Policy paper

Private Law Pathfinder delivery update

This report is an update on the implementation of the government’s Pathfinder programme for private law reform.

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

Details

The Pathfinder pilot aims to improve the court experience and outcomes for children and parents involved in private family law proceedings, including those who have experience of domestic abuse. The initial pilot was designed in response to recommendation from the Harm Panel report to reform private law by trialling a more problem-solving, investigative approach which better supports victims of domestic abuse and other harms. 

In the Pathfinder courts the usual Child Arrangements Programme (CAP) is suspended and replaced with a revised process for relevant cases.

The pilot launched in Dorset and North Wales in February 2022. It expanded to South-East Wales in April 2024, Birmingham in May 2024 and Mid and West Wales on 3 March. The pilot will next launch in West Yorkshire on 3 June 2025.

This update provides an overview update of refinements and developments to the pilot’s model, expansion plans for the 2025/26 financial year, planned next steps, and process maps of the Pathfinder system and the Child Arrangement Programme it is being piloted to replace.

Private Law Pathfinder Pilot: process evaluation and financial analysis

Updates to this page

Published 27 March 2025

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