Instructing Experts in Children Proceedings - Criteria, Procedures & Recent Developments

Introduction

The instruction of experts is common in children proceedings, whether in private or public children law.

Practitioners need to be clear about when to apply, the criteria and the procedure.

There have been developments over the type of expert that can be instructed and challenges over the qualifications over experts.

These and other and matters will be addressed in this webinar.

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

• Instructing experts in children law proceedings and use of Part 25 FPR 2010
• Applications and compliance with Practice Directions
• Assessments and therapy - differences and Court jurisdiction
• Use of written questions
• Connection between Children and Families Act 2014 and S.38(6) CA 1989
• Consideration of Re Y (Experts and Alienating Behaviour: The Modern Approach) [2026] - alienating behaviours and use of experts
• The FJC/BPS Guidance on psychologist expert witnesses
• Re H (Children: Expertise of Witness) [2026] - protected titles, clinical and educational psychologists in family proceedings
• Guidance by Court of Appeal regarding challenges to expert evidence following Re H (Children: Expertise of Witness) [2026]
• Guidance on use of psychologists as expert witnesses’ guidance from Family Justice Council and BPS
• Experts and alienating behaviour cases
• Use of intermediaries - Following X and Y (intermediary: Practice and Procedure)
• President's Guidance on the use of intermediaries, lay advocates and cognitive assessments in the family court

This pre-recorded webinar will be available to view from Wednesday 25th November 2026

Alternatively, you can gain access to this webinar and 2,400+ others via the MBL Webinar Subscription. Please email webinarsubscription@mblseminars.com for more details.