Guardian delays

New rules for appointing guardians in care proceedings have been introduced in London in a bid to reduce ‘appalling’ delays which family solicitors have warned are ‘worse than ever’. More than 500 cases are on the waiting list for guardians and some cases issued in November are still without a guardian. Now a named CAFCASS guardian will be appointed at the outset of the case who will deal with it up until the hearing of the case management conference. Thereafter the guardian will only conduct further work from time-to-time when necessary.