Re B (A Child) [2009] UKSC

Key Points:

• Paramountcy Principle:

◦ The Supreme Court emphasised that the paramountcy principle (the child's welfare being the court's primary concern) is central to decision-making.

◦ The status of being a natural parent is just one factor among many in the balancing exercise.

Implications:

• Balancing Factors:

◦ The decision underscores that no single factor, including biological parentage, is determinative in decisions affecting a child's welfare.

◦ Courts must weigh all relevant factors to ensure decisions are made in the child's best interests.