Allocation and transfer

The Family Court—allocation and transfer of proceedings

The single Family Court (the Family Court) replaced the previous three tiers of court structure in England and Wales (family proceedings court, County Court and High Court) on 22 April 2014. The Family Court is a national court for England and Wales. As a consequence of the introduction of the Family Court, significant changes were made to the allocation and transfer of proceedings.

See Practice Note: The single Family Court.

Save where the High Court has jurisdiction, all cases are to be dealt with in the Family Court. All proceedings and applications must be issued and allocated in the Family Court. Magistrates’ courts and the County Court no longer have jurisdiction to hear family proceedings or matters relating to the enforcement or variation of orders made in family proceedings.

See Practice Note: The Family Court—allocation and transfer of proceedings.

Cases that need to be heard by a High Court judge will be heard in the Family Court by a High Court judge. Cases will no longer be transferred to the High Court on the grounds of complexity. No

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