Jyoti Wood, instructed by Nick Gova and Nina Pantzaris at Spector Constant & Williams acted for the mother in the case of Re A & B (Children) (Private Law Finding of Fact Hearing) [2026] EWFC 100 (B), published last week. This case underscores the importance of the Family Court considering whether abuse has persisted into proceedings.

The court made a powerful series of findings. In addition to findings of serious physical abuse of Child A, the court concluded that the father had fabricated counter-allegations that the mother had physically abused both children in order to deflect from, and undermine, allegations against him and had therefore misled the court.

The court accepted there was clear evidence of continuing patterns of abusive and controlling behaviour post-separation including in father's conduct of the litigation.