M L Brown - Family Court, Social Work & Family Support

31/01/2026

Yesterday was spent supporting a client with a DWP PIP application, carefully translating the real-life impact of long-term health conditions into clear, evidence-based functional descriptions that meet the DWP criteria and PIP guidence. This kind of work requires precision, consistency, and a thorough understanding of how assessments are actually carried out.

Alongside family law–related support, I also assist with disability benefits, employment-related matters, and complex paperwork where clarity and accuracy really matter.

If you or someone you support needs help navigating a PIP claim or other complex processes, feel free to get in touch.

21/01/2026

Behind the scenes on client work.
Reading, preparing, and checking the details that matter. If you have a family related matter that you are struggling with or has left you feeling at your wits end.

Message me if you’d like support or an initial chat.

20/01/2026

⚠️ Warning for Parents in Family Court: Using AI to handle your court papers could lead to contempt of court or permanent damage to your case. Before you upload that document, read our latest article on the legal risks of AI in private proceedings.

17/01/2026

From Paper Mountains to Digital Precision ⚖️💻

Today is all about the "Heavy Lifting" of a Financial Remedy case.

I’m currently assisting a client by digitizing their hard-copy disclosure and performing a full administrative audit of their court forms. In the Family Court, a missing tick-box or an unorganized bundle can cause unnecessary delays.

What I’m focusing on today: ✅ Copy-typing: Transitioning hard-copy evidence into a clean, electronic format. ✅ Admin Audit: Checking every box to ensure the application is 100% complete. ✅ Organization: Structuring the disclosure so it’s easy for the court to navigate.

As a McKenzie Friend, I handle the administrative groundwork so my clients can stay focused on their next steps.

17/01/2026

⚖️ 2026 Court Update: Non-Molestation Orders The President of the Family Division has issued new guidance effective Jan 12, 2026.

I have posted the full legal breakdown in the comments below! 👇

Helping clients navigate the administrative side of family law to ensure every box is checked. 🏛️📑

08/01/2026

This is a really important reminder from SEND Compass.

It’s worth bearing in mind that this doesn’t just apply to SEND cases — the same can be true wherever there is statutory involvement, including children’s services, family court proceedings, education, housing, or other public bodies.

Venting online is completely understandable when systems feel overwhelming, but public posts can sometimes be seen, screenshot, or relied on out of context.

If you’re going through something statutory, it’s often safer to get support in private spaces or from trusted professionals. 💜

Looking out for you 💛 Gentle reminder about visibility on social media

Social media spaces (including Facebook) can feel quite private, but they aren’t.

Local Authorities, schools and other professionals can see public posts, and sometimes things that get shared or reported back.

Speaking from my own experience - a public Facebook rant I once posted about the LA later showed up in my friends Subject Access Request (SAR) 🫣

If you are complaining about your school, staff, or the LA, just know that they do watch 👀 and they do monitor. It’s a quick name search. It’s worth having a quick think about Names, Schools, Locations, Uniforms in photos etc - Especially if things are ongoing (appeals, complaints etc)

I’ve got 31k followers now so I can’t monitor everyone or be responsible for what people choose to share publicly on here. Anonymous posting is available in my private group

You’re always in control of what you choose to share.

This isn’t about stopping conversations or silencing anyone btw, it’s just about sharing information so families can make choices that feel safe, informed, and right for them.

Basically, only post what you’re happy for people to read 😘

X###

07/01/2026

Recently, I’ve noticed that on social media group forums, discussions about sensitive legal matters — such as Pre-Proceedings under the PLO — can sometimes become maximalist, alarmist or overly prescriptive. Participants may offer advice based on personal experience or assumptions rather than professional training, which can unintentionally increase anxiety for families and misrepresent what steps are actually required at this stage. Navigating Legal Discussions on Social Media:

When discussing sensitive legal matters such as Pre-Proceedings under the PLO, it’s important to remember that:

1. Social media is not a legal advice forum

• Posts or comments from non-professionals can sometimes escalate anxiety or misrepresent the law, the aims of and the process itself.

