Ministry of Justice statistics show increases in children, financial remedy and domestic abuse cases as pressure continues across the family justice system
Family court caseloads increased by 3% in 2025, according to new figures from the Ministry of Justice, highlighting continuing pressure across the family justice system as applications relating to children, finances and domestic abuse all remained elevated.
Official statistics show 270,474 new cases were started in family courts during 2025, with 64,336 applications issued between October and December alone, representing a 4% increase compared with the same quarter in 2024.
Growth was recorded across several key case types, including private law children proceedings, financial remedy applications, adoption cases, and domestic abuse-related orders, reflecting sustained reliance on the courts to resolve family disputes involving safeguarding, separation and financial arrangements.
Applications for domestic violence remedy orders rose by 5% year-on-year during the final quarter of 2025, with 9,260 orders made over the same period. Across the year as a whole, there were 36,376 applications and 37,410 orders made, underlining the continuing role of the courts in providing protective measures in cases involving personal safety risks.
The figures also confirm that private law children disputes continue to represent a substantial proportion of family court work, with ongoing demand linked to arrangements concerning residence, contact and parental responsibility following relationship breakdown.
Responding to the statistics, the Law Society of England and Wales warned that rising caseloads are occurring alongside continuing pressures on the availability of civil legal aid, creating risks for access to justice and increasing the number of court users navigating proceedings without representation.
The Society said early legal advice plays an important role in helping families resolve disputes more efficiently and preventing matters escalating into contested proceedings, reducing pressure both on court capacity and on families themselves.
Practitioners have long argued that without sustained investment in legal aid provision and family court resources, rising demand risks contributing to longer waiting times and increasing strain across the justice system.
The latest figures reinforce concerns across the sector that the family courts will continue to face sustained operational pressure unless growth in applications is matched by improvements in support services and early legal intervention capacity.