Marie Crawford

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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.

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 decisions which will affect the rest of their lives. Read more →

Marie is a highly regarded family law specialist with extensive experience in her areas of practice. Her practice has encompassed all aspects of family law; however, she now focuses on public law cases, representing parents and children at all stages of proceedings and all levels of court.

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 but robust 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

Application to permanently remove their child from the jurisdiction

Marie represented a father in an application made by the mother to permanently remove their child from the jurisdiction. The father made a cross application for shared care order and to spend increased time with the child. The final hearing took 6 days, with a number of witnesses on both sides and the Cafcass officer. … Continue reading →

Representing a young and vulnerable first time mother

Marie represents a young and vulnerable first time mother, who herself has grown up in care. The local authority removed her baby who was a few weeks old under a PPO and then an EPO as a result of an alleged domestic violent incident where the child suffered a minor injury, initially thought to be … Continue reading →

Marie Crawford represents the Father in Care Proceedings for a new born baby

Case Summary Marie represents the father of a new born baby where the mother has had a number of children previously removed from her care. There are allegations of domestic violence, sexually inappropriate behaviour and substance misuse in relation to the parents. The mother is going into a residential assessment with the baby, which … Continue reading →

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Articles by Marie Crawford

Discharge of a Care Order – Court of Appeal summarises the test to be applied

Added in Public Law Children by Marie Crawford

In TT (Children: Discharge of Care Order) [2021] EWCA Civ 742 the Court of Appeal sets out the tests to be applied on an application to discharge a care order and also considered the relevance of attachment theory in welfare evaluations. Mostyn J’s approach to these issues in the recent case of GM v Carmarthenshire … Continue reading →

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 →

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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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