Judgement delayed

[MR5B00]

Hi all my final hearing started on the on the 16th march and concluded on the 20th without a judgement being made we was meant to receive it on the 2nd April but due to “unforeseen circumstances” the judge has not been able to do it, I’m still waiting for the judgement which the judge anticipates being this week but she’s handing down her judgement in writing, I’ve done everything that the la wanted and I’m separated from my husband the only issue they could identify in court was the length of time that it hadn’t been 6 months but only 4 months at that time it’s now a month later I’m on month number 5, so my questions are has the judge left it this length of time to give me an extension without formally giving me an extension? What are the chances of her handing down a bad judgement in writing? And how do I deal with being in limbo for so long

[Winter25]

Hi MR5B00,

To answer your first question about whether the judge delayed it to give you an unofficial extension, usually, when the court says "unforeseen circumstances," it genuinely means an administrative or personal issue on the judge's end, like illness, an emergency, or an overwhelming backlog of cases. I doubt she intentionally paused the clock just to give you more time. However, the accidental result is exactly what you are hoping for. The fact is, you are now at month five of your separation. Every single day that ticks by while the judge writes this up is another day you prove you can sustain this change. If the Local Authority's only remaining argument in court was that you hadn't hit the magical "six-month" mark, their argument is actively getting weaker by the minute because of this administrative delay.

Regarding your second question about the chances of a bad judgment being handed down in writing, please do not read this as a bad sign. It is completely standard practice in family court for a judge to "reserve" their judgment after a complex final hearing and hand it down in writing later. When a case is finely balanced, like a judge deciding whether four months of separation is enough evidence of long-term change, they have to write a very detailed, legally watertight explanation of how they reached their conclusion. They do this to ensure their decision is legally sound and immune to appeals, not because they are afraid to give bad news face-to-face. Written judgments happen for total victories, total losses, and everything in between. It is just a reflection of how busy the courts are and how carefully she has to write her legal reasoning.

As for how you deal with being in limbo, the hardest but most important thing you can do right now is not let the anxiety cause you to slip up. The Local Authority is likely still keeping an eye on things. Keep your boundaries with your separated husband rock solid. Keep engaging with any professional support you have. Treat this waiting period as a free opportunity to keep building that timeline. You have done everything they asked of you, and you have successfully removed the risk they identified by separating.

Now you just have to hold the line and keep doing exactly what you are doing until the paperwork arrives.
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For transparency, I am a parent with lived experience of the system, offering supportive and strategic guidance. Always follow the specific legal advice given by your solicitor.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Hi all my final hearing started on the on the 16th march and concluded on the 20th without a judgement being made we was meant to receive it on the 2nd April but due to “unforeseen circumstances” the judge has not been able to do it, I’m still waiting for the judgement which the judge anticipates being this week but she’s handing down her judgement in writing, I’ve done everything that the la wanted and I’m separated from my husband the only issue they could identify in court was the length of time that it hadn’t been 6 months but only 4 months at that time it’s now a month later I’m on month number 5, so my questions are has the judge left it this length of time to give me an extension without formally giving me an extension? What are the chances of her handing down a bad judgement in writing? And how do I deal with being in limbo for so long

Dear MR5B00

Thank you for posting again on the parents’ forum.

From your post I see that the court proceedings have ended the Judge’s judgment has not yet been handed down due, it seems to unforeseen circumstances, for the judge.

You are asking if this additional delay is the judge giving you an informal extension. I do not believe the situation that has arisen for the judge and the delayed judgment has anything to do with you directly. It could be any number of reasons why the judge has been unable to provide the written judgment but giving you an extension is not one of them.

The final hearing has already concluded and from your post, there is nothing more for you to do as you state you have done everything asked of you. If there are concerns about the length of time you have been separated from your husband, it is likely that although another month has passed it will not necessarily have a direct effect on the judgement to be handed down.

Regarding your question about the judge handing down a bad judgment in writing, I assume you mean one that does not give the outcome you want. I believe the judgment will be based on all the evidence considered in the final hearing and what the judge considers to be the correct outcome for the child or children concerned. The judge considers all the evidence,
how the law should be applied, the facts as well as how witnesses perform and whether those witnesses are truthful and honest.

Once the judgment is handed down the legal representative will consider it and if necessary, consider whether any grounds for appeal arise and offer advice as needed.

It is unfortunate that there has been a delay and it might help you to speak with your legal representatives who may be able to give you an idea of what they believe the outcome could be for you from their experience of dealing with similar cases if there was any indication of how the judge was leaning.

I suggest you take the positives from what you have already done and hopefully that will be enough. It is now a case of the judge putting in writing her views of the case and how she reached her decision.

I hope the outcome will be a good one for you and your family.

Best wishes

Suzie