The family courts in England and Wales have long operated behind closed doors, primarily to protect the privacy of children and vulnerable adults. But this protective approach has often led to criticism—especially around a perceived lack of accountability, inconsistency in decisions, and public misunderstanding of how the system works.
In response to mounting pressure from the legal community, media, and campaigners, a new transparency initiative is gradually reshaping the culture of secrecy in the family justice system. Now extended to more courts in 2025, the Transparency Reporting Pilot is allowing carefully controlled public reporting of family law cases, aiming to strike a delicate balance between openness and protection.
This marks a significant cultural shift in the way family law is administered in the UK and reflects a growing effort to bring the family courts closer in line with the principles of public justice.
What Is the Transparency Reporting Pilot?
First introduced in 2023 and continuing to expand in 2025, the Transparency Reporting Pilot allows accredited journalists and legal bloggers to attend and report on family court proceedings—something that was historically prohibited or heavily restricted.
While journalists have technically been allowed to attend hearings since 2009 under Family Procedure Rule 27.11, they were usually barred from publishing meaningful details due to strict confidentiality rules. Under the pilot, designated courts now allow these reporters to publish anonymised accounts of cases, subject to Transparency Orders made by the judge.
These orders set clear limits on what can and cannot be published—especially when it comes to protecting the identity of children, survivors of abuse, and vulnerable individuals. Judges also have discretion to deny access or reporting if the circumstances of a case make publication unsafe or harmful.
The pilot currently applies primarily to public law children cases (such as care proceedings) in selected family courts including Leeds, Cardiff, Carlisle, and most recently, Birmingham and Manchester.
Anonymised Judgments Becoming Routine
In tandem with the pilot scheme, family court judges are now expected to publish anonymised written judgments more regularly. This is a critical component of the push for accountability, as it helps build a public record of decision-making, supports consistency, and gives practitioners and families greater clarity about how the law is applied in real situations.
The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, has emphasised that greater openness does not mean breaching privacy—it means explaining decisions in a way that builds public trust. This includes not just publishing decisions, but also improving the clarity and accessibility of legal language used in judgments.
What Does This Mean for Me?
If you’re involved in family court proceedings—especially involving children or domestic issues—you may wonder how this new era of transparency affects you. Here’s what the changes mean in practical terms:
- Your identity will still be protected. Even under the transparency pilot, no names or identifying details of children, parents, or carers can be published. Safeguarding privacy remains a cornerstone of family justice.
- Some details of your case may be reported. If your case is heard in a court participating in the pilot, a legal blogger or journalist may attend. They can report on what was said and decided, but only under the limits of a strict reporting order issued by the judge.
- You will be informed if reporters are present. Judges are required to explain the process and confirm the presence of journalists in open court. You may raise concerns through your legal representative or, if unrepresented, directly with the judge.
- Your case may result in a published judgment. Even outside the pilot courts, judges are increasingly encouraged to publish anonymised decisions. This helps create transparency and allows others to learn from similar situations, but no identifying information about you or your children will be shared.
- Your experience may help improve the system. By contributing (even anonymously) to a wider understanding of how family courts work, your case could support improvements in consistency, fairness, and public awareness of family justice.
Ultimately, the aim of these changes is not to expose private lives to public scrutiny, but to ensure that the family court system is seen to be fair, consistent, and accountable—especially in cases involving life-changing decisions for children and families.
Conclusion
The family courts are beginning to open their doors—cautiously and responsibly. As 2025 progresses, the Transparency Reporting Pilot and routine judgment publication mark a shift toward greater trust between the legal system and the public. While your privacy remains protected, your experience within the family courts may now contribute to a more open and informed justice system.
Author
Gill Laing is a qualified Legal Researcher & Analyst with niche specialisms in Law, Tax, Human Resources, Immigration & Employment Law.
Gill is a Multiple Business Owner and the Managing Director of Prof Services - a Marketing Agency for the Professional Services Sector.
