UKResearch
Family courts in England and Wales start 67,843 cases in Q2 2026, up 1% year on year
Ministry of Justice Family Court Statistics for April to June 2026 show 67,843 new family-court cases, up 1% on the same quarter in 2025, driven by private-law (+11%) and financial-remedy (+4%) starts. Disposals fell 1% to 62,183, so starts again outpaced resolutions. Private-law cases averaged 33 weeks to disposal; care and supervision averaged 37 weeks, with 36% completed within 26 weeks.
Paper (GOV.UK / Ministry of Justice) → · Solicitors Journal
Key points
- 67,843 new family-court cases started in April–June 2026, up 1% year on year.GOV.UK / Ministry of JusticeSolicitors Journal
- Private-law starts rose 11% to 14,833 and financial-remedy starts 4%; domestic-violence, matrimonial and adoption starts fell.GOV.UK / Ministry of JusticeSolicitors Journal
- Disposals fell 1% to 62,183, leaving starts ahead of cases resolved.GOV.UK / Ministry of JusticeSolicitors Journal
- Private-law cases averaged 33 weeks to disposal (52% within 26 weeks); care and supervision averaged 37 weeks (36% within 26 weeks).GOV.UK / Ministry of JusticeSolicitors Journal
Sources2 articles across 2 outlets
GOV.UK / Ministry of Justice
Solicitors Journal