Love-split lesbian wins battle for child access

Lord Justice Thorpe, a top Court of Appeal judge who specialises in family cases, reversed the ruling made at Telford County Court in November last year which denied a joint residence order to the first partner.

By allowing joint residence, the 46-year-old now has shared parental responsibility for the girls, aged six and three. This is the only method under present law that a same-sex partner who is not a biological parent can claim such responsibility.

Lord Justice Thorpe said "firm measures" needed to be taken to safeguard "a vital side" of the children’s family life.

It was the first case of its kind to reach the Court of Appeal which imposed reporting restrictions barring identification of any of the parties involved.

The woman, who has a 16-year-old son of her own, had lived with the 31-year-old mother of the girls, conceived by donor insemination, since 1995. Their relationship broke up in May 2003 and the mother now has a new partner.

During the county court proceedings it was said that the mother had tried to "marginalise" her former lover and their attitude towards one another had become "hostile".

Although the county court granted sole residence to the mother, the judge did allow contact to the former partner so that she could have "a significant role in the lives of the children".

The mother then announced she would be moving to Cornwall with her new partner.

Lord Justice Thorpe said a court welfare officer had reported to the county court that the appellant wanted "proper legal involvement in the girls’ lives". "She wanted to love, support and help them," he said.

The mother believed her former partner should be seen as an extended family member, not a parent, and she did not accept that she could care for the children properly.

The court welfare officer said excluding the former lover would not help the children.