Marie Crawford

Marie is a highly regarded family law specialist with extensive experience in her areas of practice. Her practice encompasses all aspects of family law at all stages of proceedings and all levels of court, but she is particularly experienced in dealing with cases involving harm to children, and where the parents may be involved.

Marie additionally has a special interest in cases involving family finance, and welcomes enquiries in this area.

Marie is known for her approachable and empathetic approach to her clients and her keen pursuit of their interests. Whilst doing her utmost to achieve her client’s objectives, Marie is able to consider the wider issues of the case that impact emotionally and practically on her clients, alongside the legal issues, and take all of those factors into consideration when advising her clients. This greatly assists her clients in reaching what are sometimes very difficult, far-reaching decisions.

Marie is listed as a leading family junior of the South Eastern Circuit in the Legal 500 2015.

"Marie is very highly regarded in all aspects of Children Act work, particularly care cases

Experienced in contested cases in both the public and private children law spheres."

Publications

Marie has had articles on family law published in Family Law Week and Counsel Magazine.

Courses

Marie has completed the Advanced International Advocacy Course at Keble College, Oxford that is internationally recognised as arguably the best and most intensive advocacy course in the world. Participants include lawyers from the War Crime Tribunal in The Hague, members of the Scottish Bar, the Florida Bar, the South African Bar and the Bars of Australia, India and Pakistan.
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Marie is listed as a leading family junior of the South Eastern Circuit in the Legal 500.

‘Experienced in foreign abduction cases.’- Legal 500 2017

Marie is very highly regarded in all aspects of Children Act work, particularly care cases Experienced in contested cases in both the public and private children law spheres. – Legal 500 2015

Publications

Marie has had articles on family law published in Family Law Week, Counsel Magazine and LexisNexis.

Courses

Marie has completed the Advanced International Advocacy Course at Keble College, Oxford that is internationally recognised as arguably the best and most intensive advocacy course in the world. Participants include lawyers from the War Crime Tribunal in The Hague, members of the Scottish Bar, the Florida Bar, the South African Bar and the Bars of Australia, India and Pakistan.

Children - Private Law (CAP)

Marie regularly represents clients who are dealing with the aftermath of parental separation and family breakdown, and she understands what a very difficult time this is for a family.

She is frequently instructed in court applications, often on an urgent basis, for Child Arrangement Orders as to which parent a child or children are to live with after separation and how and when they should see their non-resident parent. These cases can include allegations made by one parent against the other of domestic violence, substance misuse, abuse of children and poor parenting, which may involve ancillary applications for Injunctions and Prohibited Steps Orders.

Marie also has extensive experience in representing parents in applications to remove their child/ren from the Jurisdiction, applications for Specific Issue Orders such as change of school and change of surname and Foreign Abduction cases.

Marie Crawford's Children - Private Law (CAP) Cases

Representing a Mother concerned with variation of contact from ‘supervised’ to ‘supported’

Marie represented a Mother in a case where there had been a fact finding hearing at which she was unrepresented, at which none of the findings in relation to domestic abuse she sought against her ex-partner were found proved. The children had not seen their Father for some time, as the Mother’s position was that … Continue reading →

Mother with mental health difficulties able to keep children

Marie represented a Mother, who has mental health and alcohol misuse difficulties, in a case where final care orders were made in respect of her children several years ago. The children went into long-term foster care, as per the Care Plan, however within a few months they were re-habilitated to the Mother’s care. The family … Continue reading →

Dispensing with biological Father’s consent to adoption

Marie represented the Mother and Stepfather in a case where the Stepfather, supported by the Mother, was applying to adopt the child. The child had no contact with the biological father for a number of years and was of an age where his wishes and feelings would be very seriously considered by the Court. His … Continue reading →

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Articles by Marie Crawford

S.91(14) Orders: A Complete Guide

Added in Children - Private Law (CAP) by Marie Crawford

This is a quick refresher on S.91(14) Orders as a consequence of the most recent case concerning this subject: Re N (children) [2019] EWCA Civ 903. Although not changing the previous position, and in fact endorsing what we previously understood about the not insignificant amount of law in respect of such orders. This was an … Continue reading →

Fact-finding hearings in private children’s law proceedings

Added in Children - Private Law (CAP) by Marie Crawford

This is a very recent Court of Appeal Judgment in which there was a successful appeal of a fact-finding judgment in private law proceedings: A (Children) Re [2019] EWCA Civ 74 This particular case involves transnational marriage abandonment, an issue that the court appears to be grappling with more and more frequently. This a case, … Continue reading →

The revised Practice Direction 12J: Child Arrangements & Contact Order: Domestic Violence and Harm

Added in Children - Private Law (CAP) by Marie Crawford

On Thursday 14th September 2017 the President, Sir James Munby released a Circular about the Cobb Review of PD 12J (commissioned by the President and published in January 2017). Mr. Justice Cobb had also published a draft amended PD 12J with his review, which I addressed in an earlier article for Family Law Week. The … Continue reading →

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Marie Crawford's Testimonials for Children - Private Law (CAP)

“I spoke to the client yesterday afternoon and she was very happy with the service you provided – and therefore thank you once again for your help. “

Mr K from Solicitors Instructing Marie Crawford – March 18

Children – Private Law (CAP)

Marie Crawford

“I have spoken to the client – he was incredibly complementary about you and very pleased with how the hearing went.”

