties to children and young people who may be entitled to advice and assistance in England only. This will include children who are subject to care orders or who are or have been voluntarily accommodated by the local authority and in terms of educational prospects, any young person who has been in state care either in the jurisdiction or elsewhere.

Local authority duties towards children looked after by them
Local authority duties towards children looked after by them
Practice notes

This Practice Note looks at the duties a local authority has in relation to children looked after by them, which includes children who are subject to care orders, interim care orders and those who are voluntarily accommodated by the local authority pursuant to section 20 of the Children Act 1989. It covers a local authority’s duty to safeguard and promote a child’s welfare and make such services available for children as are reasonable, specifically in relation to placing the child in suitable accommodation and preparing a care plan.

Can a prohibited steps order be varied by agreement between two parents who each have parental responsibility and without the need for a formal application to be made to the court? If so, is it necessary to record such an agreement in writing?
Can a prohibited steps order be varied by agreement between two parents who each have parental responsibility and without the need for a formal application to be made to the court? If so, is it necessary to record such an agreement in writing?
Q&As
Can the court make findings against parents within care proceedings if the local authority are not seeking any? Can the court direct that there be a fact-finding hearing if no other party deems it necessary or appropriate?
Can the court make findings against parents within care proceedings if the local authority are not seeking any? Can the court direct that there be a fact-finding hearing if no other party deems it necessary or appropriate?
Q&As
In proceedings for a child arrangements order, the whereabouts of both the parent with care of the child and the child are unknown. The parent with care is not co-operating with the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) for the preparation of a report ordered by the court under section 7 of the Children Act 1989. What action can be taken to ensure that the parent co-operates in being interviewed, and for the child to be seen, by Cafcass?
In proceedings for a child arrangements order, the whereabouts of both the parent with care of the child and the child are unknown. The parent with care is not co-operating with the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) for the preparation of a report ordered by the court under section 7 of the Children Act 1989. What action can be taken to ensure that the parent co-operates in being interviewed, and for the child to be seen, by Cafcass?
Q&As
One parent is a British citizen and the other parent is a citizen of Denmark, where the parties child was born. Subsequently the parties and the child lived for most of the child’s life in a non-EU country. The parents returned to the UK with the child three months ago and one parent now wishes to return to the non-EU country with the child. Will the courts in England and Wales have regard to how long the child has been in the UK as to their jurisdiction? Will the position be different post-Brexit?
One parent is a British citizen and the other parent is a citizen of Denmark, where the parties child was born. Subsequently the parties and the child lived for most of the child’s life in a non-EU country. The parents returned to the UK with the child three months ago and one parent now wishes to return to the non-EU country with the child. Will the courts in England and Wales have regard to how long the child has been in the UK as to their jurisdiction? Will the position be different post-Brexit?
Q&As
Where parents have separated and have left England, each with one child of the family, to live in different countries in the Middle East having each obtained child arrangements orders that make provision regarding who the children are to live with and having obtained permission to remove the children from the jurisdiction, does the English court have jurisdiction in proceedings under the Children Act 1989 in relation to the children? Can jurisdiction be established relying on domicile?
Where parents have separated and have left England, each with one child of the family, to live in different countries in the Middle East having each obtained child arrangements orders that make provision regarding who the children are to live with and having obtained permission to remove the children from the jurisdiction, does the English court have jurisdiction in proceedings under the Children Act 1989 in relation to the children? Can jurisdiction be established relying on domicile?
Q&As

Practice Areas

Panels

  • Contributing Author
  • Q&A Panel

Qualified Year

  • 2003

Membership

  • Association of Lawyers for Children
  • Honourable Society of Lincolns Inn
  • Family Law Bar Association

Education

  • Hardwicke Entrance Award, Lincolns Inn
  • Tancred Studentship, Lincolns Inn
  • LLB (Hons) LSE University of London BVC, BPP
  • Robinson Scholarship, Lincolns Inn
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