Family Law

    Jason Hadden is regularly instructed to represent parties in a wide range of private and public law cases relating to children.

    Jason is regularly instructed to represent parents (and family members) in children cases (often called “private law”). He has acted for a range of parties including:

    • Parents who disagree about the arrangements for their children, such as where they should live, when and how they should spend time with their parents, which school they should go to and many other areas of dispute
    • Survivors of domestic abuse who need support, guidance and someone prepared to listen and represent them to the best of their ability in court against the perpetrator
    • Parents who have almost given up hope that they will see their children again
    • Guardians who are appointed within court proceedings to act on behalf of children;
    • Grandparents (and other relatives) who cannot agree with parents as to when and how they can spend time with their grandchildren.
    • Fathers who have been accused of sexual abuse; whereupon the court have determined that they were wrongly accused.
    • Advice on appeals from previous court orders
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    Jason’s Experience

    Jason has considerable experience of acting in the most serious of cases – those involving rape, domestic abuse and parental alienation. 

    Jason has undertaken the most sensitive of cases involving Female Genital Mutiliation, allegations of extreme violence and child abuse. 

    Jason has acted in complex multi-day cases relating to physical abuse, non-accidental injuries and sexual abuse. He has a forensic mind and meticulous approach to evidence and preparation of my clients’ cases.

    Jason is a strong advocate on behalf of children and parents. 

    He has also acted in human rights cases where compensation is provided to children by the local authority.

     

    Recent Work

    One of Jason’s most recent successes was a case in Cambridge where he acted for the mother in care proceedings. The mother had her previous two children removed and placed for adoption. There seemed to be little hope for her third child who had already been placed in a fostering to adopt placement. A plan of adoption for the third child was supported by the local authority and the guardian. Through careful preparation and thorough cross-examination, Jason persuaded the court to give the mother an opportunity to parent her third child who returned to her care under a Supervision Order.

    Jason recently challenged a local authority assessment of grandparents which ruled them out as carers for their grandchildren. The care plan for the children was adoption. The case had already reached a late stage and an adjournment seemed unlikely. However, Jason persuaded the court that the assessment carried out by the local authority was flawed and that an independent social work assessment was necessary.

    Jason is a robust advocate for the best interests of my clients and quickly develop a trusting relationship with them. He regularly receive repeat instructions from clients who feel that he is on their side. Jason is a tough negotiator in getting the best deal for my clients. He is clear and practical in his advice. 

     

    Recent Work

    • Disputes over which parent a child should live with
    • Contact arguments
    • Whether a mother could relocate from Middlesborough to Birmingham
    • What school a child should attend
    • Domestic abuse involving rape
    • Controlling and coercive behaviour in a marriage
    • Parental Alienation
    • The issue of a forced marriage
    • Application for leave to remove from England to the Qatar
    • Female Genital Mutilation
    • Non Molestation proceedings against an ex partner
    • Child contact proceedings for a footballer
    • Publicity and disclosure proceedings
    • Committal proceedings
    • International parental child abduction, Brussels II (Revised)
    • Proceedings under the inherent jurisdiction

    Jason appears on a daily basis in courts all over the country in private law disputes. He appears in the magistrates court, county and the High court. He undertakes first appointments, fact finding hearings, DRAs and final hearings.

    Jason is regularly instructed in cases involving international parental child abduction, forced marriage, emotional abuse, allegations of sexual abuse, fabricated illness and serious physical abuse (often with linked criminal proceedings). He has developed expertise in dealing with complex medical evidence and parental alienation. Jason has successfully defended clients on allegations of rape, child abuse and domestic abuse.

    Jason was recently instructed in a successful twelve-day fact finding hearing in respect of allegations of physical chastisement in the West Country. He appeared in many cases where he successfully represented fathers who were accused of sexually abusing their children. He has  effectively represented a mother who was accused of not supporting contact. Within the last two months he has successfully represented parents in costs applications against the other parent, with awards of £14,000 and £5,200 respectively.

    He is considered a specialist in cases where allegation of parental alienation has been raised by one client against the other.

    Jason is regularly instructed at all stages of proceedings, in the Family Court and High Court, including appeals. Matters where Jason has acted include fact-finding hearings containing the most serious of allegations, including sexual abuse, FGM, rape, forced marriage and cultural disputes. He has undertaken injunctions under the Family Law Act, cost applications and issues regarding change of surname, school and both internal and international relocation. He has particular expertise in cases that involve cross family and immigration issues and complex inter-country jurisdiction aspects.

    Jason has also recently successfully concluded a complex 16-day private law children action and has  expertise in cases involving the appointment of R16.4 Guidelines. He is able to provide prompt written advice in all areas of family law. He is a specialist on PD 12J (domestic abuse) and frequently lectures on this topic to magistrates and domestic violence advisors.

    Jason is particularly praised by solicitors for being a very tough negotiator with a no nonsense style. He is extremely popular with clients for his thorough and patient approach to family proceedings. He is extremely forceful and robust in cross examination and in submissions. He can be blunt, persuasive, but always passionate and dedicated.

    Jason’s case preparation is first rate and solicitors praise him for being dedicated, passionate and skilled advocate. Clients have reported that Jason always “fights his client’s corner in court”, and “fights hard for justice”. He is regularly praised by clients for his “listening”, “speaking in a way I understood” and “giving it to me straight. He doesn’t muck about, with clients or the other side”; “that he doesn’t get intimidated by the Judge or the other side”; “a breathe of fresh air”; a “fighter”; a “game-changer”.