Case No. EWFC-92

1.I am concerned with “J” who was born on [………..] 2016. This is the father’s application for, inter alia, a Child Arrangements Order, which was issued in April 2021. I have had conduct of the case following transfer to Manchester.2.The application before the court today concerned the father’s urgent application for a change of residence, for “J” to reside with him rather than the mother with whom he has lived since birth. This judgment will set out some very limited history of the relationship (much of which is disputed) but more detail of the court proceedings which has brought us here today. 3.The father today sought an order for immediate change of residence. The mother opposed this. The Guardian and the Local Authority supported the father.4.The matter proceeded today with short submissions from all parties and also from the social worker who was instructed to prepare a report. Mother was unrepresented and I allowed her to make submissions on her own behalf. I attempted to guide her as to the points to address and additionally asked her some relevant questions to clarify her position regarding the evidence.5.In view of the urgency, I delivered a short bullet point oral and extempore judgment to the parties following submissions and confirmed that a detailed judgment would follow in writing. The law was agreed by the advocates in accordance with a position statement set out by the father’s advocate Mr Davis and I will also set it out in here.