Christopher Rice recently appeared on behalf of a local authority in respect of an application within care proceedings by the mother to have the father, with parental responsibility, discharged as a party.

Although the father did not oppose the application, the recorder found following a review of the authorities that the test was not made out. Given, however, that the father did not oppose the application, an alternative procedure was proposed for the father to follow to bring about his discharge.

The judgment can be found here.