The new rules, which came into effect yesterday, allow journalists and legal bloggers to report on what they see and hear while attending any family court if a transparency order is granted. They can also request documents and speak to, and quote, people involved in proceedings.

There is a presumption that a transparency order, protecting the anonymity of the children and their families, is granted, unless there is a legitimate reason not to.

The new provisions follow the success of a pilot which began in January 2023 and was progressively rolled out over the following two years.

At the end of 2024, the Family Procedure Rule Committee approved the extension to all family courts and made the required changes to the Family Procedure Rules and issued new practice directions.

Sir Andrew McFarlane, president of the Family Division, said: “The establishment of the open reporting provisions in all family courts in England and Wales is a watershed moment for family justice.

“Improving public understanding and confidence in the Family Court is of fundamental importance.

“Over the last two years there has been a presumption that journalists and legal bloggers can report what they see and hear from pilot courts in England and Wales.

“The reporting that we have seen has been significant, and includes coverage of issues affecting some of the most vulnerable people in our society, such as children subject to deprivation of liberty orders, the need to limit parental rights for convicted paedophiles and cases of child neglect or abandonment.

“There have been no known breaches of anonymity of children, and the aims of the pilot, to increase public understanding and awareness of the Family Court, are being realised.

“I am grateful to all in the court system who have supported the pilot, but I would particularly like to thank all of the journalists and legal bloggers who have engaged with the pilot over the last two years and would like to urge them and others to continue to report on these complex and vitally important issues.”