F v M

Facts

The applicant father, F, and the respondent mother, M, are the parents of two children, E, aged 12, and G, aged 6. Their relationship deteriorated at the end of 2024 and they separated in January 2025, though they continued to cohabit in the family home until July 2025. That period was particularly fractious and both parties came to concede that there was domestic abuse witnessed by the children, including an incident in July 2025 captured on an audio recording made from the point of view of the then five-year-old G. There was local authority involvement in October 2022 following an ambulance service referral, and police involvement in May and July 2025. F moved out at the end of July 2025 and the children remained with M. A pattern of weekday daytime contact at F's home developed and was endorsed by consent at the first hearing on 17 December 2025; limited overnight stays, supported by the paternal grandmother, took place until mid-December 2025. F applied for a child arrangements order (spend time with) on 21 July 2025. At a dispute resolution appointment in January 2026 it was determined that no fact-finding hearing was required. The single issue at the final hearing was whether contact should progress to overnight stays and extended holiday contact.