Managing proceedings online

The digitalisation programme set out by HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) aims to increase the efficiency of family proceedings. Amendments have been made, and continue to be made to the Family Procedure Rules 2010 (FPR 2010) to provide that certain applications and proceedings are to proceed by electronic means, ie online rather than on paper.

See Practice Note: Online family proceedings toolkit which brings together various resources and documents associated with the HMCTS online system and online proceedings, including signposting to provisions in the FPR 2010, pilot schemes that are in operation in the Family Court, Lexis+® UK Practice Notes and HMCTS guidance available to assist practitioners dealing with proceedings online.

Online divorce procedure

FPR 2010, PD 41A (Proceedings by electronic means: certain proceedings for a matrimonial order) came into effect on 6 April 2020 and sets out the procedure by which, in the circumstances provided for in the Practice Direction, an application for a divorce may proceed by electronic means. FPR 2010, PD 41A sets out the modifications that are made to the FPR 2010 when the application is made via the online service.

On 6 May 2018, the

To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.

TAKE A FREE TRIAL

Latest Family News

Family Procedure Rules 2010 Practice Direction Update No 7 of 2024

The seventh Family Procedure Rules 2010 (FPR 2010) Practice Direction (PD) update of 2024 has been issued, making amendments to six existing PDs and inserting three new PDs. The PD update makes provision for transparency orders where reporters have attended hearings in most types of proceedings relating to a child and in placement order proceedings where the application for a placement order is made within proceedings for a care order. Permanent provision is made to underpin the contested financial remedy online digital service for legal representatives. The pathfinder pilot is extended until 31 March 2026 in existing sites and expanded to additional courts. The pilot for notification to the police of non-molestation orders and of occupation orders with a power of arrest attached is extended until 28 February 2026. Amendments to allow local flexibilities to be adopted in the Child Arrangements Programme are extended until 28 February 2027 and the correct address for filing certain documents with the High Court is updated.

Online Procedure Rule Committee minutes—2024 in review

The Online Procedure Rule Committee (OPRC), established under the Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (JRACA 2022), creates rules governing the practice and procedure for specific types of online court and tribunal proceedings across the Civil, Family and Tribunal jurisdictions (CFT). The OPRC holds regular meetings, for which the minutes are published. This News Analysis summarises the key developments in 2024 and looks forward to potential future developments.

Family weekly highlights—19 December 2024

This week's edition of Family weekly highlights includes details of the Family Procedure (Amendment No 2) Rules 2024, the Law Commission scoping paper on financial remedies on divorce and dissolution and minutes from the Online Procedure Rule Committee meetings. The Family Procedure Rules 2010 Practice Direction Update No 7 of 2024 is also considered. Recent judgements on representation and procedural unfairness, inter-country adoption and strike out of an application for nullity are considered. Three new graphics added to Practice Notes in Family Practical Guidance are also set out.

Law Commission scoping paper on financial remedies on divorce and dissolution

Family analysis: The Law Commission has published a scoping paper on financial remedies on divorce and dissolution. The fundamental question underlying this project was whether the current law ‘provides a cohesive framework in which parties to a divorce or dissolution can expect fair and sufficiently certain outcomes’. The Law Commission found that it does not. This News Analysis considers the background to this project, the Law Commission’s findings and what might happen next.