Reporting restrictions & the media in family courts
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-29
The privacy default
Family proceedings are heard in private, and the law restricts publishing information about them. The key rules:
- s.12 Administration of Justice Act 1960 — restricts publication of information about private family hearings
- s.97 Children Act 1989 — prohibits identifying children involved in proceedings
- Family Procedure Rules Part 12 (and PD12M/transparent reporting pilots) govern what may be reported
What journalists may do (transparency changes)
Accredited media and legal bloggers can now attend certain family hearings and report an anonymised account under the transparency pilot. Children and families must not be identifiable. Parties can object on welfare/safety grounds.
What YOU must not do
- Publish your case, your evidence, or your child's identity while proceedings are live
- Share your bundle or orders outside the proceedings
- Post on social media about your hearings
- Record hearings (courts will provide the official recording if you need it)
Breach can be contempt of court with real consequences (including imprisonment).
If a journalist contacts you
- You don't have to respond
- Speaking about live proceedings can breach the rules — get advice first
- If the media should tell your story (maltreatment, injustice), the proper route is an application to lift reporting restrictions, made with legal advice
Where anonymised judgments help you
Anonymised judgments are published on BAILII and the judiciary website. Searching them shows how courts reason in cases like yours — legitimate research that helps you prepare.
Official links
- BAILII: https://www.bailii.org
- Judiciary transparency guidance: https://www.judiciary.uk
This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory and is not affiliated with the judiciary or gov.uk.
Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.