Ms T from Solicitors Instructing Marie Crawford – October 17

Children – Private Law (CAP)

Marie Crawford

“We must congratulate Counsel on her sterling job in being able to conclude matters as has occurred.”

Mr F from Solicitors instructing Marie Crawford – March 17

Children – Private Law (CAP)

Marie Crawford

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Public Law Children

Marie is regularly instructed to represent children’s parents and guardians in Care and Adoption proceedings. This has often included cases where the most serious harm to children is alleged, such as multiple injuries, sexual abuse and Munchausen Syndrome by proxy. Many of these cases have involved parents who are also facing criminal prosecution as a result of the allegations.

The issues Marie frequently encounters are those of parents struggling with addiction and other mental health issues, learning difficulties, or often simply poverty; including those with impoverished backgrounds – leading to lack of life chances and, in particular, lack of positive parenting role-models.

Marie’s empathetic approach enables her to help her clients through each step of the legal process, and ensure that they get sensitive representation in Court.

“I just wanted to say a huge thank you, from the moment you came aboard the case, you turned everything around and I truly believe that if it wasn’t for your hard work … I wouldn’t have got the result I did. So from me and my children thank you so much.”

Marie regularly represents Grandparents or other family members in applications for a Special Guardianship Order to secure the future of a child or children in their care, or whom professionals have recommended should be in their care for the remainder of their childhood. These applications are often made within Public and Private Law applications, but are more frequently being made as freestanding applications.

Marie Crawford's Public Law Children Cases

Representing a Father with mental health concerns

Marie represented the Father in a case where the children had been removed from him and his partner. The children were removed because of the parents’ drug use and mental health concerns. The Local Authority care plan was for the children to live with the Father’s parents under a Special Guardianship Order and have contact … Continue reading →

Representing a Father subject to allegations of sexual abuse

Marie represented a Mother in a case where care proceedings had started because of concerns about the Mother’s alcohol misuse. The Mother was a foreign national with no right to remain in the UK. The children were placed in foster care, but after a hearing at Court the Mother was placed with her young children … Continue reading →

Representing a Father subject to allegations of sexual abuse

Marie represented a Father in a case where the Local Authority had made an application for care orders as a result of one of the children’s allegation of sexual abuse against him. The parents had separated, the Father had left the home and the children remained with the Mother under an Interim Supervision Order. The … Continue reading →

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Articles by Marie Crawford

Human Rights Claims – Public Children’s law

Added in Public Law Children by Marie Crawford

Here are a couple of interesting recent examples of successful Human Rights Act claims against Local Authorities in respect of care cases: BT & GT (Children: twins – adoption) [2018] EWFC 76 This is a High Court case in which Keehan J granted two applications for adoption in respect of twins who had been placed … Continue reading →

Parents with learning difficulties – further guidance in a recent reported case dealing with the limits the courts will go to in applying Re D principles.

Added in Public Law Children by Marie Crawford

The President has issued further guidance on cases involving parents with learning difficulties: President’s Guidance Family Proceedings: Parents with a Learning Disability, 10th April 2018: He refers to the leading cases: Re D (A Child) (No 3) (2016) EWFC 1: http://www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=ed158421 and Re Guardian and A (Care Order: Freeing Order: Parents with a Learning Disability) … Continue reading →

FDAC – How is it doing?

Added in Public Law Children by Marie Crawford

Having only done a few FDAC cases in Kent so far, it may be too soon to tell, however I have to say that my experience of the process and that of my clients was extremely positive. For a guide to FDAC, how and why it was set up and what it does, you cannot … Continue reading →

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Marie Crawford's Testimonials for Public Law Children

“Thank you v much indeed Marie for stepping in on this one and for being kind and caring and compassionate.”

Ms S from Solicitors Instructing Marie Crawford – September 17

Public Law Children

Marie Crawford

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Family Injunctions

Marie is regularly instructed in applications for emergency Non-Molestation Injunctions and Applications for Occupation Orders under the Family Law Act 1996 to remove a partner or former partner from the ‘matrimonial’ home. Applications are made on behalf of those who are married and also those who are co-habiting.

Marie Crawford's Family Injunctions Cases

Successful application for non-molestation and occupation orders

Marie represented a Wife who was alleging aggressive and threatening behaviour by her Husband, from whom she had just separated. The Police were involved, and he had left the home after an incident to which the Police were called. However, the Husband then sought to return to the home and broke in, which led to … Continue reading →

Application for non-molestation injunction

Marie represented the Mother in an application for a non-molestation injunction due to domestic abuse, which she successfully obtained. She also agreed an interim child arrangements order with her ex-partner in relation to the children, as he had issued an application for a child arrangements order. A third party was to do handovers, however the … Continue reading →

Grandparents as guardians

Marie represented grandparents as interveners in care proceedings. After assessment, and with the support of the parents who were unable to care for the children, Marie was successful in having their grandchildren placed with her clients, with a Special Guardianship order being made in their favour.

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Articles by Marie Crawford

Big Changes in Children’s Cases where Domestic Abuse is an Issue: New Practice Direction 12 J

Added in Children - Private Law (CAP),Family Injunctions by Marie Crawford

The presumption of contact can now (explicitly) be displaced As a result of the work of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Domestic Violence (APPG) after the publication in January 2016 of the influential Women’s Aid report entitled ‘Nineteen Child Homicides: What must change so children are put first in child contact arrangements and the … Continue reading →

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