• Everyone’s situation is unique — context matters.

2. Proportionate advice is key

• Families should seek guidance from qualified family law solicitors rather than relying on online discussion threads. Because there is a right to Legal aid.
• Early engagement, accurate record-keeping, and measured steps are generally the safest approach.
3. Be wary of alarmist or maximalist advice
• Not every step suggested online is necessary or correct.
• Escalating prematurely can increase stress for both parents and children.
4. Focus on facts, not fear
• Use forums for general awareness, not to get instructions on your next legal move.
• Professional advice should always come from experts with relevant experience.

Key takeaway: Social media can be a source of general awareness, but when it comes to legal matters affecting children, nothing replaces professional advice. Keeping your actions proportionate and informed protects both families and children.

06/01/2026

One question I was asked today..

“The PLO process has been started by my LA - what does this mean?”

My initial thoughts were - why have you been notified of this without a full and frank explanation.

If you’ve been told by your LA or Social Worker you’re now in a PLO (Pre-Proceedings) process, this is what it actually means:

Being subject to the PLO (Public Law Outline) process can feel very frightening, but it’s important to understand what it does — and does not — mean.

The PLO is a pre-court process. It means the Local Authority has significant concerns about a child/ren and believes the legal threshold for public law care proceedings might be met. However Court proceedings have not yet started.

This PLO process does not mean your child is being removed.
It does not mean decisions have already been made.
It does not mean you have failed as a parent.

The purpose of a PLO is to be clear about concerns, give parents the opportunity to respond, engage on a meaningful basis, make changes within agreed timescales and ensure there is a planned review - to try to avoid issuing an application to court wherever possible.

Parents are usually invited to a PLO meeting, where concerns, expectations, support, and timescales are discussed. What is said in these meetings can later be relied upon if matters progress, so it’s important to be supported.

Parents are entitled to free legal advice from a family law solicitor under legal aid during the PLO process. This is a right, not a favour, and getting advice early can make a real difference.

Many families engage with the PLO process and successfully step down when concerns reduce.

If you’ve received a PLO letter:
– Take time to read it carefully
– Ask for concerns to be clear and specific especially if you do not fully understand and
– Seek urgent legal advice

A PLO is extremely serious, but it is not court, and it is not the end of the road.

02/01/2026

📌 MYTH vs FACT: Presumption of Contact in Family Court

❌ MYTH:
Family courts apply a presumption of contact for fathers.

✅ FACT:
There has never been a presumption of contact for fathers only.

Under the Children Act 1989 (s1(2A)), the law refers to a gender-neutral presumption of parental involvement, not contact. It applies to any parent, regardless of gender, and “involvement” can be direct or indirect — or none at all where there are safeguarding concerns.

❌ MYTH:
Courts must order contact unless something extreme has happened.

✅ FACT:
The child’s welfare is paramount.
Where there is evidence of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, coercive control, or risk of harm, the presumption does not apply. There is no automatic right to contact in family law.

❌ MYTH:
Law reform in this area is about removing fathers’ rights.

✅ FACT:
Current proposals are about protecting children, not promoting contact at all costs.
They are intended to ensure that rapists and convicted abusers do not have unsupervised — or any — access to children, and that courts are not starting from a pro-contact position where safety is an issue.

⚠️ Why this matters:
Misinformation about family law — particularly on social media — can lead parents and survivors to make decisions that place children at risk. Family law is complex, and confident opinions are not the same as correct legal information.

—
Michelle Louise Brown
Professional McKenzie Friend & Family Support Services
🌐

Professional Family and Court Support including assistance with all Social Care, Education, Employment and Disability related matters.

01/01/2026

Navigating CAFCASS can feel overwhelming.

Many parents don’t struggle because they’re bad parents — they struggle because they don’t understand the process.

I share clear, practical guidance to help parents feel more prepared and less intimidated by family court and the process

📌 Follow for future CAFCASS Explained posts