Mother and daughter apply to European Court of Human Rights in name change case

A mother and her daughter (known as D) have submitted an application to the European Court of Human Rights on the basis that the Family Court’s refusal to permit a change of D’s surname violates their Convention rights.

D bears her father’s surname. D’s father raped her mother and committed other acts of serious sexual abuse on four occasions between 2015 and 2017. He also committed other acts of domestic abuse against D and her mother, including making threats to kill both of them. As both parents have parental responsibility, D’s mother brought an application to change D’s surname to her surname. The Family Court refused her application, and she was refused permission to appeal by the High Court. D and her mother now bring an application to the European Court of Human Rights.

Their application is being supported by the Good Law Project. You can read more about the case on the Good Law Project’s website. 

Coverage may be found here, here, here, here, here and here.

Alex Goodman KC and Crash Wigley are instructed by Leigh Day to represent D and her mother in their application to the European Court of Human Rights, alongside Dr Charlotte Proudman.