12 March 2026

Nick Gova featured in property press on Government confirming the repeal of the presumption of parental involvement

Head of Family Nick Gova has been featured in the press discussing a major change to family law aimed at better protecting children from abusive parents.

The Government has announced plans to repeal the presumption of parental involvement in child arrangements through the new Courts and Tribunals Bill.

The presumption, introduced into the Children Act 1989, encouraged courts to assume that maintaining a relationship with both parents after separation was generally in a child’s best interests. However, concerns have grown that this starting point can expose children and survivors of domestic abuse to ongoing harm. Under the proposed reform, courts will instead begin with a neutral assessment and determine involvement solely based on what is safest and most beneficial for the child.

Nick Gova, has welcomed the news, saying that scrapping the presumption of parental involvement is a decisive break from a culture that too often prioritised contact over child safety.

He is reported in the media saying “For too long, survivors of abuse have felt pressured by the system to facilitate unsafe contact, irrespective of safeguards being put in place. Hopefully, this change finally acknowledges that reality.”

Read Nick’s comments:
Today’s Family Lawyer
New Law Journal