17 April 2026
A survey for individuals who have experience of family court proceedings in Jersey that involved allegations of domestic abuse has been launched.
This survey is part of the independent review of the Family Court system in Jersey in relation to the response and management of cases that involve allegations of domestic abuse. The review was commissioned by the Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, Deputy Mary Le Hegarat, as part of the work to implement the recommendations of the Violence Against Women and Girls, VAWG, Taskforce.
In February, the Minister for Justice and Home Affairs appointed Hannah Markham KC to conduct the review. Hannah is a leading family law barrister in England and Wales. She specialises in children law and is also a Deputy High Court Judge sitting in the Royal Courts of Justice. She has a breadth of experience leading complex Children Act cases, many of which include domestic abuse allegations.
The terms of reference for the independent review of the family court system in Jersey can be accessed here.
The survey is open to anyone over 18 who has experienced, or is currently experiencing, family law proceedings in Jersey that involve allegations of domestic abuse. It can be answered from the perspective of an adult who has experience of such proceedings, or by a young person who experienced proceedings as a child and wishes to share their views.
The survey explores the following topics and themes:
- Legal representation and legal aid
- Support and special measures
- Range of allegations of abuse
- Courtroom experience
- Understanding of domestic abuse by professionals
- Fact-finding hearings
- Interim contact arrangements
- The voice of the child
- Final outcomes
- What happened after proceedings
Responses to the survey will be kept anonymous and will not impact any decisions that have been made in individual cases.
The closing date of the Survey for Family Court Users is 17 May 2026.
The Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, Deputy Mary Le Hegarat, said: “The independent review of the treatment of domestic abuse allegations by the Family Court system is a crucial part of our work to implement the VAWG Taskforce recommendations.
"It is important that we understand more about the experiences of victim-survivors that are involved in these proceedings in Jersey, so that we can understand what parts of the system are working well and where improvements are needed.”
Hannah Markham KC, Independent review of the Family Court system, said: “This is a significant review and the input from those with direct experience of the court process and support services, whether as parents or as children and now young adults, is vital to the learning and review process. Without their voices a gap will remain in our overall insight into how processes work – or do not work – and where change can assist.”
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