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Our data

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Trends over time

Cafcass private law and public law demand statistics are published on the tenth working day of each month. If you have any queries about the statistics, please contact us via our website form.

1 April 2026 – 31 July 2026

Cafcass Monthly Statistics July 2026

Headline findings

  • In July 2026 Cafcass received 5,758 new children's cases (8,883 children) 
  • The average daily demand level in July 2026 was 250 children's cases per working day compared to 221 children's cases received per working day during July 2025
  • There were 29,228 open outstanding children’s cases at the end of July 2026, this is +8.1% / +2,195 children's cases compared to July 2025. There are currently 46,750 children on open children's cases which is 105 (0.2%) more than June 2026
     

For the financial year to date (1 April 2026 – 31 July 2026) totals, the main changes are:

  • An increase in total case demand (+10.3% / +2,849 children / +1,971 children's cases compared to the same period last year) 
  • An increase in public law children's cases (+3.6% / +124 children / +213 children's cases) 
  • An increase in private law children's cases (+13.4% / +2,725 children / +1,758 children's cases)

 

Public law children’s cases (financial year to date: 1 April 2026 – 31 July 2026)

Between 1 April 2026 and 31 July 2026, Cafcass received 6,150 new public law children’s cases, involving 9,689 children.

S31 Care Applications (financial year to date: 1 April 2026 – 31 July 2026)

Between 1 April 2026 and 31 July 2026, Cafcass received 4,350 new S31 Care Applications, involving 7,103 children.

S31 care applications have increased by 2.7% (+116 applications) compared to the same period last year with a 2.2% increase in the number of children involved (+150 children).

Please note that applications include those made on existing children’s cases as well as new public law children’s cases received in the period.

Our public law data shows regularly updated statistics covering both national and local trends for:

  • the total number of public law cases
  • the number of care order applications made by local authorities and the number of children involved (monthly)
  • the length of time taken to complete care and supervision proceedings (quarterly)
  • number of care order applications by local authorities in England (quarterly)
  • the rate of care order applications per ten thousand children population by local authorities in England (annually).

View our public law demand spreadsheet, which includes open children’s cases as well as the number of children subject to S31 Care applications per 10,000 population.

 

Private law children’s cases (financial year to date: 1 April 2026 – 31 July 2026)

Between 1 April 2026 and 31 July 2026, Cafcass received 14,870 new private law children’s cases, involving 22,603 children.

Private law demand is generally used to refer to applications made following a divorce or separation about the arrangements for children, such as where a child will live or with whom a child will spend time.

View our private law demand spreadsheet, which includes open children’s cases.

Open children’s cases (July 2026 snapshot)

Open children’s cases have increased in comparison to July 2025. There are currently 29,228 open children’s cases. This is +2,195 more children's cases (+8.1%) than the same time last year. These children’s cases involve 46,750 children, which is +3,270 more children (+7.5%) compared to the same month last year. 

Cafcass had 11,815 open public law children's cases at the end of July 2026, involving 20,301 children. This is +549 (+4.9%) more children's cases and +635 (+3.2%) more children compared to the same month last year. 

Cafcass had 17,413 open private law children's cases at the end of July 2026, involving 26,449 children. This is +1,646 (+10.4%) more children's cases and +2,635 (+11.1%) more children compared to the same month last year.